Penn State Football: A Message To Nittany Lions Fans, Be Patient This Season

It is debatable whether or not the present Penn State football season was expected or unexpected.

Every Penn State football fan is optimistic of a new season, no matter what the circumstances.

But as we have learned from this season, those feelings can quickly be replaced with doubt and disappointment.

After Iowa handed Penn State its second 24-3 loss of the season, it appears that Penn State isn't the top national threat that we all thought they should be this year.

Is it the new freshman quarterback?  Is it the coaching staff?  Is it the heart of the players that is lacking?

These are all questions people will ask, but it's a time for Penn State to find its feet, and learn how to compete with the top teams in the country.

Bolden is learning, and this season will be a tremendous growing experience for him.  He will come back next year, and likely still be the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions.  However, he won't be the same freshman quarterback with less than a month of team training experience.

He will come in having learned a valuable lesson. Being on top and winning takes time, perseverance, and most importantly, patience.

With Joe Paterno's future in question, some think he will retire after this season, some after next season, and some think he will die on the Beaver Stadium sidelines.

He of all people will know that this team deserves the patience and understanding from its fans.  This team needs to get better, no doubt about it, but that doesn't happen overnight.

An 0-1 start in the Big Ten isn't the best start, and isn't the start that everyone probably expected, but now we have something to build off and something to improve upon.

The cake games that we were handed earlier in the season didn't really describe the Nittany Lions this year. The Alabama game, Iowa game, and Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan games to come will test the character of this team.

And the better they are for it.

Whether or not they win a close one, lose in a blowout, or lose a close one, this team will continue to grow and learn together.  It will take time, but they will get better.

They have to.