“It’s not Penn State without the Blue Band.”
Those are the wise words of my 6-year-old daughter, uttered as we walked across the Samuel Beckett Bridge on Thursday en route to a public display of American college football spirit. And indeed, it wasn’t really college football without a band, Continue reading
We’d barely gotten out of the car and stepped into Terminal C at Newark Airport on Monday afternoon when we saw them. There were couples, extended families, groups of six or eight, all of them—dozens of them—clad proudly in Penn State gear. And of course, we were all headed the same way. Continue reading
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Twenty years ago this fall, in just their second season of conference play, the Nittany Lions put together one of the greatest seasons in Big Ten history. They did so with one of the most dynamic offenses ever seen, a star-laden group full of play-makers and future pros. They did it with style, running off a string of blowouts and, on those rare occasions it was necessary, pulling off memorable late-game heroics. They did it with a gritty, overlooked defense and a veteran coaching staff that adapted perfectly to the talent on hand.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Joe Paterno’s last undefeated team, we’re proud to present the definitive oral history of the 1994 Penn State football team. Based on interviews with nearly 30 former Lions—players, coaches, and staff—it’s their story, in their words… Continue reading
Part 5: The Grandaddy of Them All; dreams of a 1-2 matchup for the ages; memories of the Joe they knew; and 20 years later, a team that looks just as perfect as it did in the fall of ’94.
Part 4: A blowout in Bloomington ends up deceptively close and costs the Lions in the polls; a surreal trip to Champaign features a crazy hotel stay and an even crazier game, setting up a comeback for the ages.
Part 3 opens with Penn State’s first ever trip to the Big House, an epic occasion in which the game lives up to the hype; an injury-plagued and overlooked defense shows a knack for answering the call; a Homecoming romp over some cupcake from Columbus; and a historic collection of skill players combine for what might be the most unstoppable offense in college football history.
Part 2 kicks off with the ’94 Citrus Bowl, where an upset of Tennessee hinted at the success to come; after an offseason of cohesion and commitment, Penn State opens the ’94 season in dominating fashion; and a closer look at the diverse cast of characters who make up the Lions’ all-time-great offensive line. Continue reading
Part 1: We trace the ’94 team back to its roots, following the recruiting classes of 1990 and ’91 as they mature from talented prospects into proven leaders who will provide the foundation for greatness.
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