Why This Time Might Be Different

I’ve been wrestling with it all week. 

Chances are, if you’re on the optimistic end of the Penn State spectrum like me, you have too. 

Why does this time feel different? 

It’s been plaguing the back of my brain since right around the time of Daequan Hardy’s second punt return for a touchdown on Saturday. 

Why does this time, of all times, feel different as Penn State heads to Columbus for another matchup with Ohio State? 

Why do I have a shred of optimism? Why am I so not negative about Penn State’s chances? 

Why have I allowed myself to get my hopes up? Why have I fallen for this feeling – maybe even harder than before – that has not ended well for me the last six years? 

Maybe, it’s because this time, Penn State and more importantly James Franklin appear to be different. 

Is this Penn State team or is this Penn State coach different for sure? I don’t know, and that’s why there’s a football game to be played at noon in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. But I can tell you that the drug that is optimism has once again led me down the path of hope as Penn State tries to win in Columbus for the first time since 2011. 

Games like this are the beauty – and the pain – of being a sports fan. You trade belief for struggle, year after year after year, until that one year. 

And the last time Penn State fans experienced that year, it was 2016. That was seven years ago. 

Since then, collectively, we’ve witnessed the pain of 4th and five, a late collapse after a dash of hope from Saquon Barkley’s opening kick return and most recently, J.T. Tuimmolau’s epic fourth quarter. 

Ryan Day has had Penn State’s – and James Franklin’s – number like he’s Tommy Tutone. 

Over the course of Franklin’s Penn State tenure, the Nittany Lions are 1-8 against their western Big Ten neighbors. Since Day took over, Franklin’s squad is 0-4 against Brutus. 

For as much has been made about this season being about two games – Saturday’s and one against Michigan – the Ohio State hump is more like a mountain for Franklin. He’s beaten Harbaugh. He’s even beaten Harbaugh in Michigan, albeit without fans.

But Franklin’s only got the best of the Buckeyes one time.

I recognize I’m making Ohio State to be this mythical beast more powerful than Thanos. But there’s no reason to believe that this Ohio State team is any different than the last six iterations. It’s got a stout defense and Marvin Harrison Jr. in its infinity gauntlet.

Add in the fact that Penn State will have to do it on the road with a young starting quarterback and my optimism starts to look like insanity.

There’s also evidence to suggest Penn State has played no one. Ohio State has played a decent Notre Dame team and the best opponent on Penn State’s schedule to date is 4-2 West Virginia. Sorry, Iowa. 

So once again, I ask myself, why do I believe in this Penn State football team?

Why have do I, more than any other year, since 2011, have confidence that this Nittany Lions team can steal one from Ohio State? And not just Ohio State but Ohio State in their own place? 

Logically, I can lay it out for you. 

To begin, we turn to Manny Diaz and his beautiful head of hair. He has this defense more finely sharpened than ever before. Penn State is the only team in the country allowing less than 200 yards per game. It’s given up just one passing touchdown all season. It generated a turnover margin of +10. 

It’s not just good. It’s the best Penn State defense any of us have seen in at least 25 years. 

Complimenting that is Penn State’s offense. The Lions have put up at least 30 points every single game so far. Drew Allar, while maybe not as explosive as you’d like, has been smart and efficient with the ball. It’s even getting healthy at the right time with the return of Harrison Wallace III and JB Nelson. 

And of course, there is the head football coach. Franklin has seemed to have an edge to him this year with a focus that he has to get to the playoffs in the four-team era and make the most of now. Franklin has been assertive with his fourth down decision making and patient with his offense by grinding opponents out. He’s put public pressure on himself with comments about needing more support from the school and Saturday is the first chance to see that through.

Those are all of the logical things that you or I can point to and say, yes, Penn State has the best chance at beating Ohio State its maybe ever had under Franklin. 

But emotionally, mentally and even spiritually in the church of college football fandom, why does this time feel different? 

That’s what I can’t quite put my finger on. There is the lingering echo inside my brain that won’t let me move on.

As a sports fan – and more particularly a college football fan – you can feel like you know your team better than anyone else. You’re sure that this weekend is your team’s weekend.

This is the one.  

And then they go lose by two touchdowns and you’re angry at yourself that you once again got your hopes up. 

But if you didn’t love that feeling – that optimism – that this year is different, then what keeps bringing you back after that pain? 

It’s within that faithful optimism you put your tithe of hope because sometimes, it’s not logical. 

Sometimes, it’s just a feeling.

And sometimes, you just need to see what happens. 

If you’ve enjoyed this content, please consider supporting StuffSomersSays.com.

Share This Article

Updated Ryan Day’s record vs. James Franklin.