Unforgettable Year Has A New Twist

JERRY KELLAR
Monday, October 22, 2001 Page: 3D

As he hurried out of the postgame press room in the bowels of
Northwestern’s Ryan Field, Joe Paterno envisioned a quiet Saturday night at
home, his adult beverage of choice nearby, with no one to tell him he was too
old, too stuck in the past, too anything.

The 74-year-old coaching legend was going to celebrate his latest
achievement – tying Bear Bryant for all-time Division I-A victories – his way.
Or so he thought.

Less than two hours after Penn State staged one of the most thrilling
rallies in school history – a 38-35 decision over the Wildcats that gave
Paterno elusive victory No. 323 – the Nittany Lions boarded a chartered plane
at Chicago’s Midway Airport ...

And got stuck.

While attempting to turn while taxiing, the plane veered slightly off
course, its wheels grinding deep into the mud and soft ground.

Efforts to free the jet failed, so the traveling party of 100-plus was
forced to find overnight lodging at four different hotels, which it did,
sometime around midnight.

“Thank God we won,” said Jeff Nelson, PSU’s sports information director.

Alas, the Nittany Lions made it back to State College late Sunday morning,
their adventure over, or perhaps, just getting started.

With the first win finally out of the way, the question now is can the
Lions build off the momentum of Saturday’s game and salvage something positive
from this already unforgettable season?

Naturally, the players think so.

“It’s a new season now,” senior linebacker Shamar Finney said. “Right
now we’re 1-0 with six games to go.”

“I think,” Paterno said, “we’ll be a much more competitive team from
here on out.”

He might be right. But nobody, Paterno included, is naive enough to think
there isn’t plenty of improving left to be done.

Penn State’s defense, which played so well against Michigan, gave up 413
yards to Northwestern quarterback Zak Kustok alone. The senior ex-Golden Domer
burned the Nits all day with an off-left tackle dash that had virtually
everyone in the press box wondering why State’s coaching staff never adjusted.

As a team, the Wildcats put up 527 yards, and came dangerously close to
moving in range for a game-tying field goal attempt at the dramatic end.

But if it was confidence the Lions were looking for, it came in a big way
from several different directions.

The running backs ran as hard as ever, often breaking tackles with second
and third efforts.

The offensive line did not allow a sack for the first time this season.

Led by Bryant Johnson’s eight receptions for 129 yards, a much-maligned
receiving corps made plays, some awfully big.

“Obviously, this team hasn’t had all that much confidence,” said tailback
Eric McCoo, who caught the game-winning score – a 4-yard toss from Zack Mills.

“But once you have some success, it gives you all the more confidence.
That last drive, we went out there with swagger and we knew we were going to
do it.”

Make no mistake, without Mills, that last drive likely stalls somewhere
around midfield. For as well as starter Matt Senneca played on Saturday before
getting hurt on the final drive, it is hard to imagine him delivering those
pinpoint passes down the stretch that made the rally possible.

By his gutsy performance, Mills proved to his teammates he is the leader of
this squad.

Deep, deep down, one has to believe Paterno knows it, too.

Jerry Kellar covers Penn State football for the Times Leader. Reach him at