HOME GAME SPECIAL: NEWS COVERAGE INSIDE Published independently by students at Penn State Vol. 119 No. 12 Sept. 27-30, 2018 @DailyCollegian REPEAT? Looking back at the unforgettable 2008 Penn State-Ohio State matchup By Matt Lingerman Heading into Columbus, the most recent trip to Columbus after replacing Todd Boeckman wanted to prove how good we THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Nittany Lions were 8-0 and had in 2006 ended with the Nittany following the loss to USC, and the really were.” beaten each opponent by at least Lions putting up just six points 19-year-old was electric. It didn’t take either defense A loot has changed since 2008 two touchdowns. against the then-No. 1 ranked “There were so many elements long to prove their worth. — and Penn State football is no “They had gone back to the Buckeyes. that Pryor brought,” Jones said. Ohio State received the open- exception. style of play that was successful The 30-year drought was a “When you watch Pryor run, it ing kickoff and punted the ball Ten years ago, while James for them in 2005,” Steve Jones, main storyline for the media, but doesn’t look like he’s running away after a couple of first Franklin was beginning his ten- radio voice of Penn State football, those who were a part of the pro- fast, until you realize he’s eating downs. ure as assistant head coach at said. “They had a quarterback in gram in 2006 felt 2008 would be up huge chunks of yardage with The next six possessions of the Maryland and Trace McSorley Daryll Clark that was very much different. each stride.” game would end with the same was a 13-year-old, Joe Paterno in the mold of Michael Robinson, “The night before the game The defense, with its crop of result, and by the midway point was entering his 43rd season at they could spread the field out when we met with the offense,” future NFL players including of the second quarter the teams the helm of the Nittany Lions — and make some plays, a veteran former quarterbacks coach Jay Malcolm Jenkins, Kurt Coleman combined for just 186 yards of to- and his team was special. offensive line which may have Paterno said. “I got up and ad- and James Laurinaitis, posed a tal offense and no points. With a roster consisting of been Penn State’s best since dressed that a lot has been said challenge to the Nittany Lion of- “It was like watching a heavy- more than 20 future NFL play- 1995, and you had veteran receiv- and written that Penn State fense. weight boxing match,” Jones ers and a coaching staff which ers.” hasn’t won here in X-number of “For me, it was something I said. “You knew you were watch- combined for almost a century’s The defense was anchored by years, but this team has never had to prove to myself,” former ing the two best teams in the Big worth of Penn State experience, seniors at all three levels and played at Ohio State, these guys left tackle Gerald Cadogan said. Ten and you knew that you were Penn State opened the season was the creation of defensive co- right here, as we are currently “That I could execute under high watching two of the better teams No. 17 in the AP Poll after going ordinator Tom Bradley. To that constituted. This group is play- pressure, with all eyes on the of- in the country go head to head, 9-4 and winning the Alamo Bowl point, it had allowed 20 points ing their group, and it doesn’t fense, and our ability to move the so that’s the aura that the game a year before. just once. Although Penn State matter what happened before.” ball and get the job done.” took on…it was going to be that As summer turned to fall, Penn was dominant on both sides of As talented as Penn State was, *** kind of game.” State rattled off win after win the ball — outscoring opponents Ohio State was just as formida- Columbus was the site of The Nittany Lions got on the and climbed up the polls, and it 363-94 during the first eight ble on both sides of the ball. The ESPN College GameDay — the scoreboard first when former quickly became apparent — just weeks — the Nittany Lions went Buckeyes opened the season fourth straight year the matchup kicker Kevin Kelly capped off an