If the Nittany Lions were unaware of Penn State's streak of ineptitude against Michigan, they became well informed this week.
"Walking around campus, in newspapers or even when you're just being asked questions," wideout Deon Butler said a few days ago, "everyone's going to get a crash course on how many times Michigan's beat us in a row."
As much as they would like to hide from this fact, Butler and the Lions can't.
Penn State hasn't defeated Michigan since 1996, an 11-year time span covering eight games, four played in Beaver Stadium, four at Michigan Stadium.
The circumstances before and during each meeting have varied, but the final outcomes have been common. Every time, the Wolverines have found a way to uphold their "The Victors" fight song.
At 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, No. 10 Penn State (3-0) returns to Ann Arbor, Mich., the site of the seventh of eight consecutive defeats -- a last-second loss in 2005, the only sorrow the Lions felt that year.
That game, especially the series of fourth-quarter events that culminated with a Michigan touchdown as time expired, is seared in the memories of current players who participated.
"I was on kickoff coverage on special teams," linebacker Sean Lee said. "I'm thinking about [Steve] Breaston, when he ran back that kick [to set up Michigan's final drive].
"I remember beating my guy and seeing the wedge and seeing a hole in the wedge. But instead I went to try to blast a guy. And he ran right through that hole. I'm thinking, 'what if I made that tackle?' I'm sure that's in a lot of guys' minds. ... What ifs. There's a lot of what ifs."
Perhaps, the biggest "what if" is how the mindset entering this game may have been different if Penn State managed to win once against Michigan in the past decade.
All this week, the players have said they're trying to put the losing streak in perspective. The only losses they witnessed have been the past two, including last year's 17-10 defeat at Beaver Stadium.
"We can only control this year," Butler said.
And this year, the Lions' goals are lofty and clear: to win every game, which means beating Michigan, too.
But that simple thinking has been complicated by hearing about a perceived weaker Michigan team than normal.
The Wolverines (1-2) famously began this season losing to Football Championship Subdivision Appalachian State and then Oregon at home. Then Michigan beat Notre Dame 38-0 last Saturday without its starting quarterback, Chad Henne, whose status is still uncertain after suffering a right leg injury two games ago.
Still, on more than one occasion this week, the phrase "Michigan's still Michigan" has been voiced, meaning the Lions believe the Wolverines are still dangerous.
"Overall, the team is focused. We understand how big of a game this is for the season," cornerback Lydell Sargeant said. "We're trying to prepare and get ready for a big-time football game."
All the while a hard-to-ignore losing streak looms.
"We'll see what happens," quarterback Anthony Morelli said. "We'll see if we can change the outcome of the past 11 years."
