If you were there, you aren't worse for the wear.

Who could forget last year's whatever-it-was, maybe it was a game, between Penn State, then 2-3, and Purdue, then undefeated and ranked No. 9 in the country?

It was the first official day of winter in State College, meaning it was the first day in October where people had to wear sweatshirts, hats and scarves because there is no season of autumn now in Central Pennsylvania.

There were still those hoping the Nittany Lions' losing record could be swung around the right direction. A big upset over a powerful team would be cool, right?

But, for whatever reason, there was just something wrong with last year's team. Something that prevented the team from functioning like a Penn State football team is supposed to function.

Coach Joe Paterno alleged his team was never far away, and the Lions played like that against Purdue last year.

The game was constantly close. The Lions forced Boilermakers quarterback Kyle Orton to make bad decisions, like throwing the ball to Lions safety Calvin Lowry and cornerback Anwar Phillips in the fourth quarter.

But the Lions lost the game because they weren't able to capitalize on the opportunity. After Phillips' interception, the best the offense managed was a 45-yard field goal attempt that kicker Robbie Gould missed.

This year, though, the Lions have won games like that -- with the exception of that loss at Michigan. The "unspeakable game."

And this year, Purdue has lost games like that, and the Boilermakers look a lot like the Lions of old in the process, too.

"I would think that is to a degree true, except I think they have more talent in the skilled people right now," Paterno said. "No. 9 [wide receiver Dorien Bryant], the kid from Swedesboro, N.J., is a heckuva football player. And the big tall kid 89 [wide receiver Kyle Ingraham], we didn't have that. We didn't have those wideouts a year ago."

Paterno could be doing his usual routine of talking-up a poor opponent for courtesy's sake, or he could be spitting the truth.

The real problem with Purdue this year is its defense, the polar opposite of Penn State last season.

The Boilermakers under head coach Joe Tiller have never been known for their defense, usually the pass-heavy offense is what turns heads.

This year, heads are turning because opposing offenses are scoring so fast on Purdue, it's hard to watch the game without developing whiplash.

"During the season, we've had a breakdown in the secondary," Tiller said. "A breakdown to the point where we had to move someone from offense to a defense position where he'd never played a down before."

Wait, changing people from offense to defense, or vice versa, in the middle of the season? Is this ringing a bell for anyone else? Images of players like Donnie Johnson or former Lion Maurice Humphrey coming to mind? Anyone, anyone?

"We've also been plagued with injuries, which hasn't helped. We're trying to bounce back, though," Tiller said.

More memories now. Zack Mills and Michael Robinson went down against Wisconsin two weeks prior to playing Purdue, and were trying to bounce back into the lineup.

This game tomorrow will be a bad game for Purdue, a bad game for Purdue players, coaches and fans. They'll fight, they'll try, but it's not looking good.

All those predictors who think people actually care about their predictions predicted Purdue to surprise people this season, and Purdue has done just that by losing five games in a row.

The Lions are now the sleepers -- the kids who weren't supposed to be able to stay up this late.

Take pity on those wearing the Gold and Black tomorrow. You have felt their pain, but at least you now know what it's like to hang out at the lighted end of the tunnel now.