as has been the case recently — to Columbus as the underdogs. at No. 2 but fell in the rankings hosted the pregame show — and 11-play, 76-yard drive with a field Penn State’s success that season “We wanted to be the best,” after their Week 3 loss at No. 1 the game was broadcasted in pri- goal. would be decided in large part by former safety Mark Rubin said. USC, and had beaten two top-25 metime. But, Ohio State answered with its matchup with Ohio State. “We wanted to win the Big Ten. opponents on the road. A record 105,711 fans packed a field goal of its own and sent the In 2008, that matchup came on We wanted to be the champions. The offense included talented into the Shoe, and it became teams to the locker rooms tied. Oct. 25. And to be the best, you have to upperclassmen in running back quickly apparent that even with “One thing about being on a It was each team’s ninth game beat the best. What better chal- Beanie Wells and wide outs Bri- Game 3 of the World Series tak- great team is that you never feel of the year, and it was to be lenge than going to Ohio State, an Hartline and Brian Robiskie, ing place in Philadelphia that like you’re going to lose,” former played at Ohio Stadium, known night game, national TV?” but they were led by true fresh- evening, Columbus was at the wide receiver and team captain by many as “the Shoe.” Ohio Stadium was and is a man quarterback Terrelle Pryor, center of the sports universe. Derrick Williams said. “We al- It was a game that defined an daunting place to play for any the star of the show. “I remember LeBron James ways stayed positive in the locker era of Penn State football. team, and Penn State hadn’t won Pryor, a Pennsylvania native, was on the sidelines,” Rubin room. Some of the mistakes we This is the story of then-No. 3 there since joining the Big Ten. was one of the most sought after said. “How many chances do you made in the first half we weren’t Penn State’s 2008 trip to then-No. The last victory at the Shoe came recruits in the nation and was get to play in front of LeBron going to make in the second half. 9 Ohio State as told by those who in 1978, and the losing streak heavily pursued by Paterno be- James when he’s watching you? With Penn State down 6-3, lived it. spanned seven games. fore he committed to Ohio State. That was a big-time game that *** Before that game, Penn State’s He won all five games he started we were excited for, and we just See 2008, Page A3. Collegian file photos PAGE A2 | SEPT. 27-30, 2018 VERSUS THE DAILY COLLEGIAN PENN STATE Nittany Lions (4-0) (1-0 Big Ten) No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. 1 KJ Hamler WR/Fr. 29 Henry Fessler WR/Fr. 70 Juice Scruggs OL/Fr. 2 Isaiah Humphries S/Fr. 29 John Reid CB/Jr. 71 Will Fries OL/So. 2 Donovan Johnson CB/Fr. 30 Kevin Givens DT/Jr. 72 Bryce Effner OL/Fr. 2 Tommy Stevens QB/Jr. 31 Christopher Welde WR/Jr. 73 Mike Miranda OL/Fr. 3 DeAndre Thompkins WR/Jr. 32 Journey Brown RB/Fr. 74 Steven Gonzalez OL/Jr. 4 Nick Scott S/Sr. 33 Jake Cooper LB/Sr. 75 Des Holmes OL/Fr. 4 Ricky Slade RB/Fr. 33 C.J. Holmes RB/So. 76 Sterling Jenkins OL/Jr. 5 Tariq Castro-Fields CB/So. 34 Shane Simmons DE/So. 77 Chasz Wright OL/Sr. 5 Jahan Dotson WR/Fr. 35 Justin Neff S/Fr. 79 Charlie Shuman OL/Sr. 6 Cam Brown LB/Jr. 36 Jan Johnson LB/Jr. 80 Danny Dalton TE/H/So. 6 Justin Shorter WR/Fr. 37 Drew Hartlaub S/Fr. 80 Justin Weller WR/Fr. 7 Koa Farmer LB/Sr. 38 Lamont Wade CB/So. 81 Cam Sullivan-Brown WR/Fr. 8 Mark Allen RB/Sr. 39 Frank Di Leo LB/Jr. 82 Zack Kuntz TE/H/Fr. 9 Trace McSorley QB/Sr. 40 Nick Eury RB/So. 82 Tyler Shoop WR/Jr. 9 Jarvis Miller LB/Jr. 40 Jesse Luketa LB/Fr. 83 Nick Bowers TE/H/Jr. 10 Brandon Polk WR/Jr. 41 Joe Arcangelo TE/Jr. 83 Alex Hoenstine WR/Fr. 11 Micah Parsons LB/Fr. 42 Dae’Lun Darien LB/So. 84 Juwan Johnson WR/Jr. 12 Mac Hippenhammer WR/Fr. 42 Ellison Jordan DT/So. 85 Isaac Lutz WR/So. 13 Ellis Brooks LB/Fr. 45 Joe DuMond LB/So. 86 Daniel George WR/Fr. 13 Grayson Kline QB/Fr. 45 Charlie Katshir LB/Fr. 87 Pat Freiermuth TE/H/Fr. 14 Sean Clifford QB/Fr. 46 Nick Tarburton DE/Fr. 88 Dan Chisena WR/Jr. 14 Zech McPhearson CB/So.