Big Challenge for Our Aztecs

I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to the game at Penn State. Based on our first three games, there’s no way to know how the Aztecs will perform. But this could be the game where the good things we do outweigh the mistakes.

Beaver Stadium, with its 106,572 capacity, is the second largest stadium in America, so it will be a huge, hostile crowd with overpowering noise. Interestingly, Aztec teams in recent years have played well in similar situations – at Michigan, the biggest at 107,601, and Ohio State, third largest with 104,944. For me, this will the 87th stadium where I have watched the Aztecs play.

The Nittany Lions, one of the better Big 10 teams, disappointed their fans by losing their opener to Temple, 27-10, but came back to beat Buffalo (remember the Aztecs’ good win over Buffalo in the Potato Bowl?), 27-14, and Rutgers, 28-3. They are good, but reports indicate their QB Christian Hackenberg, so far has not been as effective as his great record in the past. We’ll see what happens Saturday.

Last Saturday’s loss to South Alabama was a surprise, but that can happen when you are playing an “unknown.” Their QB and eight other players they got when UAB dropped football, sure made a difference. This week the Jaguars play North Carolina State. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

Well, at least this week’s Aztec game is on TV -- the BigTen channel at 12:30 pm. Watch it.

Lloyd Mills returned in a big way Saturday with 106 punt return yards and a TD pass to Maxwell Smith. (Photos by Ken Ables)

 GO AZTECS!