The Weekend that WASN'T...

This past weekend has left me with an unsatisfied and bitter taste in my mouth.

Let's recap, shall we?

Game #1 PSU-Michigan
In what was the crown jewel of my football weekend, a win here would have left every other game a moot point. Alas, Penn State came up short and more to the point Lloyd Carr weaseled his way into this ridiculous "W". After the game I watched all the highlight shows expecting at least someone, anyone to point out that Michigan's game winning last play with 1-second on the clock was made possible by Carr's lobbying for 2 more seconds to be added moments earlier. Or by the fumble that was, but wasn't reviewed on the final drive. Or the seemingly countless favorable spots U of M received throuh the whole game. NOTHING! In typical HypESPN fashion only the slick highlights and Manninghams TD catch were the story.

It's one thing to lose on the road to Michigan. It's another thing to get totally jobbed out of an undefeated season.

Commence the bitterness.

Game #2 USC-Notre Dame
Through the miracles of modern technology (and by wheeling a second TV screen into the living room), I was able to watch the Golden Domers battle it out with USC at the same time PSU was getting hosed at the Big House. This was another thriller. In fact the two games shared similar ebbs & flows during the final moments...

M-Rob slices through for the go ahead TD, B-Quinn does likewise. PSU gives up a long play in the final minute, Notre Dame does likewise. Michigan gets time put back on the clock, USC does likewise. Michigan converts a TD for the win, USC does likewise.

Bitterness building to an all-new level.

Game #3 Jaguars-Steelers
For the trifecta, the Steelers were able to take a sure OT win and turn it into a crushing OT loss.

In spite of the unbelievably poor play of QB Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh fought it's way to OT against the Jags. Coin flip, Steelers win! Kickoff returned to the Jacksonville 35-yard line! Sweet! Run Jerome Bettis up-the-gut a couple of times and set up the Jeff Reed game winner. NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! How about a Tommy Maddox fumble, followed by a Tommy Maddox INT for a Jacksonville game winning TD instead.

I'm now the mayor of Bitter-town.

... a weekend like this needs to be crumpled up and thrown in the trash. No sense in dwelling on this kind of bitterness. There's always next week and there's always Illinois.

Open Mouth... Insert Foot

Stewart Mandel of SI.com... come on down!

Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette... your crap-burger is ready.

All the Chat-room "sad jacks"... the line for the bandwagon starts way back there.


It's time to take your medicine folks. All you nay-sayers who whined that Joepa was washed up... That he couldn't recruit anymore... That his system and schemes were too out-dated... That his son Jay didn't know what he was doing... That had PSU marked down for 3-4 win season at best... LET THE CROW EATING BEGIN!

I debated on whether or not to let bye-gones be bye-gones, welcome you back to the family with open arms, but instead I think I'll let you blow in the wind a little.

I think ESPN.com's Pat Forde says it best...

"Being Penn State means being a player on the national scene once again. It means a 5-0 record for the first time since 1999, the end of an 11-game losing streak against ranked opponents, an impending national ranking, a ton of hype for Ohio State's arrival next Saturday and happy chants echoing through Happy Valley. It means the Nittany Lions stand alongside Alabama, Nebraska and Notre Dame in the Resurgent Old Money Program department."

So, see you later suckers! Enjoy your nice fat slice of humble-pie. Served up, Joepa style!