The Penn State Football Show

This year's team isn't being given a chance. Some years you just aren't going to be as good, and expectations are lower....nothing is wrong with that.

For the first time ever, a team is playing against three BCS bowl winners from the previous season....that's Penn State...and all three of those games are on the road.

The Lions lost all three starting linebackers, all of whom were drafted and are playing in the NFL preseason.

The team lost the Big Ten offensive and defensive player of the year.

Some may look at this situation with disgust, knowing that this team has no shot at a National Championship, but sometimes these are the seasons I look forward to the most. Knocking off any one of Alabama, Iowa, or Ohio State would make the season memorable. Evan Royster will likely become the all-time leading rusher in Penn State history. JoePa will reach 400 victories. True freshmen will turn heads and gain valuable game experience heading into the majestic 2011 season. That's when we make our run. 2011. All the pieces are in place....and there has been a trend.

Every three years, Penn State makes a push. 1999 - They started 9-0 and were ranked 2nd in the nation before....well...you know. 2002 - They reemerge as a power after annihilating #7 Nebraska behind Larry Johnson and Zack Mills and finish the regular season in the top 10. 2005 - They once again reemberge from the worst stretch of JoePa's career and finish the season ranked #3. 2008 - After 2 so-so seasons of Anthony Morelli, the Lions fall one game short of a National Championship birth and reach the Rose Bowl. 2011 - Oh mama.

But it's 2010...and I'm still excited. We will witness Robert Bolden get his foot in the door, Silas Redd run by a defense, Curtis Dukes flatten a few dudes, Michael Mauti emerge as the next great LB along with Gerald Hodges, Jack Crawford absolutely dominate, and the secondary in man coverage. The team has more talent than last year...they just aren't as good......yet. Each position has so much potential, it just isn't fully matured. This team will be a force at the end of the season. Beating 'Bama will be incredibly difficult, but Ohio State will be a very tight game. They will continue to evolve all the way into 2011 when they will make their run. And it will be glorious.