Aren't Virginians supposed to be gentlemen?
Wasn't that the whole idea Thomas Jefferson had when he started the university based on discussions of philosophy supposed to breed conscientious citizens of the republic (Let's not get into Jefferson dying in debt)?
Well, the Declaration of Independence's author would probably have been disappointed by the behavior of his fellow Virginians Saturday in the Cavaliers' 35-14 loss to Penn State.
Aside from losing, a couple of Virginia's players acted in a rather cavalier manner. According to members of the Nittany Lion defense, Virginia's offensive line talked more trash than they had heard all season, in addition to the Cavaliers' taking a couple borderline cheap shots at Penn State players after the whistle.
The most notable was a shot Penn State quarterback Zack Mills took with a little less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter. On third and one, Mills kept the ball on an option play, scrambling for a first down before sliding to what should conceivably be safety. Instead, Mills got bashed by safety Jerton Evans after he was clearly down.
Had Evans just dropped his shoulder, the Lions would have let it go as one of those things that happen in aggressive, (and at that point) close football games. However, then Evans started jumping up and down celebrating -- an odd thing in the first place considering Mills did get the first down.
"That's cheap, that's really unnecessary," defensive end Michael Haynes said.
"They're definitely mouthy, but it's just football and the fact is we won."
Not to be confused, the boys from old Virginia weren't the only ones letting their tongues wag.
"I don't know," defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy said.
"I talk a lot of smack out there myself ... I try to get in those guys' heads first."
Day to remember
-- Offense: Penn State's offensive line. Yes, Mills played better than he has in weeks and Larry Johnson kept piling up yards trying to get into the Heisman race, but the line gets it anyway despite a few slip-ups early. Call it back pay for the group that has spent the last couple of weeks opening big holes for LJ to romp through.
-- Defense: Defensive tackle Anthony Adams. Had he only made that interception on Virginia's second play from scrimmage. Even though AA couldn't haul in the pick, he gets the nod both for his run stopping and penetrating into the Cavaliers' backfield. When he plays like this, it's easy to see why NFL scouts are so high on Adams.
Day to forget
-- Offense: Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. It might have been the true freshman's first start, but Haynes walked all over him on the way to Schaub and three sacks.
-- Defense: Cornerback Bryan Scott. He didn't play awfully, but Scott was late on Virginia's first offensive touchdown, then got lucky he didn't get flagged for a late hit thanks to his shove of Virginia tight end Heath Miller.
We pin on him the blame for all those screen passes the Cavs quarterback Matt Schaub hit under the assumption that's the one play the Lions would allow.
Tie: Virginia cornerback Art Thomas. Biting on Chris Ganter's fake pitch to Robbie Gould on Ganter's touchdown run on the Lions' fake field goal. Really, who covers the kicker, especially when he doesn't have the ball.
Statistically speaking
Penn State had its first fake field goal for a touchdown since 1995 against Michigan ... The Lions are now 40-7-2 against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents under Joe Paterno ... The Lions playing in front of 1,045,164 fans home and away this season breaks the NCAA record.
Quotable
"At Brooklyn Prep we never played before more than 60, 70 thousand." -- Penn State Joe Paterno joking about the Lions attendance record.
"I told him, 'Yo, you should have redshirted. I'm old, you're young.' " -- Haynes on Ferguson. In "Brickie's" defense, isn't it normally a good thing to be considered young?
Did you notice?
The unusually fine selection of pregame music played over the stadium speakers, notably Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up," the Foo Fighters' "All My Life," and Bruce Springsteen's "Further Up the Road" ... Penn State gave the ball to Larry Johnson on eight of 10 plays on its third offensive drive of the game ... Virginia only sent one captain out to start the second half ... Gould's imitation of a Gramatica brother after nailing his 50-yard field goal attempt, jumping into the ample arms of offensive tackle Gus Felder before getting destroyed by guard Matt Schmitt ... The Blue Band mockingly waving yellow flags after every penalty.
Finally ...
What ever happened to that guy who banged the cowbell during games? Really.
