The Perfect Season

How many times have you gone to a sporting event and as you were leaving you say to yourself, “that might’ve been the best game I’ve ever been to”. Every season doesn’t have THAT game but we all have been to those games. 

I’d say that 95% of the sporting events I’ve been to are Penn State football games. Which means I’ve had my fair share ‘best ever’ game nominees. There’s always something about leaving Beaver Stadium, especially after a White Out, and wishing I could go back in time three hours and kick that game off again. 

We’ve all been there and have felt that emotion and excitement weeks, months, and even years after those games are over. I work with someone who went to West Virginia and we’ve talked about those games that we’ve been to and we both have that day dreaming look on our face. Looking off into the distance, mouths open, half smile, thinking of those three hours and how it was the best three hours we’ve ever had. 

Since I’m currently thinking about some of those games right now, I wanted to ramble off (in detail) my top eight home games that if a schedule came out tomorrow, these would be my eight home games. 

*No particular order*

Nebraska 2002: This was the first ‘big game’ that I really remember being meaningful to me. I was at the Miami game in 2001 but it wasn’t really a big game in that sense because everyone knew Miami would kick our ass. And they did. Nebraska was different though. It was the first big game - I’m going to use that term A LOT - in Beaver Stadium after the renovations and up until 2017, it was the largest crowd at 110,753. The Huskers were led by quarterback Jammal Lord and ranked 8th in the nation. Nebraska might’ve been top-10 and one of the better teams to begin the decade, but Joe Paterno had a very, very talented team led by Heisman Trophy finalist, running back Larry Johnson. 

I was only 10 but I can vividly remember how loud the crowd was. Every play seemed like the loudest play. It was deafening. What made it so memorable was that Penn State dominated pretty much from start to finish with the final score being 40-7. Arguably one of the best plays from that game, and one of the loudest in the history of Beaver Stadium, was towards the end of the 3rd quarter when Jammal Lord dropped back and airmailed a pass over the intended receivers hands and into the hands of cornerback Richard Gardner who took it 42 yards for a touchdown. There have only been a few other games and moments that have had that same energy but that set the tone for me as a young fan and these highlights never disappoint. Operation Visine 

Notre Dame 2007: The first student White Out at Beaver Stadium was against Purdue in 2004. The first full-stadium White Out was in 2007 against Notre Dame and it was one of the most spectacular and beautiful sites I have ever seen. I compare it to my Wife walking down the aisle on our wedding day. It was an earlier start time, 6:30pm, but it was an ideal setting with the sun not quite set and it almost seemed like it was reflecting off all the white in the stadium. I walked up the stairs out into the opening to look at the crowd, and it was perfect. Neither team was destined for greatness that year but it was Penn State and Notre Dame so that didn’t matter. Throw out the records as they say because of the nostalgia that followed these two teams. 

(helloloser.com)

The scoring started when Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli threw a 73-yard pick six. With 1:05 left in the 1st quarter however, receiver Derrick Williams turned the entire game around with another one of those moments. A 74-yard punt return for a touchdown. Williams caught the ball seemingly on his shoe tops, got one block from teammate Anthony Scirrotto, made a cut towards the Penn State sideline and much like Richard Gardner’s pick six, Beaver Stadium erupted and started shaking. Penn State never looked back with a 31-10 victory. The first big White Out

Wisconsin 2012: This one has a more personal meaning to me. Although this was one of the more meaningful games in recent memory, it’s something that’ll always stick out to me. It was the end of the first season after the Jerry Sandusky Scandal. The end of the first season without Joe Paterno in over 60 years. There was no bowl game so this was the bowl game. A chance to end the season 8-4 and put a smile back on the faces of all those in blue and white. 

A little back story about the game and season. My roommates during that time were both members of the football team. One of which, Jordan Hill , played a prominent role in getting Penn State out of the darkness and into the light while everything was going during the summer when the sanctions initially hit. Even with all that was going on and lingering throughout the season, Bill O’Brien and company exceeded every expectation - most predicted 2 or 3 wins - and heading into that Senior Day game against Wisconsin the team was ready to finish it off strong. It was a back and forth game and eventually went into overtime where under the lights and the snow falling Penn State took a 24-21 lead. The defense held Wisconsin to a field goal attempt, which went wide left in what seemed like slow motion. The game and season were over which you might think would bring tears of sadness, but this game and season somehow brought tears of joy. The 2012 season was over but the next chapter of Penn State football was just beginning. Going out with a bang

Ohio State 2016: This isn’t one of the top five games I’ve ever been to at Beaver Stadium, but in terms of importance and moments this game had it all. It was a White Out, College GameDay was there, Ohio State was ranked #2 in the country. People talk about this being the game that changed everything but two games prior Penn State turned its season around with an overtime win against Minnesota. But if we’re talking about THE game of the season, this was it. 

