Penn State’s football season has consisted of two interesting early season games. The opponents of the games were as different as two opponents can be. In the first game they faced Youngstown State and were able to overwhelm them quite easily. Their next opponent, the University of Alabama, is the number one ranked team in the country, and Penn State found itself on the side of being overwhelmed. At this point, they found themselves with a one-on-one record and not quite sure how good of a team they are. They had two non-conference games left to figure it out before starting Big Ten play.
Thir opening game was an easy win. Within the FCS division, Youngstown State is a good team, but it was no match. Penn State’s true freshman starting quarterback Robert Bolden played very well, but he didn’t get much pressure and the coaches didn’t make tough plays. Bolden was as comfortable in the pocket as a beloved patient in an Illinois assisted living home. His running backs, led by the experienced Evan Royster, managed to average 4.6 yards per carry.
Last year, because of his age and the excitement, it looked as if head coach Joe Paterno was going to be taken off the field into a cardiac rehab program. After the first game, coach Paterno seemed comfortable and optimistic. Although he was nervous about having a true rookie quarterback, Coach Paterno seemed pleased with his decision. The Alabama game was a week away and Bolden would start.
The need for a cardiac rehab program for fans may have increased when Bolden and the offense self-destructed three times deep in Alabama territory. With the defense unable to effectively stop Alabama’s offense, the team relied on the offense to produce. Unfortunately, Penn State’s offense committed three turnovers at crucial moments in the game. Bolden was responsible for two of them, as he threw two interceptions. Without these turnovers, the game might have looked different than the final score of 24-3.