Dispensing Thoughts & Opinions: Penn State vs. Michigan

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• Perhaps we’ve reached the ACCEPTANCE stage of grief, because we’re all out of spittle, all out of veins bulging from our angry foreheads, all out of cuss words, all out of pillows to scream into, all out of reasons to let this forever-good/never-“ELITE” program ruin our afternoon. THIS IS PENN STATE FOOTBALL…a cockroach that feasts in the comfortable obscurity of also-ran BTN/ESPN 2 broadcasts, but scatters and disappears when the bright lights flip on. It’s one thing to lose to Michigan on the road. It’s quite another to have Joel Klatt twist the knife by saying, “I don’t know how this game could have been any closer than (41-17)?” That comment stings worse than rubbing alcohol on a knee scrape because it’s 100 percent accurate. For two programs that recruit and sign the same caliber of player, this was Varsity vs. JV, at best.

• What word best describes the current state of Penn State Football? Lots of good, printable choices out there (and plenty more unprintable choices, as well), but after 18 seconds of pondering, we’re picking STALE. It just feels the same…perpetually gunning the gas with new hires, flashy recruits, facility upgrades, and big-boy contract extensions that do nothing but spin the tires and dig a deeper hole as Michigan and Ohio State pull ahead. And if you’re highly-caffeinated Penn State AD Pat Kraft that’s a big, big problem. Not easy to reach into the pockets and open the wallets of the apathetic.

• Anyone else feel dumb for thinking this team was different than the 2021 team? Or the 2019 team? Or the 2018 team? Or the 2017 team?

• Along those same lines, despite the company/party talking points that will spew like sewage from coaches and players mouths this week, why should any of us believe a 2021-esque collapse isn’t inevitable?

• Have to assume Mike Yurcich grossly misread how his offensive personnel would match-up against Michigan’s defensive personnel…because given the obvious mismatch in speed, strength and talent, we expected more creativity out of the veteran playcaller. Seemed like Yurcich felt he could just do what he’s done through 5 games and find success. Obviously, that was not the case.

• Not a great day for Manny Diaz. Understatement of the century. Still, as we brace for the waves of bootleg Mr. Worldwide Cane fans to flood the comment section of every PSU D Film Study we produced this preseason, this feels more like an outlier than the Titanic hitting an iceberg. Not easy to hear that right now, especially when your defense getting gashed for 400+ yards on the ground, but we’re not totally worried. Not yet, anyway. Check back with us in a week and 6 or so hours when run-heavy Minnesota – Kirkland-brand Michigan, if you will – leaves Happy Valley.

• Not sure what else to type…Michigan and its Maize Out crowd lifted its leg and marked their territory.