It’s been an honor and a privilege covering Penn State football for the past 26 years for Blue White Illustrated. But, at times, it can become frustrating, particularly when preseason practice gets into full swing following Joe Paterno’s Media Day news conference.
About this time every August, just before the start of preseason practice, Penn State football fans are treated to a few cautionary words from Joe Paterno about the upcoming season.
Over the past five recruiting seasons Penn State has experienced a great deal of recruiting success over the summer. It’s not uncommon for Penn State to land between five to 10 verbal commitments from prospects during the months of June, July and August before the start of another football season.
Boy, what a difference a year makes. At this time last year Penn State football fans were on a football recruiting high. The Nittany Lions had just received their fifth and sixth verbal commitments for the Class of 2010.
After watching both the Blue and the White of fenses struggle in the Blue-White Game on April 24, I can fully understand why so many Nittany Lion fans now have major concerns about the upcoming football season.
With all the experimentation taking place in spring practice at quarterback, along the offensive line, at all three linebacker positions on defense and with Chaz Powell and D’Anton Lynn in the secondary, Nittany Lion fans who attend the Blue-White Game on April 24 will get the opportunity to see a considerable number of new players.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss Joe Paterno’s statement this fall if he tells everyone at the beginning of preseason practice in early August, “We are going to open up this season with a very young football team.”
Last year at this time, the Penn State football program was coming off an 11-2 season after entering November with a realistic shot at playing in the national championship game.