Outback Bowl '11: Florida 37, Penn State 24

(Photo: Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

The Gators slammed the door shut on what could have been a very nice season finale. It's time to move forward, on to signing day, spring practice, summer camp, and the 2011 season. But first, let's do a quick review of the game.

What to like. What to hate. What to not freak out about.

Right now...

Review: Michigan State 28, Penn State 22

Penn State managed to end the 2010 regular season with a thud, which happens to be exactly how the season as a whole will be viewed by most fans and media.

Penn State's senior class will be remembered for helping lead the team
 to a 47-17 record over their five seasons in Happy Valley. (Photo: Mike/LBU)

It was the first senior day loss since 1999. It also completed the first winning regular season since 1992 in which Penn State failed to reach eight victories. But all that aside, Penn State did manage to prevent the blowout, actually putting quite the scare into the overly-comfortable Spartans late in the game. It was the kind of never-die attitude that could bode very well for the future of this team. But that's all next season. Let's talk about this season, and this depressing loss, in particular.

What to like. What to hate. What to not freak out about. Right now...

Review: Penn State 41, Indiana 24

Penn State guaranteed itself a .500 finish in the Big Ten race, with the win over Indiana at FedEx Field. Matt McGloin had a career day, while Penn State's special teams came up with a huge go-ahead score in the second half. Indiana wouldn't go down softly, however, as the Hoosiers would put up one heck of a fight.

What to like. What to hate. What to not freak out about. Right now...

Review: Ohio State 38, Penn State 14

(Photo: PennLive.com)

The very highest of highlights, and very lowest of lowlights, from Penn State's dramatic meltdown in Columbus.

It's tough to really get past the terrible second half performance by the Nittany Lions. But for about 30 minutes Saturday afternoon, Penn State was dominating Ohio State like it was 1994. Okay, maybe not that dominant. But it sure felt like Penn State was facing just some Ohio State university, not The Ohio State University.

What to like. What to hate. What to not freak out about. Right now...

Review: Penn State 35, Northwestern 21

The highlights, and lowlights, from Penn State's 35-21 over Northwestern.

Evan Royster rumbled for 134 yards
against the Wildcats. (Photo: Mike/LBU)

My sincere apologies for not posting this sooner. I had a run-in with some of Pennsylvania's bountiful wildlife on the way up for the game. So my entire Monday was shot dealing with insurance and the collision shop. Everything is fine, so I'm happy. But posting things like this so late bugs the hell out of me.

It was one of the more memorable games I've witnessed in person. From the lowest point in the first half, to the wild second half, there was no shortage of excitement for both sides. So, what was there to like, or dislike, about the game? This...

Review: Penn State 41, Michigan 31

That was hands-down the most thrilling game Penn State has played this season. Michigan was coming in with the Heisman candidate on offense; Penn State was mired in a frustrating rebuilding year. It wasn't supposed to be Penn State's night.

The defense wasn't living up to the lofty reputation set by the previous six season of greatness. The offense was as consistent as summer rain patterns in State College. Joe Paterno and the coaches were taking flak from every direction. Oh, and did I mention the Nittany Lions were going to start a walk-on redshirt freshman quarterback, in place of the injured incumbent? Yeah, not a whole lot pointed to a Penn State win.

But then it happened. Michigan went 3-and-out on the first drive. Penn State gained control of the ball--and quite possibly the game itself--marching 71 yards in 14 plays for a 7-0 lead. The game's final outcome may have been decided in that first dual between the offenses, but it would be another 52:34 minutes worth of football before the 108,539 in attendance would find out.

The highlights, and lowlights, from Penn State's 41-31 win over Michigan.

Review: Penn State 33, Minnesota 21

Silas Redd put on a show for Penn State fans, piling up
73 yards for the Nittany Lions against Minnesota.
(AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

Rah Rah!!! The Nittany Lions won a Big Ten game!

Ok, enough of that. It wasn't pretty, but it was convincing in the end. Reeling from two embarrassing performances, Penn State went on the road and did what it had to do. Minnesota may be the worst team in the conference this season. It doesn't matter. Wins are wins, and Penn State sure needs a few more before the season is done.

The defense bent plenty, but never broke enough to lose the game. In fact, it was a few big defensive stops, efficient passing, a strong running game [gasp!] in the second half, and special teams that propelled Penn State to the victory in Minneapolis. Now, I may be crazy here, but doesn't that sound an awful lot like the Penn State teams of old?

