Ten years ago today, Joe Paterno brought his 0-4 Penn State Nittany Lions into Evanston to face the Northwestern Wildcats. Paterno had been stuck on 322 wins, one shy of tying Paul Bear Bryant’s all-time record for major college football. It turned out to be a thriller which was only decided late when Zack Mills came in for an injured Matt Seneca to drive the Nittany Lions to paydirt and an emotional win.

After the game, Paterno gave this quote that I used to create a victory celebration:

This is the kind of game you love. I’m going to go home and get in trouble with a good stiff bourbon. Then I’m going to take a nap and get out some Ohio State tapes.

Since then, I have toasted to all Penn State victories with a good stiff bourbon. Now, some philistines have tried to make filtered Tennessee sipping whiskey the post-game toast, but to do it the right way, it has to be bourbon because that is what Paterno drinks, according to his son. Or, used to drink. Lou Prato, Penn State football historian, noted that the elder has given up his customary bourbon in a video with Mark Brennan yesterday.

Oddly enough, I didn’t see this game, I was at wedding or something. It is on my list of ones that I’d love to see in its entirety.

In addition to creating a new, wonderful tradition, that game was a big turning point for the program. Seneca’s days as a starter were just about over after Mills came in. The team went on a 5-3 run to close the season, nearly becoming bowl-eligible. In 2002, Mills led the team back to a New Year’s Day bowl game and 9-4 overall record. It would be the one winning season in the dark years. Paterno would break Bear Bryant’s all-time wins record in an epic 29-27 win over Ohio State (more on that next week).