This year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since when in your opinion?

[saturdaysarebetter]

Going into a football season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since.....2017? 1999?

Granted, you need some luck to win a national championship. Scheduling with toughest games at home, stay injury free, etc., but going into the season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since when in your opinion?

What was Joe's best chance at a national championship pre-season that didn't happen? 1999?

 

[Erial_Lion]

Definitely 1999

 

[WestSideLion]

I’d say 2017. TBD whether they’re real contenders. Front 7 losses on D may prove too much to overcome. We’ll see.

 

[psuro]

Last year.

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

I still don't understand how that 1999 team fell flat down the stretch

 

[Grant Green]

Last year.

Agree. Last year was really the first time since 1999 that I thought PSU had a legitimate shot.
2017 was nice but there was never a time when I really thought PSU could compete with Bama or Georgia (let alone a few others)
PSU was ranked #2 for most of the 1999 season and I think the majority of us felt we were bound for the title game until the Minny debacle. That is still one of my top 3 crushing sports moments of my life - maybe #1.

 

[psuro]

Agree. Last year was really the first time since 1999 that I thought PSU had a legitimate shot.
2017 was nice but there was never a time when I really thought PSU could compete with Bama or Georgia (let alone a few others)
PSU was ranked #2 for most of the 1999 season and I think the majority of us felt we were bound for the title game until the Minny debacle. That is still one of my top 3 crushing sports moments of my life - maybe #1.

My #1 is a really nasty paper cut I had in 1974. Still hurts on cold dreary days.

 

[WestSideLion]

Agree. Last year was really the first time since 1999 that I thought PSU had a legitimate shot.
2017 was nice but there was never a time when I really thought PSU could compete with Bama or Georgia (let alone a few others)
PSU was ranked #2 for most of the 1999 season and I think the majority of us felt we were bound for the title game until the Minny debacle. That is still one of my top 3 crushing sports moments of my life - maybe #1.

That 1999 offense was very average and the D had major issues on the back end.

Brown and Arrington masked a lot of issues and drove the rankings hype around that team.

 

[Grant Green]

That 1999 offense was very average and the D had major issues on the back end.

Brown and Arrington masked a lot of issues and drove the rankings hype around that team.

That may be true but we were highly ranked coming into the season, giving us good positioning, and there was a little more parity than 2017. 2017 Bama/Georgia > 1999 FSU/VA Tech.

 

[Erial_Lion]

That 1999 offense was very average and the D had major issues on the back end.

Brown and Arrington masked a lot of issues and drove the rankings hype around that team.

I never really felt that way...3 of the 4 starters in the secondary were 3rd round picks between the next two drafts. When they were playing well, it was a heck of a defense. But it was lacking in consistency.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

I still don't understand how that 1999 team fell flat down the stretch

Beer! And chicks at The Phyrst!!

 

[razpsu]

Preseason 1999. During the season 2005 and 2008. After beating osu, especially 2008, we were on our way.

 

[Mr. Potter]

2005

 

[BeerLion]

I say 2005/2008. I think if Pat Devlin plays the Iowa game, we win and go on and win out for the natty (2008)

 

[bbrown]

That 1999 offense was very average and the D had major issues on the back end.

Brown and Arrington masked a lot of issues and drove the rankings hype around that team.

Also injuries on the defensive end, the last few games, impacted some things. It was a prelude to the dark years. Some questionable coaching and the talent level was starting to slip.

 

[Mufasa94]

While the team's potential is similar to 2017, there is a much larger margin of error allowed with the expanded playoff.

While 1999 had the pre-season MNC or bust feeling, a more recent one that hasn't been mentioned yet likely qualifies. 2009 had a lot of returning starters along with the return of Sean Lee. Very conservative play in the rain vs. Iowa and then that darn blocked punt return.

 

[BobPSU92]

Aren’t we always a contender for a NATTY. the morning of the Blue-White Game and out of the running once it starts?

 

[Midnighter]

Last year.

Absolute golden path to the NC game and a really tough way to lose.

 

[WestSideLion]

That may be true but we were highly ranked coming into the season, giving us good positioning, and there was a little more parity than 2017. 2017 Bama/Georgia > 1999 FSU/VA Tech.

Fair. I also think having a great offense (2017) is a better path to a Natty than a great defense (1999). JMHO and it’s always better to have both!

 

[Calabrin]

That 1999 offense was very average and the D had major issues on the back end.

Brown and Arrington masked a lot of issues and drove the rankings hype around that team.

Below average. If they had had an average offense that year, they would've been undefeated.

 

[bbrown]

Below average. If they had had an average offense that year, they would've been undefeated.

 

[ApexLion]

‘69. Definitely felt like no one could score on the Lions.

I thought last year Franklin was going to slay the OSU dragon and sneakily win it all.

