Around the Web: Reaction to Penn State's Win Over Purdue

Now, THAT'S more like it! Not sure there was a better antidote to last week's loss to Ohio State than visiting a stagnant Boilermaker team. Most analysts seem to feel basically the same.

Dave Jones calls this team "unsinkable"--including kicker Sam Ficken:

On this day we saw compelling evidence that Ficken is getting well. In six placements – two short field goals and four conversions – he never missed. All his kicks looked confident.

O'Brien's confidence in him seems to be increasing. The coach said he didn't use Ficken on a possible 45-yard attempt in the fourth quarter only because his range was lessened by a recent quad strain.

Ficken himself said he felt capable on Saturday from 40 yards in. Not that he was ready to start lobbying the guy in the ballcap and headset: "I stay silent. He's the coach. I'm not gonna yell at him. That's not my job. He knows a lot more about football than I do."

Also over at Penn Live, credit is given to our running game for the impressive win.

Donnie Collins has one of the few non-Matt McGloin-centric articles in the Scranton Times Tribune, instead focusing on the consistency the program has shown for much of this season.

...Penn State did something pretty special.

It whipped Purdue, 34-9. It played with the same emotion it did against Ohio State. It played with the same urgency. It played with the same fire. It played the way every team and every athlete says it wants to approach every competition, no matter the opponent.

Only, Penn State doesn't just say it. It does it. Few realize how rare that is.

Over at the worldwide leader...Gerald Hodges gets a helmet sticker from the Big Ten blog, and Adam Rittenberg has a favorable review (for us, naturally; not so favorable to the Boilermakers). ESPN's Penn State blog has its own take, as well.

If you can stomach one-sentence paragraphs, YDR's Frank Bodani gives his take on the game:

The Nittany Lions were coming off a disheartening, big-stage defeat. A good bit of the emotional air that had carried the team through one obstacle after another in the past year had rushed out, no way to be stopped.

And when they tried to go back to work on Monday, the damaging ramifications were there to see.

"Monday's practice was pretty much a waste. That was the worst practice we had of the season," senior cornerback Stephon Morris said. "We were still hanging our heads on the Ohio State loss."

After that, coach Bill O'Brien admitted that he did some yelling, some very loud encouraging and motivating.

And the Penn State seniors took it upon themselves once again.

With only four more games left in their season, in their careers, they made sure last Tuesday's workout would be an entirely different affair.

Which is what they said led to the effort against Purdue.

It's a good, interesting sentiment--if only an editor would tackle Bodani's online formatting.

Altoona Mirror's Cory Giger has his analysis of the game, and comes up with much of the same.

BTN has video highlights and ruminations on the game, including this:

The Nittany Lions’ passing game looked unstoppable at times against the Boilermakers’ defense. Penn State’s air attack couldn’t be contained, as it torched Purdue for 316 yards and two touchdowns.

And then there was this, with regards to BTN:

Sunday Ruminations Maybe its getting old to say & hear but the job BOB continues 2 do at #Pennstate is more than impressive Always play hard

— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) November 4, 2012

The mothership has some analysis of the game: SBN Philly had a storystream all week, capped with a recap of the game, and SBNation itself has a quick breakdown.

ICYMI on BSD: Devon's instant analysis is here, and bscaff's weekly take on the game is here.

The official recap from the University itself, complete with stats and interviews of players and coaches, is also available online.

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