Between all of the missing coordinators, the somewhat mild level of disinterest between the two fan bases and the general hope that the 2015 season can just end it might feel like there isn’t much to talk about.
It’s true that both programs are perhaps a bit more focused on the future than the present, but when the ball kicks and the game gets going there is pride on the line once again.
Maybe the TaxSlayer Bowl, where Penn State is playing Georgia on Jan. 2, isn’t the top of the pile of the bowl pecking order, but it’s hard to take the competitive nature out of two teams months deep into a long season.
Ending the year with a win means more than you might expect, even if it’s a win in a game not everyone is overly excited about.
Remove the pessimism and the eye rolling from the equation and there are at least four things to look for as Penn State hits the field one last time this season.
Was It Donovan?
Chances are that Ricky Rahne isn’t the second coming of Chip Kelly’s greatest hits, but with someone else calling the plays in this game it will be interesting to see if anything improves. If Penn State struggles like it has all year then it will give some creedence to the belief not everything was Donovan’s fault. But imagine a world where Rahne calls a game that makes Penn State’s offense roll up the yards and the points. Reasonably speaking that’s not very likely and the truth is Donovan was the victim of himself as much as circumstance. Even so, with Donovan out of the equation it’s an interesting dynamic to keep an eye on.
Bowl Break Boost?
In many ways Penn State’s best game of the season last year was the Pinstripe Bowl. Lots of points, good offense and timely defense. The biggest reason given? Time off and time to prepare. The season is a grind, especially on a program not blessed with lots of depth. Getting to the end of the tunnel in one piece is a victory all on its own. Assuming Penn State’s transition between Donovan and Rahne has been as smooth as advertised a few weeks to recharge the batteries and practice could do wonders. Will it happen again this year? Only time will tell.
Does Anybody Care?
There’s no reason to think Penn State players would mail it in for a bowl but on some level there’s a question of how much it really matters at this point. Hackenberg is likely looking forward to the NFL, Franklin to Joe Moorhead and the defense to whatever is next for a young and growing unit. If all eyes are firmly planted on Jan 2 then maybe this isn’t an issue. If they aren’t, it could be another loss after a promising start to the year and a difficult final few months against top flight teams.
Next Big Thing?
Last year Chris Godwin entered the Pinstripe Bowl with just two games with more than two receptions. By the time he left the Yankee Stadium field he had hauled in seven catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. After that he was Penn State’s top target and some 63 catches later just 32 yards from 1000 on the season.
So who steps up and takes over the title as Penn State’s next big thing? It could come on either side of the ball which makes any standout performance a reason to pay attention.
