MIAMI -- It would have been the perfect ending to the Blockbuster Bowl for Penn State and quarterback Tom Bill. Down 24-10 early in the fourth quarter, Coach Joe Paterno inserted Bill into the game to try to revive the failing Lion offense.

Starter Tony Sacca had done an admirable job to this point, but the team needed a spark and it had worked before. Bill came in against Alabama and West Virginia earlier in the season and led the team to two victories. Usually the third time is the charm, but against Florida State's swarming defense Bill's effort fell a little bit short as the Lions lost 24-17 in the first ever South Florida classic. Even though Penn State lost, Bill went down fighting.

Paterno made his bold manuever to replace Sacca after the Lion offense was only able to move the ball four yards after taking possession at the Seminole 40-yard line.

"Sacca was tired, he played a tough three quarters," Paterno said. "They put a lot of pressure on him."

"After the first series in the fourth quarter, Joe told me to get ready," Bill said.

And with the insertion of Bill, Paterno looked like a genius, with No. 12 immediately leading the team to a touchdown. The drive was quick, 62 yards in three plays, and painless -- it took just 1:05.

On first down, with the Lions getting the ball on their own 38-yard line, Bill rifled a pass over the middle to Dave Daniels for 22 yards to the Seminole 40. On second down Leroy Thompson ran the ball for three yards to set up the touchdown. From the 37-yard line, Bill threw a perfect spiral to wide receiver Terry Smith, who outleaped the Seminole defender for the touchdown.

"I made the play fake and Terry made a great catch," Bill said.

In the opposite end zone, the blue-and-white faithful roared, all but silencing the rowdy Seminole crowd for a moment.

With 6:27 left in the game, the Lions now trailed by just a touchdown and Bill was making this miracle comeback look like a reality.

"I thought Tom picked us up, he did a good job," Paterno said.

With the Penn State defense stiffening against the explosive Seminole offense, the Lion offense knew it would get the ball again. The Lions got the ball with 4:14 left but couldn't move it and were forced to punt after three plays. Once again, the defense held, and after a 34-yard punt, the Lions got the ball at the Seminole 31-yard line with 3:17 left. Just 31 yards and seven points away from a tie. The Penn State fans waved their blue-and-white pom-poms, while the Seminole fans pointed their arms forward in a constant and rhythmic cheer, known simply as "Scalp 'Em."

It truly was turning into a Blockbuster bowl when the Florida State defense took a stand.

On first down, Bill, under heavy pressure, threw incomplete to tight end Al Golden. Bill's second down pass to Smith was dropped and on third down, hoping to catch the hard-rushing Seminoles off guard, Bill attempted a quarterback draw that failed -- he gained just two yards. On fourth down, Bill's pass to Thompson was intercepted at the goal line and the comeback had ended.

"They put a lot of pressure and we kind of got confused. We weren't sure what play to run. We tried to do the best we could," Bill said. "They have a really aggressive defense and you have to give them a lot of credit."

Statistically, Bill finished the game 3-of-7 for 84 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Four plays and just three yards, that is what the Seminoles held the Lions to and that is what the Lions will have to ponder and remember over a long winter and spring. But for Bill that was his curtain call to a controversial five years as the Lions' quarterback.

"This team is on the rise. I'm sad to leave this team but it will be a very experienced team come next year," Bill said.