No. 1 Notre Dame beat No. 17 Penn State in Beaver Stadium 34-23 on Nov. 18, 1989. That was the last time a No. 1 team that wasn't Penn State came into the Beav. After that the world ended, and Penn State football hasn't been the same since.
Ok, so that's kind of not true considering the Nittany Lions went 12-0 in 1994, and that whole thing in 1997 where they kept trading No. 1 with Michigan, who eventually won and all that.
But, a number one team hasn't been back to Happy Valley since... until now!
Obviously, you realize by now that I'm not talking about football, especially because the football team is playing an away game this week. You're not all still talking about football are you?
Football is out, baby, out. Volleyball is in, daddy-o.
No. 1 Minnesota (13-1, 2-0) descends on Rec Hall, tomorrow, like a cumulonimbus cloud. Big, dark, and like something out of "Twister."
The Golden Gophers have six, that's right, six returning seniors.
They also have the best all-around defensive player in the country, Paula Gentil. At the libero position, Gentil racked up 39 digs against Michigan last week; a feat only men from Krypton could accomplish.
They've played the hardest schedule ever assembled in the history of time and only lost one game, to two-time defending NCAA National Champion USC.
There's no question No. 4 Penn State (11-0, 2-0), defending Big Ten Champions, knows exactly how tough the Gophers are.
Last year the Minnesota storm flat out embarrassed the Lions in Rec Hall, sweeping the match 3-0 (30-26, 30-18, 30-21). But the Lions redeemed themselves with a 3-1 (30-19, 26-30, 30-27, 30-24) win on the Gopher's home floor.
The Lions really want to win this weekend. Junior setter and team captain Sam Tortorello has been a little more vocal in practice this week, offering advice and motivational criticism during every drill.
Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose has been studying game film like it's his job. Well, it is his job, but you know what I'm talking about.
Rose has been talking non-stop about just how good a player Gentil is, comparing her defensive play to that of a free safety. For his Lions to win, Rose must figure out how to get hit around Gentil. This is already a historical match, even before the first serve. Never before in Big Ten Conference play have two teams been ranked in the top-five of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll and faced each other.
Just when your Lions' football team will begin another valiant, but most likely futile Big Ten road effort, volleyball action of a much higher caliber will be unfolding here in the Valley.
I'm only going to say this once, so listen up: this game will be much more dramatic and exciting than that football game. Period.
The whole volleyball universe, also known as the state of California and a few oddball Chicago suburbs, will be watching this game. Will you?
Yes, of course you will. Because you have nothing better to do at 7 p.m. tomorrow. I know this for a fact. Your roommate told me.
But Tim, you say. I don't know nuthin' about no women's volleyball. I won't know what to cheer for.
Here are some tips:
-- When the starting lineup is announced, the team throws t-shirts into the crowd. Stand up. You know you love free t-shirts.
-- After every Penn State point, the PA announcer yells something like: "Syndie Nadeau with the kill." Get ready. Then, he says: "Point..." Your response: PENN STATE!
-- When the opposing team tries to serve, pretend you're a Cameron Crazy and yell creative taunts.
-- When a game is closing out, with Penn State at 29 points, stand up and start the traditional slow clap to push the Lions up to 30.
-- Play follow the leader. Feed off of the other people already in the crowd, and by other people I mean the nice old-folks in the volleyball boosters club. They love this team, and they come to every single game for some reason. Could it be because it's more entertaining than watching the football team lose? I can only speculate.
Tickets are free for students with Penn State ID, or $4 for adults without. Seriously, I've seen people spend more money on Pogs. First 500 get a Kaleena Walters replica jersey, and you can even catch a flying Jimmy John's hoagie from the cheerleaders.
