A Different Game

The Penn State-Ohio State match-up has a significantly different feel than just one year ago. By Sam Knehans
It’s been a roller coaster week for Penn State. The Jerry Sandusky investigation and subsequent firing of legendary head coach Joe Paterno have dominated news coverage not just in State College, PA, but across the nation.

After the emotionally charged riots last Thursday, Penn State packed Beaver Stadium with 107,903 fans to celebrate Senior Day on Saturday.

To the dismay of the Penn State faithful, the Nittany Lions suffered their first conference loss, 17-14 to Nebraska. Penn State’s only other loss this season came in week two against a dominant Alabama team from the SEC.

This weekend, interim head coach Tom Bradley looks for his first win at the helm of the Nittany Lions. A win would give the damaged Penn State program, State College residents and Nittany Lions supporters a reason to celebrate.

Penn State is facing off against Big Ten Leaders division foe Ohio State. It's a game that would normally be marketed as a clash of two tradition-laden programs.


Instead, both are now, at least for the foreseeable future, justifiably identified with scandal. It’s an odd backdrop for a classic Big Ten matchup: both teams led by interim coaches and embroiled in off-field scandal.

Still, the on-field performance has the opportunity to outshine the off-field issues for both programs.

Penn State enters the game ranked 21 in the BCS and still controls its own destiny in terms of securing a spot in the Big 10 Championship.

It’s a much different scene than last November 13, when the Buckeyes routed Penn State, 38-14, in Columbus.

But, as interim head coach Bradley articulated, “It’s still Ohio State-Penn State. One of the things I want to emphasize right now; this is all about the players, it’s about our team, their team,” Bradley said.

“It’s still football,” he added. “Great atmosphere, college football, playing at the Horseshoe. Doesn’t get any better than that.”