1999 was a lot of hype, wasn’t sold on them

 

[LB99]

I still don't understand how that 1999 team fell flat down the stretch

Well, it appears they grossly underestimated Minny which falls on the coaches. The two subsequent losses are anybody’s guess.

I never really felt that way...3 of the 4 starters in the secondary were 3rd round picks between the next two drafts. When they were playing well, it was a heck of a defense. But it was lacking in consistency.

There was one glaring liability in that secondary and it bit them against Minny.

 

[Nitt1300]

1994

 

[MacNit]

Going into a football season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since.....2017? 1999?

Granted, you need some luck to win a national championship. Scheduling with toughest games at home, stay injury free, etc., but going into the season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since when in your opinion?

What was Joe's best chance at a national championship pre-season that didn't happen? 1999?

2024

 

[MacNit]

I say 2005/2008. I think if Pat Devlin plays the Iowa game, we win and go on and win out for the natty (2008)

Marsh!

 

[Marshall2323]

Since last year. They were in the semi finals driving for the win. You won't get better odds.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

Since last year. They were in the semi finals driving for the win. You won't get better odds.

Those odds weren't the same before the season started though.

 

[[email protected]]

Agree. Last year was really the first time since 1999 that I thought PSU had a legitimate shot.
2017 was nice but there was never a time when I really thought PSU could compete with Bama or Georgia (let alone a few others)
PSU was ranked #2 for most of the 1999 season and I think the majority of us felt we were bound for the title game until the Minny debacle. That is still one of my top 3 crushing sports moments of my life - maybe #1.

#1

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I think final 4. Pumped for the season.

 

[Nitt1300]

Agree. Last year was really the first time since 1999 that I thought PSU had a legitimate shot.
2017 was nice but there was never a time when I really thought PSU could compete with Bama or Georgia (let alone a few others)
PSU was ranked #2 for most of the 1999 season and I think the majority of us felt we were bound for the title game until the Minny debacle. That is still one of my top 3 crushing sports moments of my life - maybe #1.

My least favorite PSU team ever.

 

[bbrown]

My least favorite PSU team ever.

I have a few from 2000-04 that I liked much less. Even the late 70’s ‘79 and 83 were some stinkers.

 

[aferrelli]

That 2005 season was something else; saw every game except the Michigan game that we lost. I remember people telling me about the blown call at the end of the game. I was away in Europe, so I had to wait until the game was over, the next day, for the result. My first dejected experience with PSU football.

 

[GulfCoastLion]

No mention of the 1978 Penn State team ? Preseason ranked #3 and ended up 11-1 and losing the national championship at the goal line vs Alabama. Great team on both sides of scrimmage ~
* Maxwell (outstanding player) – Chuck Fusina, Penn St. QB
* Lombardi (Linebacker) – Bruce Clark, Penn St. D

 

[Nitt1300]

I have a few from 2000-04 that I liked much less. Even the late 70’s ‘79 and 83 were some stinkers.

Nobody flat quit like that 1999 team

 

[bdgan]

Going into a football season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since.....2017? 1999?

Granted, you need some luck to win a national championship. Scheduling with toughest games at home, stay injury free, etc., but going into the season, this year is Penn State's best chance at a national championship since when in your opinion?

What was Joe's best chance at a national championship pre-season that didn't happen? 1999?

Since last year. PSU had a lot of elite talent like Carter and Warren but also Winston before his injury. So going into the season I thought we had a chance.

It turns out thta we had a good chance to beat OSU at home and got out to an early lead. Then a TD to Wallace turned into an INT. 4 cracks from the 3 yd line and Warren inexplicatly never touched the ball. Then the ND debacle with a blown coverage followed by a horrible INT.

FWIW I think the odds going into this year are close to what they were last year.

 

[Marshall2323]

Those odds weren't the same before the season started though.

Those odds weren't the same before the season started though.

Probably correct. But I read the question of "since when" and figured since PSU was in the semis!

 

[LB99]

Nobody flat quit like that 1999 team

I saw one of the players from that team say they didn’t quit. So, I’m not sure what happened behind closed doors with that team, but that was a choking of epic proportions. I’ll take flak for this, but IMO, Joe should have retired after that year.

 

[Grant Green]

Since last year. PSU had a lot of elite talent like Carter and Warren but also Winston before his injury. So going into the season I thought we had a chance.

It turns out thta we had a good chance to beat OSU at home and got out to an early lead. Then a TD to Wallace turned into an INT. 4 cracks from the 3 yd line and Warren inexplicatly never touched the ball. Then the ND debacle with a blown coverage followed by a horrible INT.

FWIW I think the odds going into this year are close to what they were last year.

If we are talking actual betting odds, this year is better. Psu at about 7 or 8 to 1. I think last year was more like 10 to 1.

 

[bbrown]

Nobody flat quit like that 1999 team

Disagree. 1993 blockbuster bowl. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a PSU team less interested in being there.