Trending
UNIVERSITY PARK - The fans did their part.
Penn State set a new Beaver Stadium attendance record as an announced crowd of 114,030 - breaking the previous mark by nearly 3,000 - yelled themselves hoarse for the White Out game against Southern Cal.
There was one problem: The Nittany Lions didn't reciprocate.
In losing 31-23, Matt Campbell's new regime endured its third-straight Big Ten defeat and sunk the Lions to 0-3 in conference play.
Campbell called his first White Out "an incredible environment," and readily admitted, "The most disappointing part is we can't give this incredible fan base the result they deserve. But the reality is we will."
Nobody asked when.
Saturday night, buoyed by the crowd, Penn State answered several challenges in the first half, tying the game three times, taking a brief 20-17 lead in the third quarter and pulling within 24-23 early in the fourth.
But in each instance, USC used its talented passing game to regain control and keep the Nittany Lions at an arm's length.
While the Lions had the ball jammed down their throats in an embarrassing loss to Northwestern last week, this time they couldn't defend the pass as Trojan quarterback Jaylen Maiava threw for 301 yards and picked Penn State's porous secondary apart.
The lack of a pass rush again hurt the Lions, and their odd strategy of often rushing only three defenders in obvious passing situations compounded the dysfunction.
Campbell called USC's third-down conversions "killers. We have to find a different way to get off the field on third down."
Penn State managed to sack Maiava just once.
Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn coached from the sidelines - he moved there from the press box for the second half vs. Northwestern - but it didn't matter.
Rocco Becht threw for a season-high 289 yards and a touchdown and improved on his previous two outings.
The run game, however, remains a big problem as Penn State was outrushed 129-68, USC doing just enough to keep the Lions from loading the box.
"We still have to run the ball better," tight end Andrew Rappleyea, who led PSU with seven catches for 63 yards and a touchdown and is part of the blocking package, said. "We have to be tougher. It's been a focus at practice."
Unlike last week when PSU didn't look prepared, the Lions didn't lose this game due to a lack of effort. They were outschemed and defensively out of position at times, yes, but this was a competitive, hard-hitting, entertaining game until Brett Eskildsen fumbled away the Nits' last chance with four minutes remaining.
"It's frustrating," Rappleyea said. "I feel there was more good than we've had the last couple weeks, but we've got to finish. That's the game of football."
This was a chance to save the season, get a win over a ranked opponent - probably the best team that remained on the schedule - and infuse a breath of hope into the early stage of Campbell.
Instead, the Lions fell to 3-3 with a trip to Michigan up next and left Saturday night wondering when they'll win again.
"I've been here before," Becht said, "and it sucks."
Becht and all the Iowa State players who followed Campbell lost four straight games last year. Then again, Penn State lost six straight, three before it fired James Franklin and three more afterward.
This blended team will try to draw on that experience, perhaps in commiseration, in the days ahead.
"We've just got to stick together," defensive end Caleb Bacon said.
With goals shattered, Rappleyea said the Lions will lean on each other and play for the love of the game.
"You show up every day because it's what you love to do," he said in responding to a question of new motivation. "You love your brothers around you. You want to make the most of your opportunity. We know we're 3-3. Sucks, no other way to put it."
Especially in letting the air out of a White Out.
"Penn State is the best," Rappleyea said. "It's a prime example of why so many guys came back. This atmosphere was awesome. It was great having everybody here, doing what we love."
They just need to do it a lot better. And soon.
Neil Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.