little more than a forgettable postscript
to the end of the Paterno era. And given
the scholarship restrictions that accom-
panied the original postseason ban, it's
entirely possible that Penn State would-
n't have been ;elding a bowl-worthy
team in 2016 under the sanction regime,
making its eligibility a moot point.
But as the Lions eye their upcoming
season, it's with the hope of attending
their third consecutive bowl game. They
may not yet have the kind of team that
can justify James Franklin's famous
"We're No. 1" gesture, a pose that over
the past two years has gone viral, turn-
ing up everywhere from end zone cele-
brations to recruiting visits to wedding
photos. Also, the schedule is more
daunting than it was a year ago, lending
creedence to speculation that the Lions
could remain stuck in their seven-win
rut even if they're substantially im-
proved. But they are building a roster
that, if things go their way, could keep
them moving up the postseason hierar-
chy. They've got a running back who has
garnered some Heisman Trophy buzz.
They've got an oo< to a
2016 season that grows anything but
easy as it goes along.
In the past six seasons, I don't remem-
ber an early-season contest with such
sweeping implications as this one. One
could point to last year's opening loss to
Temple as a precursor to a season that
ended with four consecutive losses, but
the Owls didn't start stealing recruits
from under PSU's nose. It's a di
