All is not Happy in the Valley

Sporting News, The, Sept 11, 2000

We should have listened to Joe Paterno.

All along, he said Penn State wasn't that good, that it had holes to fill--and lots of them. Most were on defense, where the Nittany Lions had to replace eight starters.

But we have heard such talk before. Call it Paterno-speak. Each year, it's woe is Penn State. Then it's--wow, Penn State. The team Paterno was dissing turns out to be a juggernaut.

The seven-win countdown to victory No. 324, which would move Paterno past Bear Bryant for the lead in career Division I-A victories, was about to begin this season regardless of what Paterno said. But after the Nittany Lions followed a 29-5 season-opening loss to USC with a 24-6 home-opening defeat to Toledo, it looks like it's time to postpone the party. Happy Valley is no longer Pleasantville.

"I think we have to take a realistic look at whether we're any good," says Paterno, whose team plays at home Saturday against Louisiana Tech.

The loss makes Penn State 0-2 for the first time since 1990. The Lions, who have 308 yards offense (36 rushing) this season, could be headed for their first losing season since 1988.

The most severe problems are on offense, which was supposed to be a strength. Much has been made of Paterno's decision to play quarterback Rashard Casey despite Casey being charged with aggravated assault of an off-duty police officer in the offseason.

Now Casey may lose the job based on his play. If that happens, it mercifully would defuse a distracting situation that figures to hang over the squad all season.

But the current offensive misfires are not all Casey's fault, and he gives the offense its best chance to succeed.

The biggest problem is the offensive line, which is a sieve. The unit has been hit by injuries, and it was shuffled after the loss to USC, but there was little improvement against Toledo. The quarterbacks are pressured quickly, and the running backs have no holes. Further exasperating Penn State's passers is a group of receivers with bad hands.

On defense, tackling is poor. For the second game in a row, safety James Boyd

led Penn State in tackles. His 16 stops against Toledo were more than the combined total of the starting linebackers. The defensive line was manhandled as Toledo rushed for 245 yards.

The Nittany Lions must win seven of their remaining 10 games to qualify for a bowl. Don't expect that to happen. It's time to build for next season. --T.D

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4

After scoring just one defensive touchdown last season, Ohio State scored four in its 43-10 victory over Fresno State. CB David Mitchell returned a fumble and an interception for scores, SS Mike Doss recovered a fumble in the end zone, and LB Matt Wilhelm returned an interception for a touchdown.

231

Temple, which finished last among Division I teams in rushing last year, opened with 231 yards on the ground in a 17-6 victory over Navy. The Owls, who averaged 59.7 yards rushing last year, got 180 yards from sophomore RB Tanardo Sharps.

2

The number of goal posts that came crashing down after South Carolina ended the nation's longest losing streak (21 games) by beating New Mexico State, 31-0.