Penn State players are shocked, excited about their golden opportunity [opinion]

Jaylen Reed had plans to go to New York City Sunday, but he was glad to scrap them.

Instead, Reed and his Penn State football teammates practiced in preparation for the Big Ten championship game against No. 1 Oregon.

The thank you notes are on their way from Lasch Building to Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Coupled with Michigan’s 13-10 upset win over Ohio State, the Nittany Lions sealed their first berth in the title game since 2016 with a 44-7 blowout of Maryland Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

“I’m pretty sure everyone’s banged up like me,” Reed said. “We don’t get the break like we thought we were about to have. But that’s all part of the process and it’s part of the game.”

No one inside the Penn State locker room expected the Wolverines to knock off the heavily favored Buckeyes. Only in the Lions’ wildest dreams did playing for the conference championship cross their minds after losing to Ohio State 20-13 on Nov. 2.

“We didn’t find out until after the game,” defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas said. “It was a mix of shock and excitement, you know what I mean? We are in the Big Ten championship game, so it’s a huge feeling of excitement that’s just overwhelming.

“I don’t even know how to put it into words.”

Those Penn State fans who haven’t wanted to see their team play Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis have been short-sighted.

The Lions (11-1) get to play the No. 1 team in the country with a chance at their fifth Big Ten title and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

That’s a golden opportunity, one that could be seen on the faces of Penn State players and coaches in the moments after the victory over Maryland.

“It means a lot,” said running back Nick Singleton, who accounted for 170 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. “We always talk about…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-players-shocked-excited-044600497.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2024-12-02 04:46:00

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