We Are Penn State Football – Part III

Continued from “We Are Penn State Football – Part II – PSU vs. scUM Part II of II”

The Penn State vs. Michigan game really turned out to be a classic, overshadowed greatly by the great USC vs. ND game. ESPN Classic would later show the PSU vs. scUM game a few days later as an “instant classic” during the coming week. I watched the game not because I wanted to see the worst game I have ever watched all over again, but because I had to see the blown coverage on the last play of the game by Calvin Lowry. Sure enough, Lowry’s man is wide open and Lowry is no where to be seen on the TV.It was a rough week overall. I tried to put the game aside but my friends were not going to let me forget anytime soon what we had all just witnessed. Most of my friends back home didn’t even see the game and/or wouldn’t have watched even if it was on. They all go by the ESPN highlights which are good but don’t always give the real story about a sporting event. These Syracuse Football fans were really looking for something to give me a hard time about and they got their wish. The sad part is I don’t even think most of them realized I really didn’t care what they thought. Penn State already had six wins and the `Cuse were still stuck on one.

Penn State’s next game was against the lowly Fighting Illini. From the start, the Nittany Lion defense looked to be a little flat. Illinois ran right down the field before Penn State was able to hold them to a field goal. I remember the broadcaster’s saying how Penn State was on a bit of a “hangover” from two emotional games right in a row. Well, Penn State’s offense, mostly Michael Robinson, put all that talk away very quickly. The offense, led by Robinson, exploded for 56 unanswered first half points to win the first meeting between the two schools since 2002.

The final score ended up being 63-10.

Robinson, who had four passing and two rushing touchdowns in only one half of play, gave way to the next Nittany Lion quarterback, Anthony Morelli. Morelli only threw two passes the entire half but I personally was just excited to see the next best thing for Penn State finally get some valuable playing time. Penn State rebounded and remained atop the Big Ten standings and returned home where they played host to Purdue.

Purdue was highly regarded for the start of the season but by they time the came to State College for Penn State’s homecoming, “Purdont” was still looking for its first conference win.

They never got it.

Wisconsin then came to Happy Valley and in a critical conference game pitting the Big Ten’s highest scoring team (Wisconsin averaged 39.7 ppg) against the conference’s stingiest scoring defense (Penn State allowed 16.1 ppg), the Lions proved the age old adage that offense is exciting, but defense wins football games.

It also doesn’t hurt to have both as Penn State cruised to a convincing 35-14 win in the last game of the year at Beaver Stadium. Senior day saw 23 graduating seniors play their last home while also playing host to the second largest crowd ever at Beaver Stadium (109,865).

A two week layover was next up for the Nittany Lions as they prepared for a crucial meeting with Big Ten Rival Michigan State. The Spartans had been having an on and off year, with an early impressive win over Notre Dame, they looked to be the front-runners in the Big Ten. Now, “Mecheatagain” State, better known by Penn State fans, were now just trying to hold off another losing streak and crush Penn State’s hopes of a winning a Big Ten title and advancing to it’s first ever BCS Bowl appearance.

Led by senior cornerback Alan Zemaitis, the Lions were successful in their season finale, defeating the Spartans, 31-22.

Michigan State never had a chance.

Zemaitis made it look all too easy and picked off Spartan quarterback Drew Stanton three times.

At the end of the game, I watched something that was all too familiar. When an analyst from ESPN came over to talk to Joe Paterno after the game, you would have never known Penn State had just won a Big Ten title by just listening to JoePa. He took absolutely no credit for the entire season, instead pointing out there was still a very important bowl game to be played and the players celebrating should be the ones getting all the credit. Penn State players didn’t even think about tossing Gatorade over Paterno at the end of the game.

But that’s the Penn State way after all now isn’t it? It’s never been about Joe Paterno and it very well may never be about Joe Paterno. Penn State is unique in almost every way. They wear the plainest jerseys in all of College or Pro Sports. No names are on the backs of those jerseys, just the numbers that represent the team as a unit. Their coach has been around since before my Mother even knew about Penn State.

It wasn’t until even a few years ago Penn State players after scoring a touchdown had the ability to celebrate. Just hand the ball to the ref and continue winning football games is how Joe saw it. Although you may see Penn State players celebrate from time to time, as long as Joe is the head coach, you will never see any crazy dances or any of the crap NFL players pull off.

About a month earlier I had been so hurt and so damaged I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the rest of the season. I didn’t know how to react or what to do and how to rebound from a loss as hurtful as the scUM game became. Watching the Nittany Lions celebrate on the field showed me that it truly is more than just about winning and losing.

For the Nittany Lions of Penn State are about pride and tradition. It’s about never giving up no matter how bad things get. Because Penn State as a team was stronger then I was as a fan, I was able to follow their example. In return, I became something more then just a College Football fan that watches games and complains when things aren’t going well.

I became a Nittany Lion.

All because Penn State showed me that no matter how bad things can get, there is always next season or the next game to rebound and show the world you really do belong amongst the elite programs in the nation.

Penn State never gave up and now I will never give up on Penn State.

Roar Lions Roar. For the glory of Old State. Fight on State.

The roar is back in the Lions.

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Thanks to all who took the time to read my “mini-series” on the life of a Penn State Football fan. Please stay tuned for the conclusion to “We Are Penn State Football”, which I will be writing in the coming days.

Copyright ©2005 Colin Cerniglia. All Rights Reserved.