Pathetic state for Penn State

Graduating fifth-year seniors will be the first class in the Paterno era to leave without winning a bowl.
Another losing season. An 0-5 start in Big Ten play for the second year in a row. This isn't where Penn State saw itself when the season began two months ago.
But even in this extreme state, the wins and losses don't concern coach Joe Paterno.
"I'm more concerned with just the attitude and those kinds of things," Paterno said Tuesday.
For the second year in a row, and the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Nittany Lions (2-6) find themselves in uncomfortably familiar territory -- home for the holidays.
Bowl deficit
There will be no bowl game this winter, and the graduating fifth-year seniors will be the first class in the Paterno era to leave without winning a bowl game. Penn State's only bowl appearance during their tenure was a 13-9 loss to Auburn in Capital One Bowl after the 2002 season.
"I can't say I'm not disappointed," said senior guard Scott Davis. "Coming to Penn State, all I wanted to do was win a national championship. I came in with a great recruiting class, and we've had our ups and downs. It's been frustrating, but at the same time it's been a great experience for me. I play hard every chance I get. I know my teammates play hard every chance they get."
Even though he'd rather be winning games, Paterno says that's what he wants to see from his players -- concentration, dedication, and a continued emphasis on getting better.
Encouraging
"You don't know till you play, but we really had a real good practice yesterday," Paterno said. "They concentrated, they were intense."
And they're already looking toward next year. There are only five seniors among Penn State's 22 starters, and many of the returning players already are looking toward next year, and what three late-season wins could do for the Nittany Lions.
"There's nothing you can really do about it but try to improve, look to the future," defensive end Tamba Hali said. "We've got to try to build on these three games we've got left -- see what we can accomplish, and maybe we can bring a positive attitude into next season."
Those wins won't be easy. Earlier, it looked as if Penn State's schedule was front-loaded, leading off with heavy-hitters Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa and Ohio State before trailing off against Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan State.
Surprises
But Northwestern and Indiana both knocked off Top 25 teams last week, and Michigan State took Michigan to triple-overtime.
Still, Davis said he was looking forward to the challenge.
"You only get so many football games in life and right now I'm just taking each one, one game at a time," Davis said. "Unfortunately we're not going to a bowl game this year, but I've still got three games left and I'm going to work as hard as I can to win those three."
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