Better For The Struggle

I remember the beginning of this season. 

It started so perfectly.  It was warm and sunny, the greens and blues looking so vibrant you thought you were walking through a heightened version of reality. 

We started the season with a boom.  A drubbing of Idaho where it seemed like every single move the team made was the right one. 

The team came out to a thunderous ovation and played like the game against this smaller program mattered to them.  That it was important to do all the little things right on a glorious afternoon and show just how good and talented this team was.

I happened to be on the sideline, using my letterman's pass when Justin Shorter caught his first pass of the young season for a first down.  The first thought that struck me was that the guy looked every bit of 6'5" and could run like a gazelle.  He seemed like an ideal future target for the new starting quarterback to work with.  One of the people working sound for the broadcast commented how unfair it looked to have someone that big run that fast. 

The sideline felt alive, like something about this team was just different.  The electricity of youth, and the fun and enjoyment of the game was palpable.  Players smiling, enjoying themselves, believing and trusting each other.  It looked like the future wasn't around the corner.  The future was right here and right now.

Over the coming months, I was able to watch every single home game in person, and most of every away game on a television.  (There was a beautiful wedding I attended that briefly broke up the streak until we could find a streaming service during cocktail hour.)

The night-time event against Buffalo where the team was down at half-time, and they came from behind and blew them out. 

The Pitt game, where it rained to start and came with a bit of a delay, ended with a satisfying win that closed the door on another chapter of an instate series. 

Then came the domination of Maryland and Purdue.

The hard fought win in an incredible and hostile environment against Iowa.

The insanity of the White-Out against a very strong Michigan team. 

The growth displayed against Michigan State in a cold and wet game that showed the toughness and resiliency of a young group that was continuing to play one game at a time.

Even after the disappointment following a tough loss in Minnesota and a hard earned a win against Indiana, I found myself happy and cheering the successes rather than wallowing in anger about the failures.

Through it all, this has been one of my favorite seasons to watch of Penn State football. 

I love the passion and tenacity of this team.  Game in and game out, I have seen a group of people that absolutely care about the product they put out on the field.  I see a group of people that play for each other and trust each other.  I see the team that I want to cheer for.

That is not to say this team is all love and no physicality.  This is a team that I've had a lot of pleasure watching become physically dominant.  Football is a game that is essentially controlled and choreographed violence, coming together in a competitive fashion.  To be good at the game, a certain level of physical prowess and mentality of finishing are extremely important.

The offensive line is finishing blocks.  The defense pushing would-be blockers into the backfield.  Running backs finishing by falling forward and with authority.  Receivers and tight ends high-pointing balls and making plays after the catch.  In this regard I feel Penn State has made large strides forward overall. 

I want to acknowledge that it hasn't been all roses. Obviously there have been difficulties along the way.  It is fair to have some criticisms.  There have been times that are obviously frustrating. 

We are better for those struggles.

This Saturday Penn State will get an opportunity to play what many believe to be either the best or second best team in the country.  Perhaps they are.  But in any event, we will get an opportunity to play against that team and see how our brand, our style, and our players will compare.

Embrace that moment and enjoy it!  After all, that's the whole purpose of the season from a player's perspective.  To challenge yourself week in and week out to perform your best against the best teams in the country.  It is a game, and if you didn't have fun, what was the point? 

I am writing this article to try and share my own excitement.  My own optimism.  I want other fans to watch this game from the vantage point not of trepidation or pessimism, but one of thankfulness that we get to watch some incredible young people doing incredible things.