It's starting to get to the point where the Penn State football team's 2001 year is beginning to resemble a broken record rather than an actual football season.
Although it's a new week and Penn State is facing a new opponent, the Nittany Lions are entering their fourth straight game in a must-win scenario. But it's gotten to the point now that wins are needed for new reasons.
After losing to Miami, the Lions wanted to prove to the college football world that they weren't as bad as the 33-7 loss to the Hurricanes indicated. But a subsequent 18-6 letdown against Wisconsin dashed hopes of achieving that goal.
The Lions tried to redeem themselves again a week later at Iowa, but again failed. With their backs to the wall for a third time, the Lions hoped to avoid their first ever 0-4 start against Michigan, but the Wolverines had other plans.
So now the winless Lions enter game No. 5 with new reasons for a "must win." First, this team, especially Paterno, is sick and tired of answering questions about the 74-year-old coach's pursuit of "The Bear's" All-time NCAA Div. I win mark. A win would definitely take some heat off of that aspect of the season.
Second, and probably most importantly, a victory ends the Lions' four-game losing streak. This team may claim that it practices well, works extremely hard in pregame preparations and gets along off the field. But those things don't amount to a hill of beans once it comes time to do battle on game day.
But confidence does. And nothing builds confidence like a "W."
Finally, if the Lions have any aspirations of making a postseason bowl trip, they can't afford too many more losses. In fact, just two more losses and Penn State (0-4) can kiss a Christmas vacation in a warm climate goodbye.
Unfortunately for the Lions, a victory this weekend must come on the road and against a Top 25 team. Paterno and his club travel to Evanston, Ill. for a date with No. 20 Northwestern (4-1). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by ABC.
And while on paper the Wildcats look like heavy favorites, Northwestern coach Randy Walker won't take the Lions lightly.
"We're playing one of the greatest programs in college football," Walker said. "They are playing a really tough schedule. If they make a play or two in any one of those games and they're 3-0."
That may be partly right. A play here or there may have helped the Lions earn a couple of wins in their first few games, but it would've taken a lot more than just a few highlights to allow the Lions to be undefeated.
But this may be the best week yet for the Lions to finally earn themselves a win. Northwestern lost two weeks ago to a sporadic Ohio State team, 38-20, then struggled in a 23-17 win this past weekend against Minnesota.
Furthermore, although the Lions haven't faced the Wildcats since 1998, they have squared off against a similar foe in Purdue the past few seasons. Walker has brought a Purdue-like spread offense to Evanston and has been highly successful in running it.
But while Paterno and his staff have been able to stymie the Boilermakers' attack the last two seasons, Northwestern brings a slightly different style to the table than Purdue does.
"I think Northwestern really relies on the run more than Purdue did," Paterno said. "The quarterback (Zak Kustok) is a good runner and likes to run with the football. They probably are a little bit more leaning towards the run than Purdue with their spread."
One aspect of the Wildcat offense that makes it truly unique is its use of, make that no use of, the huddle.
"Northwestern will run everything without a huddle," Paterno said. "We have to have a lot of people ready to play. Depth will be a big factor ... if we are going to hang in there with Northwestern."
Playing against an offense like Northwestern is something the Lion defensive unit is looking forward to.
"The level of aggression is definitely rising," cornerback Rich Gardner said. "The willingness to take a chance is really high. I think we'll go out there and do well just because of that."
