1) September 1st, 2001: The #2 ranked Miami Hurricanes come to Happy Valley.
If you're a Penn State fan you all ready know where this is going. Penn State lost the game to the eventual National Champions 33-7. That Hurricanes team lead by many potential NFL stand out players, was on of the most dominant teams to step foot on a college field, but the story line behind the game meant more to the Penn State community. Just a year prior to the game, Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury against Ohio State. Doctors gave him a 3% chance of walking again. A year later in front of 109,313 people, on national television, Taliaferro ran onto the field prior to the game. If you were at the game it's a moment you will never forget. A moment so powerful, so moving, so motivational, it inspired a book to be written about Adam Taliaferro's journey. (Miracle in the Making, a must read). When he ran onto the field, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Taliaferro leads the Nittany Lions
If you're a Penn State fan you all ready know where this is going. Penn State lost the game to the eventual National Champions 33-7. That Hurricanes team lead by many potential NFL stand out players, was on of the most dominant teams to step foot on a college field, but the story line behind the game meant more to the Penn State community. Just a year prior to the game, Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury against Ohio State. Doctors gave him a 3% chance of walking again. A year later in front of 109,313 people, on national television, Taliaferro ran onto the field prior to the game. If you were at the game it's a moment you will never forget. A moment so powerful, so moving, so motivational, it inspired a book to be written about Adam Taliaferro's journey. (Miracle in the Making, a must read). When he ran onto the field, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Taliaferro leads the Nittany Lions
2) October 8th, 2005: #6 Ohio State rolls into State College under the lights.
This seemed to be "the year" for Penn State. Following 3 straight losing seasons Penn State started off 5-0 heading into this clash against a Troy Smith lead Ohio State Buckeyes team. It was the teams first big test of the season, two weeks prior they got over their first speed bump by beating Northwestern in the final minutes. The season saw Joe Paterno start 4 true freshman: Derrick Williams, Justin King, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler. Williams was the cornerstone of the recruiting class that year as he was the number one recruit coming out of high school that year. He brought along King (both 5-star recruits), along with other highly talented players. It seemed to be the "swagger" they were missing to compete with the top teams in the nation. ESPN's College Gameday came to town for the game, which added more anticipation. When Kirk Herbstreit, (Ohio State alum and co-host of College Gameday) said at halftime; "that's the best student section in the country", people really took notice of the students. He hasn't been wrong since then. The Nittany Lions went on beat the Buckeyes 17-10 in front of 109,839. They would finish the season 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State.
This seemed to be "the year" for Penn State. Following 3 straight losing seasons Penn State started off 5-0 heading into this clash against a Troy Smith lead Ohio State Buckeyes team. It was the teams first big test of the season, two weeks prior they got over their first speed bump by beating Northwestern in the final minutes. The season saw Joe Paterno start 4 true freshman: Derrick Williams, Justin King, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler. Williams was the cornerstone of the recruiting class that year as he was the number one recruit coming out of high school that year. He brought along King (both 5-star recruits), along with other highly talented players. It seemed to be the "swagger" they were missing to compete with the top teams in the nation. ESPN's College Gameday came to town for the game, which added more anticipation. When Kirk Herbstreit, (Ohio State alum and co-host of College Gameday) said at halftime; "that's the best student section in the country", people really took notice of the students. He hasn't been wrong since then. The Nittany Lions went on beat the Buckeyes 17-10 in front of 109,839. They would finish the season 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State.
3) November 6th, 2010: Joe Paterno gets win 400.
Penn State trailed 21-7 going into halftime. Lead by quarterback Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions came from behind in the second half and scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-21. The game was more than that, Joe Paterno became the first head coach in FBS history to get 400 wins. It would have been one thing if they had won without coming from behind, but the fact they were down by 14, and just kept scoring made it that much more memorable. Anyone who was at the game will tell you how loud it was when they tied it up, then took the lead. Linebacker Michael Mauti ended the game by sacking Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa. 400 Wins
Penn State trailed 21-7 going into halftime. Lead by quarterback Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions came from behind in the second half and scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-21. The game was more than that, Joe Paterno became the first head coach in FBS history to get 400 wins. It would have been one thing if they had won without coming from behind, but the fact they were down by 14, and just kept scoring made it that much more memorable. Anyone who was at the game will tell you how loud it was when they tied it up, then took the lead. Linebacker Michael Mauti ended the game by sacking Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa. 400 Wins
4) October 29th, 2011: JoePa goes for 409 against Illinois in the snow.
The game wasn't exciting until the final minutes. Coach Joe Paterno was looking to pass Grambling State's Eddie Robinson to become the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Wide receiver Derek Moye, who had injured his foot earlier in the week, was not expected to play unless it was an emergency situation. The situation called for Moye in the final minutes, as he caught 2 passes and had drew a pass interference on a 4th down late in the game which gave Penn State a first down. Running back Silas Redd scored from three yards out to give Penn State a 10-7 lead. Illinois drove down to the field to attempt what would have been a game-timing field goal. What happened next was one of the most incredible things I've ever been apart of at Beaver Stadium. As Illinois was getting set up for their field goal, the student section at that end of the stadium moved to the center of the stadium behind the goal post and in direct line of the kicker. He missed the 42 yard attempt and Beaver Stadium exploded with excited, by far one of the loudest moments ever at Beaver Stadium. He missed it!
The game wasn't exciting until the final minutes. Coach Joe Paterno was looking to pass Grambling State's Eddie Robinson to become the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Wide receiver Derek Moye, who had injured his foot earlier in the week, was not expected to play unless it was an emergency situation. The situation called for Moye in the final minutes, as he caught 2 passes and had drew a pass interference on a 4th down late in the game which gave Penn State a first down. Running back Silas Redd scored from three yards out to give Penn State a 10-7 lead. Illinois drove down to the field to attempt what would have been a game-timing field goal. What happened next was one of the most incredible things I've ever been apart of at Beaver Stadium. As Illinois was getting set up for their field goal, the student section at that end of the stadium moved to the center of the stadium behind the goal post and in direct line of the kicker. He missed the 42 yard attempt and Beaver Stadium exploded with excited, by far one of the loudest moments ever at Beaver Stadium. He missed it!
5) September 8th, 2007: Notre Dame comes to the White House.
As soon as you walked into Beaver Stadium you couldn't help but think to yourself, "wow, where am I?". In 2005 there was the student White Out, but in 2007, it became the full stadium White Out. Easily one of the if not the greatest scenes in college football. In front of 110,078 Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 31-10. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Derrick Williams field a punt, made one cut, a juke, and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. In what was one if not the loudest moments to ever happen at Beaver Stadium.
As soon as you walked into Beaver Stadium you couldn't help but think to yourself, "wow, where am I?". In 2005 there was the student White Out, but in 2007, it became the full stadium White Out. Easily one of the if not the greatest scenes in college football. In front of 110,078 Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 31-10. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Derrick Williams field a punt, made one cut, a juke, and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. In what was one if not the loudest moments to ever happen at Beaver Stadium.
