Let me first say this is all simply my opinion you can like it or hate it but it is what I believe. There is no mistaking that the game on Saturday was embarrassing. It was a terrible loss and hurts our perception nationally and with recruits. I saw a team that made a ton of mistakes and a coaching staff that appeared to be too scared to have the team make another mistake and therefore didn’t call a game that offered any chance of a comeback. And the worst thing to me is the team appeared defeated long before the game was over.
Now obviously none of that sounds good. But despite all that I am not all doom and gloom. This was one game. One really bad game. But looking back at it we played PSU evenly for the first 29 minutes despite the issues we had up till that time. I understand not trying the FG due to the previous snaps not being handled well. But I completely disagreed then and now with that decision. I think you have to take the points. And then the punt that never was, was truly the beginning of the end. From there mistake after mistake unraveled this team. And eventually they lost competitiveness and got embarrassed.
But I don’t believe you can fully judge a team by their worst game nor can you judge them by their best game. Were we better than Clemson? Hell no, but we beat them. Sometimes games just get going in a certain direction and then spiral out of control. That is what happened Saturday. I honestly don’t believe we were outclassed. We just made too many mistakes. Yes that is part of being a good or bad team but it doesn’t mean every game we will make the same mistakes. I don’t want to use weather as an excuse, and I really am not. Both teams played on the same field in the same conditions but it surely looked to affect us much more. Not sure why but it did. I have to believe our game plan was much different in preparation for better conditions. Either way it doesn’t matter.
My point is that was a terrible game but may not be indicative of the rest of the season. There are things to be concerned about for sure. But things can be corrected. This team can look completely different on Saturday. We’ve seen it from so many teams. You have up weeks and down weeks. Look no further than 2016 Clemson, PSU and 2017 Miami. They all expected to crush us. They didn’t. But they all had great years with some really stellar wins. I remember my freshman year I believe when Villanova won the NC, they got blown out by Pitt at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse but still went on to great things. One game did not define them. I know all the reasons to be doom and gloom but I personally would like another game or two to see what this team can do. I solid win over GA Tech starts to heal some wounds from Saturday. An upset win over UCF (we’ve beaten better teams) and are probably as good as anyone predicted we would be.
It sucked to lose to PSU. It sucked it turned into a blowout. It sucked it was on national tv. But it’s still just one loss. One loss by 7 or 10 wouldn’t be any better except for perception. We weren’t going to the Playoffs this year so all our realistic goals are still out there. I’ll be traveling in from DE again this weekend to cheer on my Panthers. I will be going to the ND game to cheer on the Panthers. This is my team. I support them regardless of wins and losses. After 35 years it will take more than one bad game to ruin my season. I know it was frustrating so get that negativity out of you and get back you heinz on Saturday to cheer this team on.
Now obviously none of that sounds good. But despite all that I am not all doom and gloom. This was one game. One really bad game. But looking back at it we played PSU evenly for the first 29 minutes despite the issues we had up till that time. I understand not trying the FG due to the previous snaps not being handled well. But I completely disagreed then and now with that decision. I think you have to take the points. And then the punt that never was, was truly the beginning of the end. From there mistake after mistake unraveled this team. And eventually they lost competitiveness and got embarrassed.
But I don’t believe you can fully judge a team by their worst game nor can you judge them by their best game. Were we better than Clemson? Hell no, but we beat them. Sometimes games just get going in a certain direction and then spiral out of control. That is what happened Saturday. I honestly don’t believe we were outclassed. We just made too many mistakes. Yes that is part of being a good or bad team but it doesn’t mean every game we will make the same mistakes. I don’t want to use weather as an excuse, and I really am not. Both teams played on the same field in the same conditions but it surely looked to affect us much more. Not sure why but it did. I have to believe our game plan was much different in preparation for better conditions. Either way it doesn’t matter.
My point is that was a terrible game but may not be indicative of the rest of the season. There are things to be concerned about for sure. But things can be corrected. This team can look completely different on Saturday. We’ve seen it from so many teams. You have up weeks and down weeks. Look no further than 2016 Clemson, PSU and 2017 Miami. They all expected to crush us. They didn’t. But they all had great years with some really stellar wins. I remember my freshman year I believe when Villanova won the NC, they got blown out by Pitt at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse but still went on to great things. One game did not define them. I know all the reasons to be doom and gloom but I personally would like another game or two to see what this team can do. I solid win over GA Tech starts to heal some wounds from Saturday. An upset win over UCF (we’ve beaten better teams) and are probably as good as anyone predicted we would be.
It sucked to lose to PSU. It sucked it turned into a blowout. It sucked it was on national tv. But it’s still just one loss. One loss by 7 or 10 wouldn’t be any better except for perception. We weren’t going to the Playoffs this year so all our realistic goals are still out there. I’ll be traveling in from DE again this weekend to cheer on my Panthers. I will be going to the ND game to cheer on the Panthers. This is my team. I support them regardless of wins and losses. After 35 years it will take more than one bad game to ruin my season. I know it was frustrating so get that negativity out of you and get back you heinz on Saturday to cheer this team on.
