If we had a nickel for every time that the fresh Penn State football players didn’t post themselves “setting the standard” on the first day of classes in the fall semester, we’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

Almost every year, each new group of football players would post a picture of themselves showing up to class early, seated in the front row, setting the standard for Penn State students. These tweets have frequently debunked the misconception that Division I football players don’t care about their grades or attend classes.

For the second year in a row, the team dropped the ball by not posting their dedication to their classes on the internet at the start of the academic year.

With the first game of the season just days away, it’s understandable that “setting the standard” and being academic weapons aren’t a top priority right now. The pressure is on, and Penn State fans are eager to see a good start to the season.

These student-athletes are constantly in the limelight, acting as role models to the community. But, why stop promoting academic excellence now? What happened to the standard?

Every Penn Stater looks up to these fellas, constantly cheering them on through their best and worst. Another year of not kicking off the school year by setting the standard is quite a letdown.

It’s nice to see the team display their dedication both on and off the field. It shows a promising year and amplifies anticipation for the season ahead.

As the new season quickly approaches, these posts would typically serve as a reminder of the shared commitment to excellence. But, the lack of tweets the past two fall semesters threatens to destroy a tradition that’s been carried on semester after semester.

By not displaying the standards, they are removing themselves from their surrounding community, rather than motivating the student body to kick off the year ahead strong.

However, maybe the Nittany Lions will make up for it this Saturday when they face West Virginia and secure a 1-0 at the start of the 2024 season.