THREAD: 49 weeks ago, I boarded a plan with 100+ maskless people (many wearing Penn State gear) in Dallas.

A day earlier, PSU picked up an 11th win for a 3rd time in 4 seasons (1st such span since 1968-71), with sophomores winning Cotton Bowl MVP honors on defense and offense...

In that same game, the PSU single-season freshman rushing TD record was broken. 6 of 7 Lions TDs were scored by FR/SOPH, and a FR defender sealed the win with INT.

The program signed top-10 recruiting classes in each of the two preceding winters, and was reaping those rewards...

During that game week, PSU made a power move, prying a proven OC from a Big Ten opponent that ended the Lions' unbeaten season in November, when PSU ranked 4th in CFP rankings.

PSU paired him with a QB who, as a SOPH 1st-year starter, totaled 28 TD/7 INT. Tanner Morgan 2.0? ...

With a 1A/1B backfield of Brown and Cain, an All-Big Ten tight end and five O-linemen with starting experience back on campus (the heralded hiring of Phil Trautwein was also coming), why not? WR improvement was the biggest question mark (a 2020 silver lining, as it turns out). ..

With Preseason All-Americans on both sides of the ball and the program's highest blue-chip ratio under Franklin, all possibilities appeared realistically within reach that day in Dallas when looking toward a 2020 season scheduled to start Sept. 5 against Kent State. ...

Those of us on the PSU media beat next encountered this program as it wrapped up winter workouts. Leadership looked strong, Confidence was clear. So were the championship expectations.

Time for spring break, then back for 15 key practice sessions with several new coaches. ...

PSU wouldn't hold another full in-person team meeting until last week, when they were 0-3. Now they're 0-5, a program first.

Micah and Journey last played in Cotton Bowl. Noah was lost on first drive of 2020. Now Pat is gone, too. Franklin is struggling, on and off the field. ..

It's clear there are no "easy" wins on the schedule, and PSU is now running out of time to find a win of any kind.

Responsibility ultimately rises to the top. There is far too much of a financial investment involved for that not to be the case, regardless of circumstances. ...

No idea how we'll view the 2020 PSU experience in, say, 2025, but a roller coaster ride has turned from optimism, confusion, appreciation and, lately, sorrow.

Within a social reality we're all digesting in our own way, hope these young men don't let the lack of 1-0s define them.