Lions reach pivotal point of season

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, September, 2006 | by Frank Fitzpatrick

Penn State figures to have a Kafka-esque experience this afternoon against Northwestern. And whether the 2-2 Nittany Lions treat it as The Trial or The Metamorphosis of the season should reveal a lot about their future. The 2-2 Wildcats, with quarterback Mike Kafka still struggling to fill the departed Brett Basanez's substantial shoes, figure to answer more questions about Penn State than any of the Lions' previous four opponents.

There was little surprising about Joe Paterno's team in easy home victories over Akron and Youngstown State or in tough road losses to top opponents at Notre Dame and Ohio State. If quarterback Anthony Morelli can get the Nittany Lions' sputtering offense to roll over Big Ten foe Northwestern, a 19-point underdog, Penn State will feel a little...