“Moving the sticks” is typically a colloquialism for “getting first downs.” For the Penn State football team in 2024, moving the Sticks also means that No. 11 (a metaphorical pair of sticks, for those who don’t speak LaVar-ese), Abdul Carter, is moving from linebacker to defensive end.
This could mean some nightmares for opposing offensive tackles, but it is also symbolic of a Penn State team that will be experiencing a great deal of change this year in terms of both personnel and scheme. While many of these changes, including Carter’s intriguing position switch, seem like they have a good chance of being positive, the sheer number of them will more than likely lead to some growing pains for the Nittany Lions as they enter the “Less Exclusive Playoff Invite” era of college football.
Penn State has three new coordinators. Though James Franklin intimidated recently that this might mean not that many more new plays but simply new ways of naming them, that’s still a lot of learning for, well, the entire roster to do during the remainder of the spring, preseason camp and likely at least a few games into the season.
The deep breath before the plunge: Pause for reflection and then crank some Steppenwolf: Nittany Nation is taking a magic carpet ride.
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I was fortunate enough to pen the first words published to this offbeat corner of the Penn State blogosphere following the Nittany Lions’ Rose Bowl victory (the last “real Rose Bowl” ever staged, in all likelihood) that capped the 2022 football season, so I’m digging the symmetry of being once again honored with this chance to author the final thoughts to appear here before this new season kicks off. In fact, I’ll be here every week; all throughout the season, I will be your humble blogger (Blogy-er?) for what we once called “Football Eve” ‘round Happy Valley parts.
This is going to be a column about the journey from late August to early January, one we all take together alongside our champions in Blue and White, and I hope it will be a chance to set the tone and frame a narrative heading into each Saturday. Other competent and capable folks, on this platform and several others, will equip you with the knowledge, analysis, and statistics to own your text thread or tailgate. They’ve got you covered in that department. For my part, I’ll seek to help you orient yourself as a small, but nevertheless crucial character in the much larger unfolding story of a season.
Only an exhibition, Penn State’s Blue-White Game sometimes serves as a grand stage for many soon forgotten one-hit wonders.
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So I was asked to write about some noteworthy Nittany Lions whose standout success in the Spring game never translated to the regular season, players who shined brightly on Blue-White Saturday, never to be heard from again. Before we get to it though, please indulge me in a brief digression.
Here’s a hypothetical I love using as a conversation-starter: What kind of band would you rather be a part of: a one-hit wonder that bursts onto the scene with blinding brilliance before quickly flaming out, or a critical darling with a devoted cult following that never becomes a breakthrough commercial success? Would you choose one turn under the brightest lights at the expense of longevity, ending up an occasional punchline, but also the author of one undeniably great work that entertained the masses? Or would you take the path of the steady, but less spectacular, contented with exchanging household name status for a lengthy career? Would you rather play in Dexy’s Midnight Runners or the Tragically Hip?
It’s a great discussion. God bless my dear friend and great Penn Stater Chris G. Miller, who has the wisdom to choose the Hip and their lauded discography. There’s a lot to be said for decades of contentment. If I’m being honest, though, I want that one brass ring. If I can make one thing that lives on through frat parties and wedding receptions long after I’m worm food, I’m taking that shot.
The Blue-White Game is easy to take for granted. It has some of the perks of a game that counts – tailgating, a chance to yell at players (or coaches … or officials), a look at incredible athletes making plays mortals could only dream about, and uh, tailgating – without the possibility of a crushing defeat. Everybody plays, no one gets (actually) sacked, LaVar stops by to chat. It’s a great time for all ages.
At the same time, Penn State’s annual spring game, back in Beaver Stadium for the first time in three years on Saturday, is also the very definition of empty calories. That’s partially because no coach in his right mind wants to give any future opponent any hint of a playbook wrinkle, or risk anyone on his two-deep to injury, and partially because there are no bowl ramifications (at least not any that I’m aware of).
And yet, there are some things to watch for that can provide clues about the type of team the Nittany Lions have in any given year. You want to see proficiency. Guys don’t need to pancake a linebacker or making a diving interception, but you want to see them in the right spots and playing sound, fundamental football. You want to see the returning starters be a little bigger, stronger and more decisive than they were the previous November, sure, but you also want the likely backups to show that they’re capable of handling shotgun snaps filling in for an injured starter and not have the air go out of the entire unit.