The play was just a simple crossing pass pattern, but leading up to the November 14, 1992 game against Notre Dame, then-Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky obsessed over it.
That November day, Penn State was holding onto a 16-9 lead against The Fighting Irish in South Bend, Ind. After playing each other for 11 consecutive seasons, the game marked the last time the two college football powers would meet, until tomorrow.
Since retiring after the 1999 season after 31 years as the Penn State defensive coordinator, Sandusky still lives in State College, where he leads The Second Mile, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Pennsylvania's youth.
Yesterday, he took some time away from his everyday duties to recall the final moments of the '92 game against Notre Dame.
The Nittany Lions' defense had forced a fourth-and-goal at the 4-yard line with 20 seconds left. And as Sandusky remembers it, Notre Dame lined up with two receivers on one side. A tight end went in motion to join them. The running back was released to the tight end side, while another running back, former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis, stayed back.
Bettis' job was to drag across to the vacant tight end spot. He did, and quarterback Rick Mirer hit him in the middle for a touchdown.
With time running out, Notre Dame opted to go for a 2-point conversion and the win rather than kicking an extra point for the tie. Mirer sealed the win with a 2-point conversion pass to Reggie Brooks.
The score: Notre Dame 17, Penn State 16.
Sandusky still remembers that touchdown pass clearly.
"That play was my obsession," Sandusky said. "This one particular pass drove me nuts. We had trouble with it forever. The day before the game, I walked through every potential defense we might use coming in. Sure enough, fourth down, they ran that play, and they scored."
Sandusky said he respected then-Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz's offensive schemes so much, he had his team practice defending that particular play all week.
Though he admitted obsession of that pass play, Sandusky said he just focused on the next play after the touchdown was scored. Still, the ensuing loss did leave a lasting memory.
"It wasn't the way we wanted to end it," he said, "but we had a great series, a great run against them."
Now, after a 13-year hiatus, Penn State has a chance for redemption.
Much has changed since the two teams last met. Penn State has joined the Big Ten, and the rivalry between what used to be two powerhouse independent programs has faded.
But Sandusky said it's still there.
"That's simply because they haven't played," he said. "That could be rekindled easily. I think this Saturday will rekindle it, the significance of the game. In those years, our biggest rival was the University of Pittsburgh, but Notre Dame was right up there."
The rivalry still lives with fans, though, as most Lion fans harbor a strong distaste for the Irish fans and vice versa.
But when it comes to the actual game on the field, the two teams respect each other.
"There seems to be similar philosophies, in terms of what the coaches emphasize and the quality of the athletes that are playing," Sandusky said. "There would be mutual respect for one another."
