No, it's not true that Penn State finished the Northwestern game with kids from State College High on a field trip.
And no intramural leaguers were involved in the fourth quarter, but pretty much anyone else who ever touched a football found their way into the 49-0 whippin'. This wasn't just a chance for second stringers to hit the field -- they were already out of the game by the time most of the Blue and White faithful decided to they'd had enough of the rain.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno turned out his bench with wholesale substitutions early in the third quarter. It didn't take long for the participation report to bear a striking resemblance to Penn State's total roster.
The Nittany Lions trotted out seven guys at tailback, including sophomore Pete Gilmore, someone so entrenched in Paterno's doghouse he wasn't on the traveling roster to either Michigan or Wisconsin. Reserve senior receiver Steve Delich, one of the hard working seniors Paterno loves, who last saw action in last season's Indiana game in the third quarter, lined up for a few passes. Twenty five Lions made tackles.
The starters' biggest complaint after the game wasn't nicks or bruises, but rather how chilly it was standing on the sidelines waiting for the game to end. Of course the ultra-light work load was welcomed after three brutal games against Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Despite not playing, the veterans still found a way to amuse themselves from the bench, namely bossing around the greenhorns.
"You end up being an assistant coach, telling them what they're doing wrong, what to expect and how to adjust," defensive end Michael Haynes said. "It's frustrating because you're telling them what they're doing wrong but it's just not clicking."
Regardless of how much Haynes wished he had hair to pull out, the coach that mattered, i.e. Paterno, was a bit more pleased at his reserves, especially a defensive unit that managed to finish off the starters shutout.
"I think its always important the more kids you can play, particularly young kids so they can get some experience because you never know when you are going to need them," Paterno said. "I told the squad one of the best things about today was a lot of the young kids got to play and played well."
Day to remember
-- Offense: Tailback Larry Johnson. This was a hard choice. LJ set the school record with rushing 257 yards, didn't play most of the second half and made one wonder whether any of the Wildcats' defenders had the sense of sight, hearing or touch.
The big question now is can the nasty one put these numbers up again next week when linebackers actually shoot gaps?
-- Defense: Linebacker Gino Capone. Capone has taken some heat the last few weeks because of a few missed tackles in Wisconsin and Michigan. But he was given the chance to make plays Saturday and he took it, leading the team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks.
Again, what matters most is how Capone responds when he has to chase Buckeye running back Maurice Clarrett down next week.
Day to Forget
-- Offense: Northwestern. The Wildcats scored no points. The only time they threatened to score, they shot themselves in the foot with a false start penalty, pushing placekicker David Waiselwski out of his range. Even when junk time rolled around, the only number on the scoreboard for Northwestern was zero.
-- Defense: Northwestern. Go ahead take your pick. It can either be the unit that entered the game ranked last in average rushing yards allowed per game in Div. I and proceeded to give up 100 more yards than that average or the guy who let them leave Evanston.
Random media note of the week
-- "Penn State Basketball's Sharif Chambliss and Northwestern's Tony Stauss former gridiron foes," second item of Penn State's pregame notes, documenting their high school showdown in Racine, Wisc., when Chambliss led his team to a 7-0 victory.
Statistically speaking
Penn State's overall homecoming record is 60-18-5 ... Northwestern quarterback Tony Stauss set Northwestern's single-game completion percentage record by hitting 69% of his passes ... The Lions' have outscored their opponents 84-22 in the third quarter.
Did you notice ...
With 23:49 remaining before kickoff, stadium crews removed banners hanging from section NJ reading "Expect Suspicious Penalties and No-Calls 2-Day" (written vertically to spell out ESPN 2) and "Zack Mills for Heisman" ... The textbook block Mills delivered on Larry Johnson's 22-yard dash on the Lions' second drive of the second quarter ... At the half, Northwestern held a one-minute edge in the time of possession battle despite losing 35-0 ... Both team's placekickers warming up kicking toward the North end zone's uprights at halftime ... Defensive tackle Anthony Adams tackling defensive coordinator Tom Bradley on the sideline late in the game after Lavon Chisley forced and recovered a fumble ... Offensive tackle Gus Felder carrying Larry Johnson off the field on his shoulders.
Finally
Sure the blowout was fun, but can the Lions prove they really are a top-flight team this week at the Horseshoe?
