#16 PENN STATE 17 #6 OHIO STATE 10
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — That was a big win, hopefully another in a line of big wins. The crowd (second largest ever) was amazing, loud and proud throughout the game. Good job students, just remember to bring it in three weeks. Don’t riot either.
Penn State was opportunistic, getting two critical turnovers — the first, a Calvin Lowry interception, put Penn State on the 2 yard line and wound up being a touchdown; the decisive points in the game. The second, was a fumble recovery by Scott Paxson off of a Tamba Hali sack of OSU’s Troy Smith sealed the game.
As great a win as this was, the actual game was not as good as some previous editions. The second half was a maddening strategy of play-it-safe on offense and let the defense win the football game, by Penn State. Those two teams are so similar that it figures the only difference was who got the turnovers and who did not. In the end though, it is just as satisfying as the ’97 win, so don’t think I am disappointed.
NEW RANKING
The win over Ohio State vaulted the Nittany Lions into the top ten for the first time since Nov. 1999. They now stand at #8 in the AP poll. However, despite what many are saying this does not mean much. We are only in October and have not even had homecoming, so please
STOP SAYING PENN STATE IS BACK.
In order for that to be true, the Lions need to have sustained excellence over an entire season or two. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and think beyond next week, Michigan is going to be a tough, tough road trip. Remember when the Lions “were back” in 2002? They followed that up with their worst season ever.
GOING BOWLING
By winning their sixth game, Penn State is bowl eligible for the first time since 2002 and only the second time in the 21st century.
STUCK SITTING NEXT TO AN OSU CHUMP
Oh lucky us, some OSU fans infiltrated the seats next to me. The fellow did not particularly represent his favorite college team very well, carrying a drunken swagger and sense of entitlement. I also clearly heard him say “spearchucker” in their somewhere. Classy.
So, in addition to my jubilation of the outcome of the game was my satisfaction in not having to listen to this jerk beyond the early second quarter. He got really quiet after the first Penn State touchdown and remained that way until he left with about a minute left in the game.
This was not the first time that a visitor’s hubris added to my gameday. Back in 2000, when Michigan State came to town for the last game of a disappointing season, Erica and I got stuck in the visitors section. Seated next to us was a very inebriated MSU fan sitting by himself. His isolation made his taunting so unusual; typically these sorts are cowards who only get like this when they have the safety of numbers, so in a way, I almost respected him. Well, not really. Anyway, he went on and on through the pregame about how bad our cheers were and how much we sucked, kind of typical stuff. Anyway, I do not recall if he left after the third consecutive Penn State touchdown or after the fourth one to start the game.
BEANO WAS RIGHT, SAM WAS WRONG
what is the world coming too? Beano Cook has accurately predicted a Penn State victory two weeks in a row. Sam thought we were going to lose by a touchdown. Ye of little faith!
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
This is a tough one, because there was no standout player, particulary in the conservative second half. I think I have to go with Mike Robinson again. He scored a TD and played just well enough to win. His performance had more in common with John Shafer than Kerry Collins. Hey, either one went undefeated in their senior year, so I would take either.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Another tough one to call, since it is the same cast of characters each week. Lowry made the play of the game with an interception return to the 2 that set up the winning touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Hali was a menace in the backfield and created the fumble that clinched the game. However, when it comes down to it, Paul Posluzny was again player of the week. He had about 14 tackles and made the Buckeyes pay when he hit them. He was also named Big11Ten Defensive Player of the week for the third week in a row which is unprecedented.