When your grandfather, mother, aunt, two uncles, four cousins and sister boast sheepskins from Penn State, you don't have a choice: Nittany Lion football is a way of life. Period.
Not that I'm complaining.
I grew up following one of the premier football programs in a decade that was arguably the greatest in Penn State's storied history. I witnessed two national championships and saw some of the greatest players ever at this tradition-rich school.
Today's Michigan clash marks the 1,000th time Penn State has suited up for a gridiron clash. (Incidentally did you know that Penn State's colors in the late 1800's were pink? Can you see Shane Conlan in a pink uniform? Me neither.)
It is fitting on this historic day to look back.
Since my time as a Lion follower is a bit limited, I'll present the First Commemorative Brownie Awards for the era of Lion football I've lived through: the glorious 1980s to the present.
The envelopes please . . .
Best offensive player: Blair Thomas. How could you pick Thomas over Curt Warner, Penn State's all-time leading rusher? It wasn't easy. But keep in mind that Warner was a three-year starter, while Thomas served a two-year apprenticeship under D.J. Dozier. When he did get his chance to start, Thomas responded with two of the greatest seasons by a Lion back -- with a career-threatening knee injury sandwiched in between -- to place second on the all-time rushing list, a mere 97 yards behind Warner.
Best defensive player: Shane Conlan. The All-American inside linebacker was the heart-and-soul of a defense that was largely responsible for back-to-back undefeated seasons and a national championship. The ultimate gamer, Conlan saved his best for last, intercepting two Vinny Testaverde passes in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. His second pick set up the winning touchdown in one of the biggest upsets in college football history.
Biggest regular-season win: 1981 Pitt. Craig Fayak's kick that stunned the Irish is tempting, but growing up in Panther Country, this game holds special significance to me. If you're a Penn State fan from Pittsburgh ask yourself this: Was there ever a more satisfying feeling than seeing Pitt fans, who had harassed you unmercifully prior to the game, Monday morning? I remember one of my friends calling me after Pitt jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Kind of a 'I told you so, Pitt's going all way' phone call.
Naturally a return call was in order after Penn State demolished No. 1 Pitt. I was succinct. "48-14," and with that I hung up the phone.
Most heartbreaking loss: 1989 Alabama. A win over the No. 2 Tide would have been huge for Penn State, which was trying to regain the national power status it had been stripped of after 1988's 5-6 debacle. In as fine a performance as I have ever seen, Thomas put the Lions on his back for the final drive and carried them to the Alabama one-yard line --literally. It was all for naught however when Thomas Rayham (good trivia question) blocked Ray Tarasi's chip shot, allowing Alabama to escape Beaver Stadium with a 17-16 win.
Best play call: 1985 Alabama, fourth quarter. Clinging to a 12-10 lead and facing a third-and-one at Alabama's 11-yard line, it was basically a foregone conclusion that "Conservative" Joe would run right up the gut. Especially with his starting quarterback, John Shaffer, on the sidelines trying to figure out what zipcode he was in.
However, Paterno faked out the crowd, announcers and most importantly Alabama when he called for a play-action fake pass from Matt Knizner to tight end Brian Siverling. Knizner threw a perfect strike for the touchdown that proved to be the difference in Penn State's 19-17 win. As ABC-announcer Keith Jackson drawled, "What a gutty call."
Most infamous play: 1982 Alabama, fourth quarter. Blocked punts are enough to make a coach's blood boil. How about a punt that is blocked by your own player? That's exactly what happened to Penn State when upback Mike Suter backed into punter Ralph Giacomarro late in the fourth-quarter of a tight game. The untimely miscue opened the floodgates, as Alabama scored 18 unanswered points to turn a 24-21 lead into a 42-21 romp. Fortunately for Suter and Penn State, the loss didn't stop the Lions from capturing their first national championship.
Best sport: Paterno two years ago when the Sugar Bowl snubbed his Lions for Notre Dame, just moments after Penn State's 34-13 pasting of the Irish? Naah.
My cousin Bill when I nuked his jacket right before the 1981 Notre Dame game. I honestly used to get nauseous on any car-ride longer than 30 minutes. So you can imagine what a 2 hour drive up the winding mountain roads usually meant. Sure enough, as my dad pulled into a parking spot on College Avenue, my breakfast came up -- all over my cousin's winter jacket. It was a direct hit. And considering it was late November (i.e. bitterly cold), it was a miracle my cousin didn't toss me out in front of the Loop. Sorry, Bill.
