Happiness returns to "Happy Valley"
Okay....so, I'm not really a fanatic about any sports. I don't really care that the Yankees beat the Sox yesterday, when March Madness arrives I get mildly excited...but there is one sports team that I am wholeheartedly crazy for and that is Joe Paterno and my Penn State Nittany Lions. I read the boards, I watch the stats, I scream at the T.V....I can honestly say that I become a slightly different person on most Saturdays from September to November.
Yesterday afternoon, as the sun set in Happy Valley, Penn State fans had a new reason to smile. For the first time this century (which feels odd to say), the Nittany Lions are 5-0 after cleaning house against the then 18th ranked Minnesota Gophers. To see 78 year old Joe Paterno leave the field with a smile on his face was a sight to behold. Talk about a man who has given his life and soul to a football team (and a University). The man believes in turning out great people, not just great football players. He has one of the highest graduation rates in the country and has raised more money for the University than I could even fathom.
But, it's wins and losses that most fans care about and, after losing seasons the last 4 out of 5 years, many PSU faithful were calling for Paterno's retirement. Which makes our return to the national picture (on the backs of some AMAZING freshman recruits, another sign that the old dog has a few tricks left up his sleeve) a bit sweeter for those of us who have kept the faith. There's a swagger on this team that hasn't been there in quite awhile. And the hope that Paterno can have one more great season to cap off an amazing career seems to be slowly becoming a reality.
Why college football, you may ask? Well, there is something about pride. College football is not about money, it's not about huge contracts or salary caps, players aren't traded, etc. It's about a team. Young players gaining experience, trying to get to the next level. It's about tradition, not the individual. And right now, Penn State is beginning to polish off that tradition for the rest of the nation to take notice.
Next week, Ohio State comes to town and we'll see where we really stand. But for now, the sun has set over Mt. Nittany and the Pride of the Lions is back.
WE ARE......PENN STATE!
Yesterday afternoon, as the sun set in Happy Valley, Penn State fans had a new reason to smile. For the first time this century (which feels odd to say), the Nittany Lions are 5-0 after cleaning house against the then 18th ranked Minnesota Gophers. To see 78 year old Joe Paterno leave the field with a smile on his face was a sight to behold. Talk about a man who has given his life and soul to a football team (and a University). The man believes in turning out great people, not just great football players. He has one of the highest graduation rates in the country and has raised more money for the University than I could even fathom.
But, it's wins and losses that most fans care about and, after losing seasons the last 4 out of 5 years, many PSU faithful were calling for Paterno's retirement. Which makes our return to the national picture (on the backs of some AMAZING freshman recruits, another sign that the old dog has a few tricks left up his sleeve) a bit sweeter for those of us who have kept the faith. There's a swagger on this team that hasn't been there in quite awhile. And the hope that Paterno can have one more great season to cap off an amazing career seems to be slowly becoming a reality.
Why college football, you may ask? Well, there is something about pride. College football is not about money, it's not about huge contracts or salary caps, players aren't traded, etc. It's about a team. Young players gaining experience, trying to get to the next level. It's about tradition, not the individual. And right now, Penn State is beginning to polish off that tradition for the rest of the nation to take notice.
Next week, Ohio State comes to town and we'll see where we really stand. But for now, the sun has set over Mt. Nittany and the Pride of the Lions is back.
WE ARE......PENN STATE!
posted by J.T. at 7:47 PM
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