Baltimore, Penn State and the pressure of being oh so close

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Hit the dougie for John Wall today. There is a special, unfortunate place in sports history for the teams and players that almost did it. Those that, in any alternate timeline, would be believable, worthy champions. They hang no banners, but among ball-knowers, they earn solace and respect.  Two football teams, at two separate levels, occupy said space heading into this season. Which makes them arguably the most compelling outfits in...