This is, of course, based on my personal experience watching Penn State football since the mid-1990’s. Feel free to debate in the comments.
What if Ron Johnson hadn’t tipped the Hail Mary?
It would be too easy to say “What if Dan Nystrom had missed the field goal?” The play that allowed Minnesota to shock the second-ranked Nittany Lions actually occured on fourth and 16, when Billy Cockerham’s pass fluttered down the left sideline, bouncing off the hands of Johnson and into the arms of Arland Bruce.
I was a 10-year old sitting in section NA that day, with a perfect view of the final drive. As I left the stadium heartbroken that day, I never imagined the team would implode after the loss, losing back-to-back contests against the Michigan schools to finish a once-promising regular season at 9-3. If the fluke Hail Mary falls incomplete, does Penn State run the table?
What if Lloyd Carr doesn’t get extra time on the clock? OR What if kickoff coverage is even a fraction better against Steve Breaston?
Sorry, another devastating loss to examine. There are two ways out of this loss to the Wolverines. The one in Penn State’s control is simply to cover the kickoff better against one of the country’s best return men. Leading 25-21 with 53 seconds left, freshman kicker Kevin Kelly’s kickoff was only to the six, where Breaston caught it and ran 40 yards to give the Wolverines a shot. Kickoff coverage during this time of the Paterno era was often shoddy (at least that is my memory), but even kicking it out of bounds would have saved 10 yards, and a squib kick might have been the best move. Regardless, we all know that shouldn’t have mattered, because the home team head coach, and grandfather of now-current backup quarterback Tommy Carr lobbied for extra time to be put back on the clock during the ensuing drive, and we all know Chad Henne’s game-winning throw to Mario Manningham happened with one second remaining. A win at the Big House guarantees the Nittany Lions an undefeated regular season and given the superiority of both USC and Texas, probably a 13-0 year overall.
