Every year, fans, pundits and casual observers alike, wonder if it will be Joe Paterno‘s last as the head coach of Penn State football. Each year, he returns for another go at a Big Ten title and maybe make a little noise on the national scene.
Has it been working? That’s debatable.
On the one hand, Penn State seems to come up with good years about the time the chatter calling for his retirement becomes the loudest. Plus, it wasn’t that long ago (2008) when the Nittany Lions started their season 8-0 and was ranked No. 3 in the nation. Just a year later, they were a runner in the race for the Big Ten title, albeit an outsider looking in.
However, over the last couple of seasons, the Nittany Lions have been anything but a contender for the conference title, and this year, they look as though they may barely be a contender for a bowl game.
In the opening week of the 2011 season, Penn State took good care of Indiana State. It’s hardly a glowing endorsement for Paterno as the head coach he used to be though. After all, Indiana State isn’t in the same division as Penn State. The Nittany Lions should have won easily.
Last week, Penn State was manhandled by Alabama, losing 11-27—a score that is somewhat skewed by the fact that the better part of those points came late in the game when the Crimson Tide had things well in hand.
This week, Penn State came from behind to finally take down Temple 14-10. For most of the game, however, the Nittany Lions trailed. In fact, if not for an interception late in the game, Penn State may have been shocked by the mighty Owls.
Against Alabama, three turnovers cost the Nittany Lions dearly. It could easily be argued that those turnovers were the primary reason Penn State didn’t at least make the game close.
The Lions can’t use the same excuse this week. While they did turn the ball over once more, they benefitted from three Owl turnovers, yet needed the very last one to put them in position to pull out the come-from-behind win.
Besides the fact that Penn State isn’t accomplishing what their program is accustomed to accomplishing, there are more important issues that are working against Joe Pa.
For one, the quarterback situation is becoming almost infuriating.
Robert Bolden and Matthew McGloin have been battling for the starting job (and playing time) for over a year now. Hey coach…it’s time to settle on one and stick with what you’ve got.
There’s a chemistry and rhythm that has to be worked out within the offense. The quarterback largely sets the tempo of that rhythm and dictates what needs to happen with all of the rest of the offense. The constant switching back and forth has kept the offense off balance and out of sync.
Bolden and McGloin have very different styles and very different skill sets. The offense is having a tough time adjusting to the major changes that happen every time a different QB lines up under center. His indecision is killing his team.
What’s more, it’s very much arguable as to whether or not the living legend can still really do the job. The last three weeks have seen Paterno coaching from the coaches box, way up high in the stadium. Still recovering from injuries sustained when he was run over by one of his players during practice, Joe Pa hasn’t been able to be on the sidelines with his troops.
It’s a major hindrance. It’s also a hindrance we saw a lot last year, to ill effects.
I love Joe Paterno. I love that he’s an old school, tough-as-nails legend who has seen more football than I could in two lifetimes.
Still, his job isn’t just to coach. His job is to provide the best opportunity for Penn State to win football games, and with each passing week, it’s becoming apparent that his ship may have sailed.
