Alright, it's time to 'fess up.

You were tying your scarf, ticket in hand, ready to start the long walk to Beaver Stadium Saturday, when other ideas started to pop up.

The wind was knocking the trees around outside. There were snow flurries in the forecast. It had been hours since breakfast and with the 3:30 start time you could practically taste the Uncle Chen's. Plus, you just had to know how that Notre Dame-Boston College game would end.

So you mailed it in, trusting the good folks at ESPN to give you the same experience as the student section, minus the flying bottles. It's OK, you can admit it, we won't tell. And just think how happy your mother would be knowing you were safe and warm snuggled beneath that blanky she made for you for Christmas freshman year.

Now let's just pretend you were among the 105,589 in attendance, and you had lost all sense of feeling thanks to some horrible industrial accident, or an equally horrible amount of whiskey.

You still would have known the temperature never climbed out of the 30s, not counting the cruel wind, thanks to a trio of guys who decided to use their chests for the least-necessary public service announcement ever.

Andy Young (sophomore-math education) "It's," John Hefty (junior-civil engineering) "Cold" and Michael Clauser (sophomore-philosophy and religious studies) "!" spelled out "It's Cold!" across their chests in the front row of section SC. A senseless display of nipples? Not quite.

"I did it for Larry [Johnson], 'cause he's so nasty," Young said. OK, sure. We'll buy Hefty's explanation more: "That and I love being on ESPN."

Whatever the motivation, the players seem to have appreciated it. "That is true dedication," defensive end Michael Haynes said. "I couldn't do it, but that's our fans and that's why we love them."

Day to remember

-- Offense: TB Larry Johnson. There have been easier choices in life, such as whether or not to step in front of a moving bus, but not by much. LJ continued his quest to get into the Heisman race by breaking his own school record with 279 rushing yards.

-- Defense: Hero Chris Harrell. The entire defense played well again, but Harrell played his best game since assuming full-time hero duties against Iowa, finishing with five tackles and a forced fumble. Also, Harrell dished out a few hits worthy of his hero, the legendary Ronnie Lott.

Day to forget

-- Offense: Illinois QB Dustin Ward. Sure it was windy and that might have made some of the balls sail, but Ward, who's been in a quarterback shuffle with Jon Beutjer all season, played awfully. Give credit to the Nittany Lions "D," but Ward badly missed passes until he was pulled in the third quarter.

-- Defense: Illinois' front seven. First mistake, trying to tackle LJ. Second mistake, being so horrible at tackling LJ. Third mistake, continually repeating mistakes one and two without correction. Isn't that the definition of insanity?

Did you notice?

Penn State coach Joe Paterno dancing to the Blue Band's rendition of "Rock and Roll, part II" in the tunnel just before kickoff ... Illinois' Michael Hall physically preventing Antoineo Harris from returning a kickoff booted well into the end zone with 9:08 remaining in the second quarter ... One of the day's loudest cheers came when it was announced BC upset Notre Dame.

Finally

With no world-beaters left on the Lions' remaining schedule, will this be how it is all year or will somebody mar Penn State's record with a fourth loss?