Thoughts From The Valley

The Hangover

How I am feeling: Not as horrible as you might think. Yes, I am disappointed. Deflated, even. But the fact is, my Nittany Lions didn't make the plays they needed to make out there in Iowa City. You take a 9-point lead into the fourth quarter, you're supposed to win. The Nits didn't. So they simply were not of national-championship caliber. That being said, I am not exactly going to complain about my boys being 9-1 and ranked in the Top 10. Nor am I going to complain about the opportunity the Nits still have ahead of them: Win the next two, and we go to Pasadena. I just hope they realize this. Also, there's this: On Sunday, in front of at least 17 quasi-interested fans in Flourtown, Pa., Your Editor's son, Young Jack, scored his first official goal of his soccer career. Your Editor was so proud.

What I am drinking: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Kudos to Friend of TCFA and Pitt Panther fan Scott Burke for bringing over a case of this fine seasonal brew on Saturday evening. It helped comfort Your Editor when Penn State lost to Iowa. Wow. Typing those words is difficult.

What I am listening to: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 40 in G-Minor. I am not exactly in a celebratory mood today, folks. So Mahler it is.

My thoughts on the weekend: Here's the thing, folks.

Losing sucks.

Try as I might, I could not help but let that horrible loss in Iowa City dampen my spirits Saturday night. I tried to tell myelf it wasn't so bad. I tried to tell myself that the season was still a good one. I tried to force myself to not be depressed. I tried to reason that my mood should not be altered by the results of game played 800 miles away by people I've never met.

Of course, none of that worked.

Once Penn State lost, the rest of the day was somewhat of a haze. Granted, this could have been because I was drinking Manhattans during the game, and as we know, Manhattans should not be consumed prior to dinner hour. But that wasn't the main reason I was in a haze. No, the main reason I was in a haze was I was so completely disoriented.

I mean, Penn State hadn't lost a game for like a year, folks.

I had gotten used to enjoying my Saturday nights. Watching GameDay Final. Enjoying the late games. Having a stake in the late games.

Well, last night, I didn't enjoy any of that stuff. Not the Texas Tech game. Not even the end of the 'Bama game. I didn't watch GameDay Final and I didn't watch Big Ten Network. I didn't watch any of it, because even if I did, I wouldn't have enjoyed it.

I mean, who wants to see highlights of a heartbreaking loss?

Saturdays.

They're great.

Except when you lose.

Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust

 

 

Three: One more note about the crushing, deflating, season-changing loss for Penn State, folks. I was talking to my good friend and Longtime TCFA Supporter Dr. Thomas Slattery on Sunday. Tom said he had decided that the Iowa loss counted as the most heartbreaking he has has experienced as a Penn State fan. And I can see where he's coming from, of course. But Your Editor would have to disagree. When it comes to Penn State heartbreak, folks, the discussion begins and ends with Penn State-Minnesota in 1999 and Penn State-Michigan 2005. After the former, an old friend of Your Editor, known simply as The Rock, took a slug from a bottle of Banker's Club Vodka and declared, "This is the worst day of my life." After the latter, Your Editor ended up laying on his back, staring the night Erie sky, asking God why he had forsaken me. So yeah, those were worse. And hey, here's some good news: Even with the loss, the Nits are still No. 1 in the latest Big Ten Network Power Rankings!

Two ...: Call me crazy, folks, but I think Texas Tech is pretty good. Some stats from the Red Raiders' 56-20 win over No. 9 Oklahoma State: Quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 456 yards and six touchdowns. Wideout Michael Crabtree caught three touchdown passes, and now has 18 on the season—best in the country. In total, the Red Raiders amassed 629 yards of total offense. They basically dstroyed the same Oklahoma State team that mighty Texas barely beat. Is there a better team in the country than Texas Tech right now? Answer: No. We are witnessing the arrival of a new college football powerhouse. That is, provided coach Mike Leach doesn't leave for Tennessee.

One ...: I don't like to say, "I told you so," folks. Of course you know I don't. But you know what? I told you so about Minnesota-Michigan. I don't think Minnesota is a bad team. I don't think Michigan is a good team. But I do think that Minnesota is scared of those winged helmets. And they played like it. After starting 7-1, Minnesota has now dropped two straight. Time for Gophers fans to get nervous.

Touchdown ...: Now what? Well, that's the question, isn't? With Penn State out of the national title picture (barring some miracle of miracles), with USC saddled with that early-season loss to Oregon State, with Florida having lost to Ole Miss (though ESPN is busy trying to strike this game from the record), and with Alabama and Texas Tech still the only remaining BCS conference undefeated teams, you might think that the national title picture is pretty much settled. And you know what? I think you'd be right. I am going to go ahead and say it now: Neither the Red Raiders nor the Tide will lose again this year. Book it: Alabama vs. Texas Tech in the national championship game.