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Penn State is still a bunch of stinkin’ losers

by Keith Jaco

To put it simply, this is the Nittany Lion way.

Penn State, in the James Franklin era, has become a team you cannot trust.

Time and time again they will find a way to rip out the hearts of their fans across the country.

I have always said Franklin can’t win the big one. 

And yet, somehow, some way, I continue to back him to come out on top.

I did it against Ohio State in week 10, a game the Nittany Lions lost 20-13 at Beaver Stadium in front of a raucous crowd that once again left with a bad taste in their mouths.

The loss was so bad fans were heard audibly booing and berating their head coach as he exited the field with his family.

Fast forward to the College Football Playoff, and it appeared PSU had turned things around, riding the coattails of a stout defense and big time plays from quarterback Drew Allar and tight end Tyler Warren, a consensus first round draft pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

When it comes to the CFP, I personally consider getting a “big win” when it comes against a powerhouse team that was favored.

For Penn State, their first and second round games came against a “lucky to be there” 11 seeded Southern Methodist, and a fraudulent three seeded Boise State team that rode its Heisman runner-up running back Ashton Jeanty until the wheels fell off.

Now I won’t sit here and say either of those teams weren’t deserving of making the CFP, but moreso the Nittany Lions drew a fantastic bracket and one of the easiest paths to a potential spot in the college football championship game.

The fact of the matter is this: Penn State was favored by -8.5 and -11 respectively in those two matchups. 

And each game resulted in a fairly comfortable cover. Great. Awesome. Way to go.

But what lie ahead was “the big one,” a chance for James Franklin and company to take down a historic college football program in Notre Dame.

A chance to stifle their run at a 12th national championship. 

A chance that does not come around often.

And what happened? Franklin was outcoached.

And that QB that people heralded as a game changer?

The kid that could make the deep throw, take off for a first down and make the plays needed to win down the stretch?

He no-showed. 

He relied on his defense, his offensive line and an impressive rushing attack.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

But when you’re called upon for a game-winning drive for all the marbles, you have to step up.

You have to prove you’re the man.

The right guy for the job.

And Allar didn’t do that on Thursday night.

He made an unforgivable, split-second throw over the middle in man coverage with 33 seconds to play and three timeouts in his pocket.

Ultimately sealing his team’s fate.

And even worse, he solidified a long-running notion, Coach Franklin can’t win the big game. 

Honestly, it retrospect, shame on me. This is really my fault and no one else’s.

I trusted a guy who threw for just 135 yards on 12/23 passing and zero touchdowns.

A guy who three just three completed passes to wide receivers on the night.

That’s unforgivable betting. I have to be better, plain and simple!

In the end, some may ask why I decided to write this column.

Why take the time at the end of the day when you haven’t written a blog in over 20 months and you have six more episodes of Band of Brothers to binge?

The answer is simple.

I had three units on Penn State.

And I am a sore, sore loser.

Buckeyes spread over the Fighting Irish in the Natty may just be free money. We shall see.

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