Vol. 119, No. 32 Jan. 7-9, 2019 Penn State football fans Living with loss: react to Citrus Bowl defeat By Lilly Forsyth 21,000 members. He noted the but the future is bright!” “The job of a THE DAILY COLLEGIAN team recycled five different plays Cantor, 17, chose to be more coach is to get and three formations, despite a positive because he said the your players in the As the Nittany Lions battled month of preparation before the team is still young and develop- right place at the the Wildcats during the Citrus game. ing. right time… you Bowl, another turf war was be- “It’s a young team with lim- “I think if you’re a true can’t make the ing waged on the screens of Penn ited experience, especially in that fan, it’s hard to be nega- plays for them,” State fans. kind of situation where you have tive on your team,” Cantor he said. “You don’t Fans took to the internet to a long layoff of over a month, and said in an interview. know what [the critique the team while others you’ve got a quarterback that’s Looking at the way McSorely other coaches and expressed unwavering devotion. hurt, which limits what you can concluded his Penn State foot- players] are telling The conflicting stances led to do,” Neville, 25, said. “[Trace ball career, Cantor was quick them.” lengthy virtual debates — some McSorley]’s been hurt most of to announce the quarterback Perambo was more passionate than the year… so it’s kind of as the best in the history of the more critical of others. been a trend through school. special teams, not- The University the second half of the “I wanted to see him go out ing many missed of Kentucky led season.” winning in a bowl game but points from field on the score- Neville went unfortunately you can’t change goals. However, board through- on to explain that,” Cantor said. “You’ve just he said that no one out the entire the “sink- got to support him now that specifically can be game, causing fans ing” feel- he’s gone and hope he can to blame. to worry and express ing he make it in the NFL.” “You have to concern via Twitter, Facebook has expe- Another Instagram user, look at the game and Instagram. While fan interac- rienced sev- Eric Correll, defended Frank- in its entirety tion during sports games is noth- eral times lin against those calling for his rather than a call,” ing new, the commentary during since termination. Perambo said. “If Penn State football’s most recent 2016 as “Really? He prepped the you make that call game was especially plentiful, he watched the Nittany Lions special teams and they didn’t and it’s right, you’re though varied in opinion. lose games they began with large execute,” Correll wrote. a genius, and if Many were critical of head leads. “Field goal at the end of the you don’t, you’re a coach James Franklin’s coach- “All of a sudden you take your game was the absolute right dog.” ing, with a few commentators in- foot off the gas… and you say, call with three time outs, 4 He explained that sisted he be fired or demoted to a ‘Well, here it goes,’” Neville said. [minutes] left and Kentucky years ago such a loss recruiter. “You could almost put a clock to completely reeling. Get a would have ruined Facebook user Terry Kreiser it.” clue or pick a new team if you his entire month, but called out the “terrible” play call- In a household filled with Uni- want Franklin out.” now he places less ing throughout the game. versity of Michigan and Ohio The term “fair weather emphasis on the out- “[They] go for it on 4th down State University fans — schools fan” was thrown around sev- come of games. early on [their] own side of the that are well-known rivals of Penn eral times, sparking a min- When asked field,” Kreiser commented on State — Neville said he “takes the iature debate itself as people about his feelings Penn State Football’s Facebook abuse and laughs about it.” As a denied, redefined and questioned towards negative page, “Then when [they] should dedicated Red Socks fan as well, the phrase. Traditionally, the point out fans, Perambo sighed go for it… [they] kick a damn field he said he is familiar with losses. term is used to describe a fan who every issue there is, or you can deeply. goal.” “It gets to a point where it’s supports the team only when it is keep acting like there’s nothing “I find the people that have Kreiser was referring to the almost comedic,” Neville said, successful, while criticizing it in wrong here,” Neville said. “But the most opinions are the team’s decision to kick a field goal laughing. times of struggles. no, you can have an opinion… and ones that played the least,” in the last play of the game, which On the other side of the debate, One argument against the voice that.” he said, admitting that he — if successful — would have tied some fans shared more optimis- common use was that critiquing Penn State Alumnus Tom Per- did not play football himself. the game, sending the teams to tic views for future seasons in the team is a sign of wanting the ambo of St. Simons Island, Geor- “I think some of these people overtime. spite of the loss. team to be better, instead of bail- gia, took a more neutral stance are so passionate that they place Long-time Penn State fan “Glad we went down fighting in ing out on the team. towards the situation. [winning] too high on their Chris Neville of Portland, Maine the 4th!” Coronado High School In regards to the stark contrast Regarding those who want priority list.” posted his observations in the junior Dave Cantor wrote on between fans, Neville says he is a Franklin to be fired Perambo, “WE ARE Penn State” Facebook Penn State Football’s Instagram. “realist.” 69, is more understanding of To email reporter: [email protected]. group — a closed group with over “Sucks Trace going out like this “You can sit there and you can Franklin’s position. Follow her on Twitter at @lillyforsyth_. Graphics by Jack R. Hirsh Projecting PSU’s depth chart for 2019 season By Tyler King Penn State jerseys. Tommy Running back season playing defensive tackle, Defensive line coach Sean Spen- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Stevens isn’t guaranteed the With Sanders gone, the obvi- but Thorpe is still a talented run cer loves to rotate his unit and starting quarterback job. There ous answer to replace him in the blocker that deserves a chance to typically goes four deep at both In less than a week, Penn State will be a battle. starting lineup is Ricky Slade. compete for the starting spot. end and tackle. PJ Mustipher has lost 10 starters. If Penn State had to play a Slade rushed for 257 yards in Miranda started and played played significant snaps as a true The Nittany Lions were guar- game tomorrow, Sean Clifford his true freshman season and well at right guard in the regular freshman, so count him into the anteed to lose the five seniors in would be the starting quarter- showed plenty of flashes of his season finale after Menet was out rotation once again next season. the starting lineup, but five ju- back. For the second time this potential, especially in the Citrus with an injury, causing McGovern Fred Hansard had his season niors declared for the NFL Draft season, Stevens is battling a low- Bowl. to slide over to center for a game. cut short with a lower leg injury, in the days following the Citrus er leg injury. He missed the start But what’s interesting about but he made his first career start Bowl, putting James Franklin of the season due to a similar leg the running back position next Defense: earlier this season, so he’ll likely and his coaching staff in a similar injury. Stevens was also injured season is who will be Slade’s DE - Yetur Gross-Matos, factor into the rotation at defen- situation to last offseason, once last spring. backup. A quick look at the depth Shane Simmons sive tackle as well next season. again needing to replace multiple There’s no guarantee he’s go- chart for the Citrus Bowl would DT - Rob Windsor, starters on both offense and de- ing to remain healthy during the make it seem like redshirt fresh- Antonio Shelton Safety fense. competition. man Journey Brown is going to LB - Cam Brown, Jan Johnson, Garrett Taylor shored up one Everyone will talk about the But it’s not just Stevens’ injury safety position for next season as be the backup next year. Micah Parsons losses of Trace McSorley and history that makes the quarter- But the Nittany Lions signed he was quietly one of Brent Pry’s CB - Tariq Castro-Fields, Miles Sanders, but there are back position something of a two four-star running backs in best defensive players this sea- John Reid plenty of underrated losses on question mark. the most recent recruiting class, son. But Nick Scott is gone, leav- S - Garrett Taylor, both sides of the ball. Clifford, in limited time, has including IMG product Noah ing safeties coach Tim Banks to Jonathan Sutherland/ Let’s take an early look at what earned the right to compete for Cain.