Michigan State 55, Penn State 16: Shame/John Donavan fired

Photo creds to www.usatoday.com

Since I started writing about Penn State football this season, I have written two negative articles after losing efforts. The first post came after week one when the Nittany Lions lost to Bill Cosby's Temple Owls for the first time since FDR was president. The second post came after Penn State lost a very winnable game at Northwestern. This article comes from yesterday's 55-16 loss to the Michigan State Spartans. When Penn State lost the first two games that prompted my negative reactions, my emotions were filled with anger and frustration. When I watched the embarrassment that took place in East Lansing on Saturday, my emotions were filled with just sadness.


It wasn't a game that made me want to throw anything or punch a wall. It wasn't a game that ruined the rest of my day, as I have learned that it is not healthy to let a sporting event do that to my brain. It was a game that saddened me as to what Penn State football has become. It's not that I expected Penn State to win yesterday, as Michigan State is one of the best teams in the nation and certainly better than my Nittany Lions. It wasn't that I even expected the game to be very close, as I figured Sparty would win by at least a two touchdown margin, which I would have accepted. What ended up taking place at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 28th, 2015 was an absolute embarrassment to the Penn State football program.


After a fairly close first half, the Spartans undressed the once mighty Nittany Lions in the final 30 minutes and ended up winning by a 39 point margin. Michigan State capped off Penn State's embarrassment when Jack Allen, their center, that's right, their center, ran in for a touchdown to give Michigan State their final 7 points of the day. It was the ultimate case of pouring salt into the wound, and Penn State deserved it. Penn State's last three games have been hard, and Saturday's game was depressing to see. 55-16 losses are supposed to happen to Purdue and Rutgers, not to Penn State. The Nittany Lions were pathetic yesterday, and there is no excuse.



I don't want to hear that the Penn State defense was banged up. I don't want to hear that the score does not indicate how close the game was, and I don't even want to hear performances like yesterday pinned on the sanctions. Yes, the punishments that were handed down by Mark Emmert and the NCAA back in 2012 have had a lasting impact on the program, but that does not excuse yesterday's performance or, for that matter, this season. The talent that Penn State has at their disposal in spite of those sanctions could have performed better yesterday, and they could have been better than a 7-5 football team.



James Franklin does not have an alibi. This is his team now, and the program is not making progress under his watch. Franklin is a good man and a very good recruiter, but he has yet to prove that he can be a good coach for this historic school, in spite of having a solid defense and ultra talented QB in his arsenal. In his first two seasons in State College, Franklin has had 6 chances to knock off a top 25 opponent and has cashed in on none of them. That statistic is telling as to how minimal the progress has been since Franklin was hired in January of 2014



Franklin will unquestionably be on the Beaver Stadium sideline when Penn State opens up their 2016 campaign against Kent State on September 3rd, but if there is not progress made next season, the higher ups in Happy Valley should at least begin to consider finding a new man for the job. As coaches such as Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer have proven over the years, great coaching trumps great recruiting, and the time for Penn State to look in another direction might not be terribly far away.



Several Penn State alumni took to Twitter to express their displeasure, as can be seen is this article. http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football-news/4662299-penn-state-michigan-state-score-result-winner-stats-former-players-rip-james-franklin. Who could blame them? This weekend has not been a total loss for Penn State fans, however, as offensive coordinator John Donovon was fired today. Donovon's predictable play calling in my mind held Christian Hackenberg, and, therefore, the entire offense back. His offense was simply not suited for the athletes he was coaching, and I'm speculating that not a lot of tears were shed in Central Pennsylvania when the announcement was made early Sunday afternoon.

photo creds to www.collegin.psu.edu

Almost as much to blame as Donovan for the offense's shortcomings is offensive line coach Herb Hand. Penn State's offensive line has been repulsive the past two seasons, and their prized QB has suffered greatly as a result. It's not kind to wish for a person to lose his job, but I think it would be in the best Interest of Penn State football if Hand were let go as well.



Times are hard for Penn State football, and all we can do is hope for an encouraging bowl game performance (although it will not salvage this season) and better days ahead. I will leave my fellow members of Nittany Nation with a tune that we all can relate to.