Penn State defeated Utah 35-21 to win the Rose Bowl! A fantastic finish to a great season. 11-2, with their only losses coming to two of the teams in the playoffs. As I have said before, I truly believe this team was good enough to win just about any other conference.
The game was also Sean Clifford’s final game. He finished his Penn State career with a huge win, and holds all the quarterback records. He could be frustrating at times, but any time I criticized him, he would shut me up with some huge play. If I were going to criticize Clifford, especially when thinking about him compared to Trace McSorley, I would say that Sean was deceptively fast, but he was too hesitant of a runner. Trace would see a hole and would just explode through it for a big run. Clifford is always trying to find an open receiver. He moves up in the pocket, the hole is there to run, then he stops to throw it. Sometimes it worked out, other times it did not. I would usually end up screaming at the TV “just run it!” But then, he would connect with Hamler for a 40 yarder, and I would look like an idiot.
I can see Sean Clifford’s future going in one of two different directions:
-He does not get drafted, but ends up being signed as an undrafted free agent. Ends up being the type of quarterback who hangs around the league for like ten years. Only gets in a few times, but has a nice career as a third string QB.
-He is cut by a few teams, and decides to become a coach. Maybe he starts out as quarterback coach at some smaller college, or maybe James Franklin brings him onto his staff. Eventually he becomes an offensive coordinator somewhere.
Either way, I hope the best for him.
This was a huge win and it could be a preview for a big 2023 season. I hope so…
WE ARE!!!
