FC: Worse year - 2003 or 2025?

[Midnighter]

It’s 2025 - spoiler.

 

[razpsu]

Yep. When the exciting year or 2002 ended we knew that 2003 was going to be a rough ride.

2025 such expectations and yet we may tie 2003 with this team? Wow.

 

[Big_O]

The 2003 team did not have the level of talent that the 2025 team has. Most underperforming team I have ever seen at Penn State, and by a mile.

 

[LionJim]

Putting aside the discrepancies in expectations between the 2025 and the 2003 teams, in my experience the more recent disappointment hurts the most.

 

[Bwifan]

2025 and it's not close. So many returning players being paid millions to perform. After making the semi finals in the playoffs last year. This team including the coaching staff have taken a massive leap backwards. Beyond disappointing.

 

[PSU87]

Nope....2025 by a mile. This team was supposed to contend for a National Championship. Lose to Oregon and OSU? OK, I can see it.

Not be bowl eligible? Biggest turd ever.

At least the 1999 team had 2 quality losses, and even Minny went to a decent bowl that year.

Losing to UCLA and NW? Bad...

 

[Blair10]

2025 and it's not close. So many returning players being paid millions to perform. After making the semi finals in the playoffs last year. This team including the coaching staff have taken a massive leap backwards. Beyond disappointing.

Don’t forget we were told Penn State had the best pair of coordinators in college football for the 2025 season.

 

[Nitt1300]

2003 at the moment- it remains to be seen how this season ends

 

[BobPSU92]

2025. I’m older, uglier, smaller, and dumber now.

 

[LionJim]

Don’t forget we were told Penn State had the best pair of coordinators in college football for the 2025 season.

Paul Finebaum had Arch Manning for Heisman, preseason prediction. You get a million different perspectives, there’s something for everybody. In the end, only one thing matters: “**** went bad.” (“The Wire” reference.)

 

[JVP_Yahweh]

2025. My expectations for 2003 were low after the BC game and Mills really took a few steps backward. They made that OSU game their season and came close to winning

 

[Mr. Potter]

2000 was a trainwreck, This season isn't as bad because of the excitement a coaching change will create.

 

[bbrown]

It’s 2025 - spoiler.

2025 by a mile. I had no expectations in 2003.

 

[LionJim]

2000 was a trainwreck, This season isn't as bad because of the excitement a coaching change will create.

Always finding the silver lining, totally on brand.

 

[SkiSkiSki]

2025. My expectations for 2003 were low after the BC game and Mills really took a few steps backward. They made that OSU game their season and came close to winning

I don’t think Mills was ever the same QB after getting hurt at OSU. Of course, before then no one was predicting NFL first rounder. 2025 is worse by a mile. The whole fall has sucked for PSU sports. Thank goodness we have hockey and wrestling.

 

[PSUwolf]

I don't think it's even close - 2025. We were expected to possibly make a strong run at the NC this year whereas we all knew 2003 could be a rough ride. This year can't get over fast enough

 

[bbrown]

I don’t think Mills was ever the same QB after getting hurt at OSU. Of course, before then no one was predicting NFL first rounder. 2025 is worse by a mile. The whole fall has sucked for PSU sports. Thank goodness we have hockey and wrestling.

I think it was Wiscy.

 

[Ludd]

2025 by a mile. I had no expectations in 2003.

I guess it depends on whether the question was worst year or most disappointing year. 2003 was a worse team, this year was more disappointing.

 

[bbrown]

I guess it depends on whether the question was worst year or most disappointing year. 2003 was a worse team, this year was more disappointing.

The 2003 defense was light years better than this years team. But I had zero expectations for that team and it was not ranked #2 to start the year.

 

[Midnighter]

Man, Zack Mills through 10 games in 2003 only threw for 1,404 yards and 6 TDs (with 5 INTS). MRob was second on the team with 892 yards (5/5). Austin Scott led the team in rushing - 436 yards. Incredible. Allar this year had thronw for 1,100 yards before he got hurt.

 

[bbrown]

Man, Zack Mills through 10 games in 2003 only threw for 1,404 yards and 6 TDs (with 5 INTS). MRob was second on the team with 892 yards (5/5). Austin Scott led the team in rushing - 436 yards. Incredible. Allar this year had thronw for 1,100 yards before he got hurt.

Most of those "dark year" teams were offensively challenged but the defense was stellar.

 

[scocha409]

Beyond football, this has to the worst fall sports season in PSU history!!

 

[m.knox]

It’s 2025 - spoiler.

No doubt. "BEST ROSTER EVER."

 

[Ludd]

The 2003 defense was light years better than this years team. But I had zero expectations for that team and it was not ranked #2 to start the year.

Again, this year has been more disappointing, but 2003 was a worse team.

 

[Arivacalion]

This team is probably the most disappointing team in the history of the program and no that's not being facetious.

 

[AvgUser]

I think it was Wiscy.

I’m not going to google the answer, but i believe you are correct. I think it was Erasmus James (sp?) who delivered the hit

 

[Nits74]

Given its supposed talent, 2025 seems to be one of the more mentally weak Penn State teams I can remember. Although, 1983 also comes to mind.

 

[IBeBlockin]

Given its supposed talent, 2025 seems to be one of the more mentally weak Penn State teams I can remember. Although, 1983 also comes to mind.

The 1983 team rallied from an 0-3 start to finish out the season 8-4-1 with an Aloha Bowl victory over Washington. It was arguably one of Paterno’s best coaching jobs in his career. The 1983 team is light years ahead of this current team in terms of character and mental/physical toughness.

 

[Nits74]

The 1983 team rallied from an 0-3 start to finish out the season 8-4-1 with an Aloha Bowl victory over Washington. It was arguably one of Paterno’s best coaching jobs in his career. The 1983 team is light years ahead of this current team in terms of character and mental/physical toughness.

Have to agree. Maybe was thinking of 1979 and perhaps 1995. Both were under performers (??).

 

[Nitt1300]

Your expectations have nothing to do with it

win's/losses are why the game is played

 

[ChandlerPearce58]

It’s 2025 - spoiler.

I must agree this has become worse than 1999!

 

[RochLion]

The 2003 defense was light years better than this years team. But I had zero expectations for that team and it was not ranked #2 to start the year.

I think you could put 1999 a close second to this year in terms of expectations vs results. I remember Lavar on the cover on SI and weren't we ranked #1 for SI? Last 3 games of that season showed how easily teams could exploit the weak link in our defense and Mich St was able to have two RBs with 200+ yards rushing!

 

[rudedude]

This is how bad 2025 is, I am having a TKR on 11/12 and had an opportunity to have it done the week of the Oregon game. In hindsight, I should have had it done earlier and could have been a month or so into recovery vs watching this ongoing misery.

 

[PSU87]

I think you could put 1999 a close second to this year in terms of expectations vs results. I remember Lavar on the cover on SI and weren't we ranked #1 for SI? Last 3 games of that season showed how easily teams could exploit the weak link in our defense and Mich St was able to have two RBs with 200+ yards rushing!

We lost to MSU that year, but 97 was the year they had 2, 200 yard rushers. Also, recall Lavar did not play in the 99 MSU game.

Obviously a disappointment, but both UM and MSU finished top 10 that year, and both beat SEC bowl opponents.

Losing to UCLA and NW...way worse.

If 2025 losses were OSU, Oregon, and say like an Iowa, it would be comparable.