The team: Can they stay focused?

Submitted by TeslaRedVictorBlue on November 10th, 2023 at 4:20 PM

Why we take the Internet down with outrage, I wonder how the team will handle this, especially when it was levied just hours before the start of the game. 

We, as couch potatoes, assume they'll be angry and play amazingly for their coach. I'd like to see it, but these are kids who have had the cheater moniker on their back for weeks. 

Will this wear them down? Can they wear that scarlet letter and embrace villainy with the necessary anger and roughness to win these last 3 games?

Thoughts?

JHumich

November 10th, 2023 at 5:04 PM ^

Steamroller. 

The single position on the field that is most helped by being angry is the OL. Our OL is going to be super nasty tomorrow.

400 on the ground for a second year in a row.

Bluetotheday

November 10th, 2023 at 4:25 PM ^

Leadership in the locker room will be the how. 
I have to imagine they will rally, their goals are still in front of them. 
 

a players meeting will be held tonight, the team will buy in. You can’t fold, too much at stake. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity 

njvictor

November 10th, 2023 at 4:25 PM ^

Are you kidding? They all got on the plane with Michigan vs Everybody shirts and are finding out about this as they're landing. They're going to be playing angry

bweldon

November 10th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^

I really feel sorry for PSU, because if this stands, I have a feeling that the game against Sparty will look like a close game in comparison.   

MRunner73

November 10th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^

I believe in miracles so the team will bond even tighter. My gut says this will be a major distraction. How can it not?

Have faith that Jim is on the sideline tomorrow.

GO BLUE!!

Amazinblu

November 10th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^

One “nice” thing is.. even if the TRO is not approved / signed by a judge, this team played three games without Harbaugh earlier this year.

I can see Harbaugh at breakfast tomorrow morning.  “Men, you are prepared.  I will not be with you this afternoon - however, I am always with you.  Show them who you are.  Go Blue!”

1VaBlue1

November 10th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^

I cannot wait to hear the amount of BOOO's raining down on them tomorrow when they take the field at that giant erector set stadium.  Especially if the TRO works as expected and Harbaugh is on the sideline.  Silencing that rain will be sweet.  

And I think the players will look forward to it...

HL2VCTRS

November 10th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^

I think they will be motivated, but I’m not sure about focused. To me, focused means 100% attention on game prep, routine, etc.  Hell, I’m only impacted as a fan and I can’t stay focused.

TeslaRedVictorBlue

November 10th, 2023 at 4:40 PM ^

Yup. And that early energy wears off after a bit. Then what. Do we emotionally come down? Will we execute? That's my concern. There's another team who will be motivated. We've seen emotional highs lead to early energy, but that can't be sustained.

What happens in the 2nd quarter? 

I think it's on the defense too settle the team when things get crazy

Eng1980

November 10th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^

Athletes want to win every game.  They wanted to win before this Big 10 cluster and they still want to win.

Do we think the BIg 10 reps have money on PSU?

Perkis-Size Me

November 10th, 2023 at 4:33 PM ^

Well, we will know in less than 24 hours. If they can’t handle it though, I hope we all remember at the end of the day that these are 18 to 22 year old kids put in an extremely unfair and extremely high pressure situation. It’s not just their program’s legacy on the line, but their personal legacies and reputations are as well. Much of the country will be rooting for them to fail tomorrow, and fail miserably. If they lose, they will be labeled as frauds.

If they can’t handle that, that I can’t say I blame them. Because I don’t know if I’d be able to.

The silver lining, I suppose, is that they are already experienced with him not being on the sidelines. And perhaps more importantly, so are Minter and Moore.

Colt Burgess

November 10th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^

Bo had a heart attack before the 1970 Rose Bowl, and it seriously affected the team. I've heard some guys say that they don't remember much about the game. But they were worried about their coach's health. This team is angry. This team is a Band Of Brothers. Yeah, I think they'll be okay.