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
Author Archives: Ryan Jones
Legends of ’94: The Oral History
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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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
The Legends of ’94: Part 5
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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.
The Legends of ’94: Part 4
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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.
The Legends of ’94: Part 3
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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.
The Legends of ’94: Part 2
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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
The Legends of ’94: Part 1
Unbeaten, Unstoppable, Uncrowned
An Oral History of the 1994 Penn State Football Team
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.
So Long, Spider
Front row, second from left. There was no way of knowing, way back in 1983, that the little guy with the glasses, a freshman member of the football equipment staff, would stick around for three decades. But James B. Caldwell ’86, better known as Brad, and far better known as Spider, did just that. Along the way, he became in many ways the heart and soul of the Penn State football program. Continue reading
The Road to No. 1
You can’t miss that finger. In his five months on the job, James Franklin’s raised index finger—the universal sign for “We’re No. 1″—has become something of a trademark. Should you find yourself posing for a photo with Franklin anytime soon, the odds are good that he—and you, whether you planned on it or not—will be pointing a finger toward the sky. Continue reading
Letter Perfect
The quality of the photo—shot on an iPhone in a dimly lit hotel conference room—doesn’t do justice to the quality of the moment.
The moment came Thursday night in Pittsburgh, on the final stop of the first full week of the Penn State Coaches Caravan. Continue reading
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