White Out

With the eyes of the college football world set on State College, I decided to branch out and get some "local feel".  I would like to introduce Chris House as this weeks's guest collumnist:

When my brother Hans suggested that someone from State College should write a “Hans' thoughts” so that it could better capture the atmosphere when Penn State hosts the Hawkeyes in front of a 110,000 strong “White Out”, I agreed to take on the challenge. I immediately thought of how great it would be to be able to give everyone a chance to better understand our little college hamlet in the Alleghenies. First, there are several certainties that one can count on year after year.




First and foremost, it rains a lot in State College (average of 38 inches precipitation per year).



Second, the students will leave town and miss a beautiful summer.



Third, either volleyball or fencing will win a national title.



Fourth, Joe Pa will be back again for another season.



And finally, one Saturday night as the leaves start falling off of the trees, all eyes will be on the Nittany Lions as they pick up the pigskin under the lights of Beaver Stadium. In other words, game day will come to Happy Valley once a year. I imagined that Saturday night, I would see the Nittany Lions get revenge on the Hawkeyes for ending their undefeated season last year. Well, Iowa had other plans.



It was great to enter Beaver Stadium and see the over 21,000 strong student section. The energy of a Penn State home game is fabulous and that is why State College is one of the meccas of college football. In spite of the cold weather and constant rain, the total stadium attendance was a remarkable 109,316, and almost everyone stayed until Daryl Clark threw his final interception. But, alas, I am getting ahead of myself. The first three quarters of the game went like a heavy weight prize fight.



The decision for Round one (first quarter) went unanimously to Penn State. The decision was primarily due to Daryl Clark connecting with Chaz Powell for a 79-yard touchdown pass the first time Penn State touched the ball. Apparently, Iowa was banking on another State College near certainty, that when favored at home in the rain, Joe Pa will run the ball on the first possession of the game.



The second round clearly went to Iowa based on the ultimately important safety and a 41-yard field goal. The third round was a defensive battle ending in a tie - two heavyweight prize fighters battling to a clear draw.



At this point, with the score at 10 to 5, it looked like the cold rainy night was going to end with a Penn State victory. Both offenses were clearly struggling to make yards, let alone points. This game was going to be remembered as a hard, fought, defensive battle in the rain. However, the fourth quarter did not continue this storyline. Instead, the forth quarter demonstrated why cold rainy nights are for the dogs! Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn blocked a punt and returned it 35-yards for a touchdown. Penn State’s effort to regain the lead sputtered due to a slippery ball and a few tipped passes. Iowa was victorious, pulling off a stunning and well deserved upset right in the Lion’s den. The few Hawkeye fans, clothed in “safety yellow” ponchos, had plenty to celebrate assuming they did not catch a cold. Now, the Nittany Lion’s season long playoff is likely over, but don’t worry, Joe Pa will be back next year.



In other news, Fresno Sate again failed to deliver as a great dog on the road. Number 3 Cal taken behind the woodshed at Oregon, Bobby Bowden also failed to get the win, and North Carolina goes down.




And our moment of zen: To end Indiana’s attempt at an upset at the Big House, they hit a philosophical paradox, can there ever be “irrefutable video evidence” that no one had clear possession of the ball? Apparently, not.