Penn State’s Paterno has no peers

by Joseph Birmingham

Saturday September 12, 2009 

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Daryll Clark had another solid start and ran his quarterback rating to a gaudy 166.4 with a win against Syracuse.  The rebuilding  Orangemen really never stood a chance.

The Lions allowed a lone touchdown, just as they did in week 1 against Akron.  This game was a lot more lopsided than this final score represents given that Penn State had a 17 play 95 yard 9 minute drive that resulted in no points, and Syracuse’s lone score came at the end of the game on a 16 yard 1 play drive after a fumble when the game no longer was at stake.

This game could easily have been 49-0 Penn State, but again, Paterno has never been the sort of coach to run up the score, and you may argue at his age he simply does not have that killer instinct to finish a game strong.  I know the JoPa of the 1960’s and 1970’s would never have permitted a touchdown in the final minutes of a game following a turnover. He would have urged his players to step it up and limit the opponent to a field goal, just as a matter of principle.

Perhaps the winningest active coach in NCAA division I history has mellowed with age ?  And with word coming down that Bobby Bowden is about to suffer sanctions and get stripped of some victories in 2006 and 2007 it appears as if Paterno will remain number 1 in division 1 forever more.

Now the only real challenge remaining to these Lions is the #8 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State has their hands full with a talented USC team ranked in the top five in today’s game.  It is possible, given their schedule, the Lions could lose to Ohio State and retain the Big Ten conference title.

If you just look at Daryll Clark and Evan Royster’s performances, it is hard to see how any one on the Lions schedule can beat this team.  It is far more likely that the Lions will make enough mistakes to lose a game, rather than have an opponent beat them fair and square.

Penn State improved to 23-4 against Syracuse since Paterno became coach, but even the venerable one acknowledged that his team lacks the put it away instinct more typical of his teams of yesteryear.  In typical JoPa fashion however, he did not back down,   “We’ve played well enough to win two games, period, that’s all I know,” Paterno said, “and we got to get better.”

That’s saying something. But gladly, Penn State has several more games that can be considered tune ups on their schedule this year before getting a real challenge where uneven play like they have demonstrated so far could cost them the W.  I believe Paterno will have them ready; with a preseason ranking at 8 or 9 depending on the poll you go by Penn State may be able to contend for a national title with an undefeated season.  And at his current age, this may be one of JoPa’s last serious opportunities to finish number 1.  Or at least until we see what he pulls out of his hat for next season !

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