Fast forward to when there was just over 4 minutes left in the game. Ohio State held a 21-17 lead on a 4th down. Urban Meyer seemingly rushed a 45-yard field goal attempt which was blocked by safety Marcus Allen and recovered by cornerback Grant Haley. At that moment, the steel frame of Beaver Stadium began to shake. I honestly wouldn’t have known if Haley scored or got tackled because I was too busy falling down the bleachers and (tried) hugging those around me. It was loud. If you watch the replay you can see Haley almost get tackled by the kicker of all people but he made it and when he made it, it got louder. And then louder. And that level of noise was sustained for a solid 3-5 minutes. There was still four minutes left though. On the Buckeyes’ last-minute effort quarterback JT Barrett was sacked on back-to-back plays and that was it. We had our upset and THAT was the game that brought us back. The Block

Michigan 2013: Some of the games on my list aren’t necessarily the best games I’ve ever been to and might not make the top-10 all-time Penn State games list, but this one was an all-timer. Overtime in college football isn’t rare but at the same time it’s not every weekend you have a lot of those games. Your team might not play in an overtime game the entire season, let alone a four overtime game. I can remember sitting in the student second with my buddy and it seemed like just another game as it was going on. The numbers for both teams weren’t record setting given the fact it was four overtimes. Penn State outgained Michigan by one yard, 390-389. Yes, the winning team in a four overtime game had 390 yards. 

Penn State held a 21-10 lead to start the second half but when running back Zack Zwinak lost the ball and Michigan’s Frank Clark scooped it up and took it for a touchdown that made the game a little more interesting and gave the Wolverines a little momentum. A little over a quarter later Michigan was now up 34-27 after kicker Sam Ficken nailed a 43-yard field goal. Fast forward to under a minute left in the game when quarterback Christian Hackenberg and receiver Allen Robinson connected on what might’ve been one of the best non-touchdown plays in Beaver Stadium history. Hackenberg would punch it in on the next play and it would eventually get to overtime. The overtimes weren’t normal to say the least; missed field goals, one of which was blocked, fumbles. Michigan finally made a field goal to up 40-37 and then running back Bill Belton finished off the game with a walk-in touchdown. Instant classic. 

(PennLive.com)

Ohio State 2005: Every year since this game I’ve been waiting for another game to come around and better. Nothing has come close. It had EVERYTHING - I’m currently watching the game as I write this - and it meant EVERYTHING. Coming off a 4-7 disappointment in 2004, 2005 had to be the season where we got things going again. It started off on the recruiting trail when 5-star, and number one player in the country, Derrick Williams committed to Penn State. Williams was without a doubt the biggest recruit to ever sign with Penn State and changed the entire future of the program. Williams could’ve gone anywhere and had a much better career statistically but he wanted to make an impact and he sure as hell did. The game was the most hyped game since that Nebraska game in 2002. It was a night game, a sold out crowd, College GameDay was in State College, Ohio State had National Championship aspirations, and Penn State was trying to make a statement.

There were 3 points scored in the second half. Three. That screams old school Big Ten football. Quarterback Michael Robinson only had 78 yards through the air with no touchdowns or interceptions. Running back Tony Hunt led all rushers with 64 yards. It was a boring game compared to what we watch today but that didn’t bother any of the fans in attendance. The two dominant players in the game were both on the defensive side of the ball for Penn State; Tamba Hali and Paul Posluszny. Two All-American’s leading the way from start to finish. With just under a 1:30 left in the 4th quarter and Penn State up 17-10, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith dropped back and Hali came off the edge and knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands and it was recovered beautifully by Penn State’s Scott Paxson. I’ve been to a lot of games at Beaver Stadium and this was by far the loudest game. Even more so than Nebraska. It was like that from beginning to end. It was really like that from Sunday to Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Like I said to start, I’ve been waiting for something to compare it to but I haven’t gotten there yet. That game changed EVERYTHING for Penn State. THE Game. 

Wisconsin 2005: This is more of a personal favorite and not one a lot of people will mention so I won’t really get into the nuts and bolts of the game other than Tamba Hali stamped his name among the best defensive players in the country. Hali was relentless the entire game leading the way with 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. It was one step closer to a Big Ten Title for Penn State and a trip to a BCS Bowl Game. One Step Closer

Michigan State 2002: This is another personal favorite but unlike the 05’ Wisconsin game people still talk about this one and in a different way. It was the night Larry Johnson surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season. He needed 264 yards to get that but Joe Paterno wasn’t the type of coach to leave a player in the game just to get a record, especially if the game was in hand. It turns out Paterno didn’t need to worry about that because Johnson got the 264 yards and then some in the first half. 

Needing only 23 yards for 2,000, Johnson took a toss from quarterback Zack Mills and went untouched 38 yards for a touchdown. He’d go on to finish the season with 2,015 yards and earn a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Johnson didn’t win the Heisman, although I’ll go to my grave saying he should’ve, but he did take home just about every other major offensive award. He won the Doak Walker Award (top running back), the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Maxwell Award (best all-around college player). It wasn’t the best season in Penn State history, but arguably the best individual season by a Penn State player. 2K for LJ

There have been many legendary games throughout Penn State’s history and I can tell you from experience that fans from opposing teams still mention games they’ve been to at Beaver Stadium. Although it was a loss, Ohio State fans who we see every other year mention that 2005 game and it’s one of the best atmospheres they’ve ever been in. Even Ohio State alum and ESPN College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit brings up that game from time to time. 

Hopefully there’s another Ohio State game out there in the future.