Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht sent a very clear message about his head coach, Matt Campbell, after the team's opening win.
After a long offseason filled with change and questions, the Penn State Nittany Lions were finally able to get on the field.
Penn State took on Marshall in the season-opening game, and the contest couldn't have gone any better. The Nittany Lions won the game 45-0 in a dominant fashion, giving new head coach Matt Campbell his first win with the program.
Campbell, like many others, came to Penn State this offseason from Iowa State to start a new chapter of his career. The longtime head coach wanted to make a statement in the team's opening win, and his players made sure it happened.
There were questions around Campbell all offseason, mainly due to the Nittany Lions undergoing a long coaching hire process. At the end of it all, Campbell emerged, but he may end up being one of the best the program could have brought in.
After the big win, quarterback Rocco Becht opened up about his head coach, giving him his flowers. The two worked together well at Iowa State, and now they have a chance to do something special in Happy Valley.
"He deserves it. The amount of pressure that he's been under, the amount of stuff that he's been able to get through to get to this point where we are now, it's truly unbelievable," Becht said.
Becht did his job in his Penn State debut, throwing for 271 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Last season, Becht was generating some Heisman buzz early in the year, but injuries and inconsistent play doomed his season.
Now with the Nittany Lions, Becht is looking forward to the challenge ahead. He is also healthy now, and he has his eyes set on making Penn State one of the surprise teams of the year.
Due to his familiarity with Campbell, it was an easy decision for Becht to come over to Penn State. The two have formed a strong relationship, but the road gets harder now, with them playing in the Big Ten.
But at least for one week, the Nittany Lions can feel good about all the work that they have put in over the long offseason. This team has a ton of talent on it, and with Campbell at the helm, a potential spot in the College Football Playoff isn't out of the question if they can stay healthy.
Next up for the Nittany Lions will be a matchup with the Temple Owls on the road.
