Every time the media trailer door opened, the chorus of Penn State groupies drowned out Tamba Hali, screaming "Tamba! Tamba!" for a just a wave or a smile.

Always concise, the defensive end laughed when asked how he felt after locking up the Nittany Lions' second-ever Big Ten Championship.

"I feel real good right now," Hali said.

Ah, to be Hali. He played the kind of game Saturday against Michigan State that's hard to directly measure. His stats were certainly above par -- eight tackles, one for a loss -- but there were no sacks.

Hali said he anticipated it would be difficult to get a pass rush against the Spartans offensive line, and he was usually double-teamed by the Spartans pass protection.

"We really wanted to get there," Hali said.

He helped defensive tackle Jay Alford get to Spartans quarterback Drew Stanton twice -- the only sacks of the day for Penn State.

Spartans coach John L. Smith joined the growing army of opposing coaches heaping praise on Hali and the rest of the defensive line after the game.

"Yes, we got schooled," Smith said. "But we didn't get taken to school ... Those guys fought back, but that was a good lesson and there were a lot of lessons to be learned out there."

It was obvious early that the Spartans' hands were literally full with Hali. Michigan State was called for four holding penalties during the game, and on multiple occasions it appeared Hali was held but no flag was thrown.

"It gets frustrating at times and sometimes you'll be looking for the calls just because they can at least tell the offensive guys to get their hands off so you can work the pass rush," Hali said. "But, being double-teamed all the time, somebody's going to be open somehow."

Lions coach Joe Paterno said it wasn't the prettiest defensive effort he's seen all year, but it was effective nonetheless.

"We get a little sloppy," Paterno said. "But, we made plays when we had to make them."

Paterno hasn't won a championship of any kind since 1994, the first time the Lions won the Big Ten.

Hali said his memories of that year were a little different than his coach's.

"I was just coming into the United States in September of that year," he said, laughing.

Hali, a native of Liberia, took a moment before celebrating to introduce himself to Spartans running back Jehuu Caulcrick, a Liberian countryman who escaped the war-torn nation at a young age like Hali.

Football has enabled Hali a chance to be a part of something in America, a chance to be recognized and a chance to get his mother out of Liberia, something that would be possible with entry into the National Football League.

For Hali, on-the-field satisfaction isn't based on self-recognition and statistical supremacy, it's based on team recognition. He was more than willing to cede the media trailer podium to Lions quarterback Michael Robinson on Saturday, saying, "Oh, Mike's here. See you guys later."

As Hali left, the crowd was still calling his name.