Taliaferro went to tackle Buckeyes running back Jerry Westbrooks, but instead of just knocking down Westbrooks, Taliaferro severely injured his spinal cord. So much so that he almost was paralyzed. Taliaferro was taken off the field, had emergency surgery and has since recovered in miraculous fashion.

But Ohio State didn't stop the slaughter after the long delay to allow Taliaferro to be properly carried off the field.

Two plays after the most serious injury in Penn State football history, the Buckeyes padded the score with another touchdown, infuriating Penn State players and embarrassing a team that was beaten all day.

"That sticks in the mind of everybody," linebacker Deryck Toles said. "They did try to run the score up."

There was no reason for Ohio State to run those plays. Instead of downing the ball in respectable fashion on fourth-and-six, the Buckeyes chose to run a play for first down and then scored a touchdown on the very next play.

Tomorrow, Penn State will have its chance for retribution at Beaver Stadium.

Coming off its only win of the season, a 38-35 shocker against Northwestern, players have shown a new wave of confidence this week in a team that has struggled thus far. But a win has their spirits high and a game like this with so much at stake might be the second building block toward a successful season.

"We don't want to thrive on revenge but there is some anger there," wide receiver Eddie Drummond said. "We really want to get them back. That game put a really bad taste in my mouth. I'm going to come out there pretty fired up."

While some players want revenge tomorrow, other players do not want to make revenge a motivator for Ohio State.

Penn State might be talking up its goal for this game is to get back at the Buckeyes, but Ohio State will definitely be ready to play.

Tailback Eric McCoo said the Lions don't have a sour taste in their mouth for some players or coaches, but just the way Penn State played last year against the Buckeyes. Although the late score by Ohio State was icing on the cake, the entire day was a frustrating experience that the Lions want to forget.

"It's not really bitterness, not toward players, not toward coaches," McCoo said.

"But still some guys are going to play and use that as motivation."

And other players, just want to forget about the Ohio State game last season and move on.

"Nobody really mentioned that this week," tight end John Gilmore said. "Ohio State was a game last year that we really want to put behind us."