Here are my brief observations about the UCF-PSU game, which I hope will spark some comments by my distinguished and astute readers.
First, great credit is due to UCF. The Knights made mincemeat of the vaunted (in our minds) Nittany Lion defense. Like a crocodile, we’re in de Nile. They’re not great and they’re thin, to boot. The pass rush was ineffectual, the linebackers were slow to react, and the secondary just plain suuuuuuuuucked. This was the test we wanted, and they flunked it.
I was impressed by the performance of three Penn State players. Allen Robinson remains the unstoppable Mr. Go-To. Zach Zwinak makes speedsters Belton and Lynch look like boys playing a man’s game. Finally, I take back everything I’ve said about Sam Ficken, who kicked a career long 47-yard field goal and damn near cleared the bar from 57. The Phoenix has risen. But everything I said about his nose still stands.
Hackenberg’s stock continues to rise and the offensive line is steadily improving, but neither are close to competing at the level necessary for all the proverbial pieces to come together. In the sportswriter vernacular, “positive progress” is better than no progress at all. It is what it is.
So who of you will be the first to blame officiating for Penn State’s loss?
And how the B1G suuuuuuuuucked this weekend! Big Red, wearing black, went down to UCLA. Wisconsin lost to Arizona State. Penn State lost to UCF. Michigan needed a drop in the end zone with 4 seconds left to beat Akron! And Purdue blew a lead to lose to the hated Irish.
More later. I’ll emerge from the crapper and socialize on a Sunday morning.
