40) The high and low of Penn State’s 2005
In the early part of the millennium, the Nittany Lions suffered some hard times, falling all the way to 4-7 in 2004 while taking part in one of the worst football games of all time, a 6-4 loss to Iowa. But under dynamic quarterback Michael Robinson and a tough defense, the Lions worked their way to 5-0, earning a visit from “College Gameday” as the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes rolled into town. The atmosphere for the game was incredible, as a white out blanketed the stadium and “Zombie Nation” boomed over the PA. Penn State contained Troy Smith (who would win the Heisman the following year) and walked out with a 17-10 win. During the game PSU defensive end Tamba Hali stripped Smith, resulting in one of the better game action photos you’ll ever see.
The euphoria in State College would only last another week, as they traveled to Ann Arbor to face off against a scuffling 3-3 Michigan team. The Wolverines led 10-3 going into the fourth quarter before chaos erupted, the two previously inept offenses combining to score 39 points over the final 15 minutes. With the Wolverines trailing by 4 and the ball at the Nittany Lion 10, Chad Henne had one last snap:
That was Penn State’s only loss on the 2005 season, the Wolverine upset denying us a chance to see the giant BCS disaster of undefeated Penn State, undefeated USC and undefeated Texas.
Continue Reading: BCS Top 50: Best of the era, 40-31 (Dr. Saturday)
