A freshly-showered A.Q. Shipley took up his familiar position in the corner of the Beaver Stadium media room two weeks ago.

About an hour had passed since he and his Penn State teammates defeated Michigan State to earn a spot in the Rose Bowl, and Shipley, along with a handful of reporters, was one of the last people left in the room.

The senior center was asked how he would describe his final performance inside Beaver Stadium.

"Physical," Shipley said.

There was more.

The captain described the block he threw on Dan Lawlor's touchdown run in the second quarter. On that play, Shipley led the way, plowing Spartans over for Lawlor's 4-yard score. He laughed about Evan Royster's big gain in the second quarter. Shipley ran ahead of Royster and dove to throw a last-second block on a Spartan defender. Unfortunately, Shipley also tripped his teammate up in the process.

Shipley was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year two days later for his efforts. That same night, more and more Lions were recognized by Big Ten coaches as First-Team All-Big Ten selections. In total, 10 Lions were honored as first-teamers. Two more were named to the second team while seven others received honorable mentions.

Not bad for a team that wasn't predicted to finish in the top three of its conference when Big Ten coaches and players met with the media in Chicago in July.

"I'm sure a lot of people outside of the program didn't think it was possible," senior safety Mark Rubin said on Nov. 22. "But this senior class, this group of guys really believed, day in and day out that we had a special thing going and we would achieve greatness."

As for the predicted top three: Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois? Penn State used its games against them to erase any doubts of its championship potential.

After dominating their non-conference schedule, the Lions welcomed the Illini to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 27. Amidst a full-stadium White Out, senior wideout Derrick Williams put on a show. Williams scored three touchdowns three different ways and the Lions passed their first test, 38-24.

After a road win over Purdue in which the Lions showcased their defensive abilities, giving up just six points to the Boilermakers' pass-happy offense, Penn State traveled to Madison, Wisc.

On Oct. 11, a raucous Badger student section couldn't deter Penn State. The Lions delivered the knockout blow to the preseason favorite Badgers, 48-7. Wisconsin dropped out of the AP poll for good.

Penn State continued to roll and settled an old score with Michigan at home the next week. The Lions beat the Wolverines, 46-17. It was the first time in 11 years a Penn State team beat Michigan.

To that point, Joe Paterno had repeatedly stated he would have to see how his players would respond to adversity in order to gauge how good they were as a team. That adversity would come the following week in Columbus, Ohio.

Inside Ohio Stadium, it seemed like Penn State was reeling. The high-powered Penn State offense was gone and the Lions were locked in a defensive battle with the Buckeyes. Penn State was behind, 6-3, and had shown little ability to move the ball on offense. Plus, Clark was mysteriously hurt and seemed dazed on the sideline. He could not return.

Then it happened. The fumble.

Buckeye true freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor -- on a quarterback keeper -- tried to make a play, but Rubin made a better one.

The safety poked the football out of Pryor's hand. Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman hopped on the ball and the Lions scored the final 10 points for their biggest win of the season.

After the battle in Columbus, the collective attention of Nittany Nation was focused on the teams ahead of then-No. 3 Penn State. The Lions could cruise into the national title game by winning their last three games. Penn State would likely need then-No. 1 Texas or then-No. 2 Alabama to lose, however.

But after a bye week, those title hopes were dashed by a last-second field goal inside a frigid, gusty Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Penn State lost to the Hawkeyes, 24-23.

"I take full responsibility for that loss," a tearful Clark said on Nov. 8 after he threw a critical interception.

Fans began to point fingers. Reporters asked if it was time for backup quarterback Pat Devlin to see more playing time.

Paterno defended Clark. The quarterback's teammates did too, even after Clark turned the ball over three times to Indiana the next week. Penn State still won, 34-7.

In the days leading up to the showdown with Michigan State -- the game that would decide Penn State's bowl future -- Lion players insisted all had not been lost in Iowa.

After all, the Rose Bowl was still on the line.

Shipley was familiar with the stakes. Win, and play in the Rose Bowl. Lose, and possibly play in a second-tier bowl game.

In previous seasons, a memento hung on Shipley's apartment wall. A big, blue banner reminded him of where he would rather play.

After celebrating the 49-18 win over the Spartans, Shipley sat in front of reporters. He had a rose in his hand. Shipley remembered the banner. It was a gift from his brother-in-law who was a graduate assistant for Penn State during the '94 season -- the last time Penn State won a Rose Bowl. It read "Rose Bowl Champions."

Now, that is the final test remaining for Penn State against an as-yet-unknown opponent.

"To win the Big Ten. To go to the Rose Bowl, you couldn't ask for a better ending," Shipley said. "We always wanted to get to the Rose Bowl and now we have that opportunity. So we're very excited."

So are the throngs of Penn State fans.

Paterno acknowledged this after accepting a bouquet of roses and and the invitation to the Rose Bowl.

"We have won three straight bowl games," Paterno said. "I think the expectations of our fans are such; that is the only thing that worries me once in a while. They expect so much and that's good."