Here the roundup from Saturday.

Review: Illinois 33, Penn State 13

This is a tough one.

Penn State hasn't looked this inept in years, if not decades. Illinois came into Beaver Stadium on a mission. Compounding the issue was Penn State not showing up at all. The injuries haven't exactly helped matters, either.

We all knew this wouldn't be Penn State's year; everything was gearing up for a monster 2011 campaign. That's still my bet. But did this year have to be this bad?

The rest of the season will be addressed later this week. Right now we're focused on the Illinois loss. This should be the last time we speak/write of this, so let's get it over with.

Rob Bolden was bound to come back to earth at some point this season,
but did it really have to happen on Homecoming Weekend? (Photo: Mike/LBU)

Here are some things I liked from Saturday, and some things I wasn't crazy about...

Review: Iowa 24, Penn State 3

(Photo: PennLive.com)

The Hawkeyes punched the Nittany Lions right in the gut, going up 10-0 in the first two drives of the game. Penn State was stunned, never recovered, and landed a few punches right back in its own face. This wasn't supposed to be Penn State's year. But the loss still hurt.

Penn State has had an uncanny ability this year to do all the work necessary to win, but somehow manage to screw everything up in just a few plays here and there. That was no more evident than against the Hawkeyes.

The defense played great after the first quarter, which should sound familiar enough on its own considering the Temple game two weeks ago. That initial 15 minutes of play was very frustrating, as I really thought Iowa was going to score 40 on Penn State. But looking back on it, maybe the Penn State offense should have generated more than ONE YARD OF TOTAL OFFENSE the entire first quarter.

Here are some things I liked from Saturday, and some things I wasn't crazy about...

Review: Penn State 22, Temple 13

Temple put quite a scare into the Nittany Lions yesterday, leading the hosts for most of the game. But Penn State dug down deep, played sensational defense in the second half, and put together one of the most impressive clutch drives we've seen in years.

Mike Zordich would not be denied his first career touchdown run, plowing in for the game-clinching fourth quarter score against the visiting Owls.

Don't say Penn State looked bad against a MAC team.

Review: Penn State 24, Kent State 0

Penn State notched its 41st shutout in the Joe Paterno era, blanking Kent State 24-0 on a sun-splashed Saturday in Happy Valley.

Review: Alabama 24, Penn State 3

(Photo: GoPSUsports.com/Mark Selders

Penn State fell to Alabama. Unlike many of the traditional media types, I'm not acting like it was Penn State that was ranked No. 1 and beat by an inferior team. In case you haven't noticed, or have tried to stay away from reading the sports columns this Sunday, you would think this loss was as bad as the Cincinnati loss in 1983, or the Toledo loss in 2000. Hell, Alabama lost at home to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. How do you think that felt?

It's been doom and gloom for the last 24 hours. But, you won't find much of that here. Penn State lost a game it was supposed to lose, to a team that could win a second consecutive national championship.

I struggled through watching the game again today, yet came away from it realizing just how strong Penn State was against the best team in college football.

Review: Penn State 44, Youngstown St 14

Collin Wagner (36) put on a distance-kick
clinic against Youngstown State.

It was a very iffy start, but the biggest question facing the Nittany Lions going into the season opener--"Can Rob Bolden do the job?"--was answered in the most definitive of means.

That and more in today's review of Penn State's 44-14 win over Youngstown State in the season opener. Expect this to be the main format throughout the season for game reviews, with things like players of the game, best unit performances, things that need work, etc. At the end, I'll just go through a few miscellaneous points in the order I noticed them re-watching the game today. On regular game weeks, this post will most likely be done earlier on Sundays. But I had a long travel weekend, which kind of screwed up my timing. Plus, with the extra day off tomorrow, we're delaying some of our stuff until Tuesday, when you're all back at work needing something to read.

Players of the Game

Rob Bolden -- Who else would you pick first? The true freshman did everything (and more) anyone could have dreamed for his collegiate debut. He completed 70 percent of his pass attempts for 239 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception that wasn't completely his fault (Derek Moye fell down mid-route). Bolden never once looked spooked in the pocket, even when defenders breached the offensive line. Granted, Youngstown State isn't Alabama, but Bolden's performance was extremely encouraging going into next week.