Christian Hackenberg

I couldn't really come up with something to talk about over the bye week.  However, upon reflecting on today's final home game against Michigan, I would be remiss if I didn't take some time and talk about a story that's getting a lot of attention, but for what I believe are the wrong reasons: Christian Hackenberg.

After the Sandusky scandal broke in 2011 and Joe Paterno was fired, a bright, young football mind came to Happy Valley in the form of Bill O'Brien.  Hailed as a QB guru who had coached Tom Brady in a Superbowl victory, O'Brien's first act as coach was to hold a camp for recruits at the "most important position on the field."  If memory serves me correctly, no fewer than 8 QB prospects came out that weekend and none walked away more impressed than Christian Hackenberg.  To this day I don't know what it was, but upon reading an article about the camp, I turned to a coworker and said "Hackenberg... that sounds like a mighty fine name for the next great Penn State QB."  It wasn't until later that I realized he was also a 5-star recruit and the nation's #1 QB prospect.  I was excited when he committed, I was downright giddy when he held firm to that commitment in the face of unprecedented NCAA sanctions.  Throughout his career, I admit I have been one of Hack's biggest apologists.  After Paul Posluzney graduated, and Silas Redd left for USC, I was desperate for a new favorite player, and Hackenberg filled the role nicely long before his first collegiate snap.  Even on his off days I defended his abilities against any critic who offered the challenge.  These days I feel like I have a connection with Hackenberg.  As the hipsters like to say, I was a fan before it was cool.

Well, as much as I've been trying to avoid admitting it, the Michigan game likely marked Christian Hackenberg's last Whiteout, last Senior day, and last game in Beaver Stadium.  As far as I know, he was not honored during the pregame ceremony (because he's not a Senior obviously) which is a shame.  It just feels like he was robbed of the recognition he deserves.  Despite having no emotional connection to the school prior to enrolling, he demonstrated incredible loyalty to Penn State in its darkest hour.  He competed every week on the field and poured his heart into showing us all what it really means to be a Nittany Lion.  As expected from his 5-star rating, Hackenberg will leave school having broke essentially every school passing record there is... by a lot in most cases.  No, he wasn't always perfect, and in some games he was downright awful.  But under his leadership, Penn State would not suffer a single losing season during the sanction era.  They recorded wins against a ranked Northwestern, an undefeated (at the time) Michigan, and a heavily favored Wisconsin on the road, on top of winning a game in Ireland and a bowl game they never thought they'd get to play in.  That's a nice resume by any standard and Hackenberg should be proud of all that he's accomplished while in Happy Valley.  And there's still two more opportunities to showcase his talents while wearing the Blue and White.

So if it comes to pass that Christian Hackenberg does move on after this season, take a second during these last few weeks and honestly reflect on this kid.  Whether the doubters like it or not, he'll go down as a Penn State legend, on par with Franco Harris, Jack Ham, Kerry Collins, and LaVar Arrington.  Let's cheer him on as hard as possible and maybe, just maybe, he can pull off one final miracle against Michigan State or against a quality opponent in the bowl game.  Then, who knows, he might just end up following Bill O'Brien to the NFL after all.