The Olympics are by their very nature full of amazing moments orchestrated by some of the best athletes on the entire planet. Many arrive relatively unknown outside of their respective sports and leave national icons.
And such was the case for McKayla Maroney, an American gymnast who would depart the London 2012 Olympics not only as an internet sensation, but with a highlight moment under her belt.
Known simply as The Vault, Maroney completed a series of twists and flips in a matter of a few split seconds that I could not even begin to describe with any accuracy that would do the act justice. The entire four second act summarized by a judge, mouth agape as Maroney stood tall.
Of all the amazing moves Maroney was able to pull off, it was the landing that truly makes the moment. Like drifting a million dollar car into a 30 minute parking space, Maroney turned an already impossible sequence into something unforgettable. A controlled, firm and abrupt stop on the mat below. No extra steps, no acts of balance, just two feet planted and two arms raised above her head.
In many ways Penn State faces this same kind of challenge. Saquon Barkley’s affinity for hurdling defenders aside, the Nittany Lions won’t have to do nearly as much acrobatics to pull it off.
But it’s the dismount and landing that matters now. People don’t remember the flips as much as they remember the landing. They won’t remember the streak of wins against beatable teams, they’ll remember coming close and falling short.
6-0 at home this season is hardly anything to scoff at. Even against reasonably weaker opponents and with the benefit of an unremarkable home slate of games heading into mid November. The challenge now is to find a way to turn all the meat of the routine into something memorable.
“Fortunately” for the Nittany Lions they will face both Michigan teams next. A Top 15 ranked Michigan and a Top 10 ranked Michigan State. Both teams with plenty to play for an both teams with that tag of “marquee victory” to hang on James Franklin’s resume.
The flip side of this is an obvious one. After coming just a field goal shy of 8-2, Penn State could very reasonably and is perhaps completely expected to fall to 7-5 heading into a bowl game. A fairly positive season world would be long departed from the rearview mirror as Penn State settled for a 0-3 streak all against Top 25 teams to close out the regular season.
There is little doubt that Penn State losing to nothing but ranked opponents is far from the worst outcome this season could have offered. However in a world and a sport based on momentum and the ever present “what have you done for me lately?” there is only so much positive energy to be drawn from finishing with two wins in the final six games of the regular season.
If that happens it will be the bowl game which will provide Penn State with one final chance to end the season on a high note.
As of Monday those opponents look no less intimidating. According to the latest ESPN and CBS projections, Penn State could face Oregon, Utah or Arkansas in the postseason. One team a year removed from the college football playoff, another team formerly in this year’s conversation, and an SEC opponent that has been a pest in conference all season.
A ranked opponent would give the Nittany Lions five games against teams ranked the day of the contest, the most since 2006. If you prefer to inflate that figure farther, it would be six opponents of the ranked/eventually ranked variety.
Whatever the case Penn State is likely set up with three more chances to pick up a marquee win and a chance to exit a turbulent season with a positive note. Forget the record, imagine the value of beating Oregon in a bowl game or beating a talented and nationally relevant Utah squad. Or simply beating Michigan this weekend.
The fact Penn State lost to Temple is hardly relevant anymore in the grand scheme of things. But big wins can do a lot when it comes to forgetting an up and down season.
If there’s a coach that could use a solid dismount for the season, it’s James Franklin.
And if there is a program that could use a big win, it’s Penn State.
