Penn State: The end is...nigh?

What, me worry?

Thankfully no one overreacts when a streak like Penn State's comes to an end, right? Like in the Penn State Daily Collegian's article headlined, "Reign could be at its end."


Nice title. Couple of lousy losses and the paper's proclaiming the End of Days (which if the losses were anything like that horrible Schwarzenegger movie, maybe they're right).


"The cracks of Penn State's dynasty were starting to show -- perhaps even before this season began."


OK, slow your roll, there. Hodge and Glass graduating doesn't really constitute "cracks," does it? Isn't that a natural progression, graduating? (Huggins Era Cincinnati basketball excluded, of course.)


The article continues, citing "new faces" shouldering "new burdens," before giving the current state of the Nittany Lions, which is a mere 13-4, 3-3 in the Big Ten, and not being the #1-ranked team for the first time since 2007. Again, after not losing for three years, winning three titles, that's not too shabby, is it?


"The cracks are growing deeper, and some are beginning to question: Is this the end of the Penn State juggernaut and its reign over collegiate women's volleyball?"


Um... yes? It may be the last time for ANY school, EVER, forget Penn State. You graduate the talent they've graduated in the past two years, yes, the reign is over. But COME ON, what were the odds it was going to continue at this pace anyway? And it's not like they're going to stink from now on.


The article then attempts to show a) how the dynasty is over, b) might not be over, or c) will recover, with quotes from ESPN's Buster Olney, New York Times journalist Dave Anderson, and New York Daily News sports columnist Filip Bondy, respectively. 


WOW. That's quite a list of sports journalism muckety-mucks to discuss li'l ol' PSU. 


First, Olney:


"When you see the players that were so important leave, it’s like a colony of ants. They all had their specific roles in the clubhouse, and when they leave, the culture is different."


So, the program is on the decline? Anderson, weigh in here.


"The end of a dynasty comes if all the good players or coaches who were a part of that get old, retire or are not there anymore."


So, the program's OK because Russ is still there? Bondy, how about you?


"These things can be revitalized as long as the people who are still doing the recruiting and established the program are still there. They will still be a magnet school for talent and interest."


So, there's still hope?


And I must say that I'm impressed with the sources this author contacted to talk about the poor, poor plight of the woeful Nittany Lions. Will they ever win again? Is this the last we've heard of the Penn State dynasty? Will Ridge marry Gwendolyn and give up his affair with her twin sister??? Whatever shall they do?!