Saturday was an historic day at Beaver Stadium.
Coach Joe Paterno reached 400 wins as Penn State rallied from a 21-0 deficit to knock off Northwestern, 35-21. The team trailed 21-0 late in the first half before former walk-on Matt McGloin sparked the squad to a touchdown to make it 21-7 at the intermission. The second half was all Penn State as they scored 28 unanswered points to get Paterno No. 400.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll take a look back at the thrilling victory. We’ll also go inside the numbers with our Two-Minute Drill and look ahead to this week’s showdown with Ohio State in Columbus.
Let’s begin with No. 400
400
It was an amazing scene on Saturday afternoon. After the final seconds ticked off the clock in Penn State’s 35-21 win over the Wildcats, fans stuck around in bone-chilling temperatures. They got to see a presentation from Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State president Graham Spanier as well as a touching tribute on the video scoreboards. Of course, everyone was waiting to hear from the iconic coach himself, who took the microphone and addressed the crowd.
“People asked me why I stayed here so long and you know what, look around,” Paterno said. “The celebration is over: Let’s go beat Ohio State.”
Paterno nearly didn’t get No. 400, however. The Wildcats came to play and they jumped out to a 21-0 lead, much to the dismay of the 104,000-plus who were as quiet as patrons at the Paterno Library. Once true freshman Rob Bolden left the game, however, momentum started to change. McGloin engineered five consecutive touchdown drives and Tom Bradley’s much-maligned defense pitched a shutout in the second half as the Lions improved to 6-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten.
“I had hoped that somewhere down the line they would get into a tough game and stick in there,” Paterno said. “To see them come back the way they came back, really, and it sounds phony, but that was more important to me than the (400th win).”
Make no mistake about it, the win would not have happened had McGloin not been inserted into the lineup. Nine games into the season, it’s clear that Bolden simply is not ready to start. That’s not to say he won’t be a good quarterback someday, but McGloin gives them the best chance to win right now.
After being inserted into the Minnesota game, McGloin is now 3-0. While he’s basking in the spotlight, he said that he wasn’t in awe of playing in the historic game.
“Right now, it really hasn’t sunk in,” said the former walk-on, who threw for 225 yards and four TDs in the win. “Over the next couple of months and even the next couple of years, you’re going to look back and say, ‘Wow, I was in that game and I’ll be remembered for that.’”
If not for McGloin, Paterno would probably be stuck on 399.
Two-Minute Drill: Northwestern
Game Ball To … Matt McGloin
After a rough start by freshman QB Rob Bolden, McGloin rallied the Nittany Lions to 35 unanswered points. He completed 18-of-29 passes for 225 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He came up big when the Lions needed it most.
What Was He Thinking? … Pat Fitzgerald
Don’t get us wrong, we think Fitz is one of the best coaches in the Big Ten, maybe the nation. But his halftime speech must’ve stunk and his second-half game plan was even worse. The Wildcats got into too many third-and-longs and it ultimately doomed them.
Numerology … 400
What other number could it possibly be on this day? Paterno reached 400 in grand style, as the Lions rallied in a comeback for the ages. It was the biggest comeback in the Paterno Era since the 1994 squad rallied from 21 down to defeat Illinois.
Play of the Game … McGloin’s 7-yard scoring strike to Brett Brackett with three seconds left in the first half sparked the Lions and set things up nicely for the second-half comeback. If Penn State settles for a field goal there, the outcome may be different.
The Countdown
5. Michael Mauti – The PSU linebacker played like a man possessed. He racked up 11 tackles, 10 of which were solo jobs. He had three tackles for loss, including a sack.
4. Evan Royster – The senior running back had another monster game, rushing for 134 yards on 25 carries. He averaged 5.4 yards per tote and had a long run of 20 yards.
3. Joe Suhey – The fullback had six receptions for 67 yards. He has become a viable weapon coming out of the backfield.
2. Matt McGloin – Just a fantastic performance by the former walk-on. He should be the starter for the final three regular season games, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
1. Joe Paterno – What a great way to hit 400 wins. When the Lions got down 21-0, not many in the crowd of 104,000-plus expected a comeback. But they rallied for the iconic coach and he achieved the milestone on his home turf.
Next Up: Ohio State
With the Buckeyes looming, it’s likely that Paterno will have to wait until Nov. 20 to get victory No. 401. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent. Their lone loss came at the hands of Wisconsin. Expect Terrelle Pryor to have a big day against the team that heavily recruited him as he tries to hang around in the Heisman Trophy race.
Gantdaily.com prediction: Ohio State 38, Penn State 20.
Chris Morelli is an award-winning writer/editor who lives in Centre County and covers Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com. Also, be sure to check out Morelli OnLion on Facebook!
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