Three is the magic number for the Penn State football team this weekend.
When the Nittany Lions (2-7, 0-5 Big Ten) travel to Ryan Field for their game against the Northwestern Wildcats (4-5, 2-3) tomorrow at noon, it will be to salvage a season with only three games left.
On the heels of a one-point loss to No. 7 Ohio State last Saturday, Penn State is now officially eliminated from post-season contention and assured a losing record for the third time in four years.
But the Lions have had success in their last few trips to Evanston, Ill. -- winning this weekend would mark the third-straight victory for the Lions at Ryan Field. Both previous triumphs came by three points.
More importantly, a victory would be just the third for Penn State this season and it is a win the players say they desperately need for confidence -- and to take the heat off their coach.
Joe Paterno has been besieged by critics lately and his career accomplishments don't seem to give him the get-out-of-jail card the way it has in the past.
If he is able to win this weekend, Paterno can avoid tying the 1931 team for most losses in a season with eight. He was four years old at the time those Lions lost their record-setting game.
Now, at 76, Paterno is facing the real possibility of finishing with fewer than five wins for the first time in his 38 years on the sideline.
And there is also the concern of players quitting on the team now that the season will end before the three-day Thanksgiving break.
"You have concerns of when you win, you worry whether your kids are overconfident and when you lose, you worry whether your kids are discouraged," Paterno said. "I think they will come out of this with the idea, 'Let's finish this thing up right.' "
Penn State cornerback Rich Gardner said that the team would continue to play hard. He did express a bit of concern, however, that the loss to the Buckeyes might infect some players with a sub-par desire to win.
"You can never quit and we won't quit," Gardner said. "No one has really given up, but sometimes the effort may not be what you want. It motivates the group a little bit. Everyone still has fight in them."
Gardner, a senior, is staring down his final three games with the team. As one of the leaders of a maligned defense this season, the Chicago native will have to spend part of his homecoming trying to stop Northwestern tailback Jason Wright. The Lions' defense currently ranks 105th while Wright, the Big Ten's fourth-leading rusher, is averaging more than 93 yards per game.
Though the loss to the Buckeyes was an obvious setback for the team, Penn State quarterback Zack Mills made a great stride forward last Saturday. He had his first 250-yard passing game of the season and threw his third touchdown pass of the season.
The Northwestern pass defense should be much less difficult than that of the Buckeyes. The Wildcats currently rank 74th nationally, allowing an average of 232.89 yards a game.
But the Wildcats should be feisty -- with just three games remaining, Northwestern needs to win two to be bowl-eligible. Paterno said he hopes his seniors can regain some pride by skinning the 'Cats.
"Obviously, I can't tell the seniors that this is the start of something for next year," Paterno said. "They have to have the pride and the enjoyment of playing against three good football teams that we have coming up. For me to tell you that I am sure, no, I am not sure, but I think we will be OK."
To get to three wins tomorrow would seem truly magical, indeed, for this team.
