Oh, downtrodden glances, where have you gone? What's that you say -- you'll be gone for a week? And you took solemn whispers and heartbreak along with you?

Well, can't say you'll be missed. Because the Penn State football team won its first game since September, and that means, right now, you're not welcome anymore. Even better, you've been replaced -- by relief, grins and, well, an all-around warm, fuzzy feeling.

"Just seeing everyone happy -- it was a great feeling for me," freshman linebacker Dan Connor said after Penn State defeated Indiana, 22-18. "Everyone's celebrating in there, still."

It was a celebration that couldn't be held back. After the Nittany Lions denied the Hoosiers the end zone, four times in a row, on a phenomenal, blow-your-mind sort of goal-line stand, the sideline spilled over, more than just a little bit.

Connor, for one, ran straight into the arms of defensive end Matthew Rice. Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley charged out toward the guys who had come through for him when he believed in them most. And tackles Scott Paxson and Ed Johnson, well, they pumped their fists like the solid tandem in the middle of the line Johnson had just challenged them to become.

"Ed was saying [before fourth down], 'If we stop them in the middle, they'll call it salt and pepper,' " Paxson said, laughing. "Ed talks a lot."

And once the meaningless Indiana safety had been scored and the Lions could, without any worries, leave the field victorious, Penn State coach Joe Paterno did what he hasn't gotten to do in quite some time -- he left the field, looked up at his cheering fan section, and gave a little wave and half a grin.

"It's good to see them win one," Paterno said.

Day to remember

Offense: Zack Mills. Without a doubt, a win over Indiana isn't the most spectacular event in his career. But for a guy who admirably persisted through injuries and a six-game losing streak, it's hard to imagine him not finding joy in a game in which he led the offense back to effectiveness.

Defense: Anyone who was on the field for the goal-line stand. Center E.Z. Smith called it "the craziest thing I've ever seen in person." It was, indeed, amazing, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime good. Imagine being a part of it.

Day to forget

Offense: Anthony Morelli. All the hype and all the calls for him to go in, and he throws a pick-six. That can't feel too good. He's got time, though -- three more seasons of it.

Defense: Anwar Phillips. On the final Indiana drive, he bobbled what could have been an easy interception and, then, on the very next play, allowed a 29-yard pass to the 1-yard line. To his credit, however, he dragged that receiver down just shy of the goal line, saving a score.

Did you notice?

The complete lack of fans. Beaver Stadium seems empty with fewer than 100,000 -- try 24,092. ... Tight end Pat Hall and wide receiver Terrell Golden made their first career starts ... The extremely small, perhaps 2-foot-tall child who ran onto the field to retrieve the tee after a kickoff in the first half. ... Flies in the air? The press box had plenty -- 17 were killed in a single corner in no more than half an hour.

Extra Point

Despite a general policy at Penn State to not let true freshmen talk to the media, Connor and wide receiver Mark Rubin both conducted post-game interviews Saturday. Needless to say, both were swarmed by reporters.