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For Penn State, it is time to let 2005 go
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It was a night to remember, not try to re-live. AP Photo
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Leading up to Saturday's game against Ohio State, many fans continued to talk about the epic night in 2005 when Penn State shouted in unison that the Nittany Lions were back from the dead. To this day that game remains the loudest and most enthusiastic crowd assembled in Beaver Stadium history.
The stands were shaking. The fans were bouncing and "Zombie Nation" was rocking.
So whenever Ohio State comes back to town the memories of that soggy night are rekindled even though the flame of excitement of that night has long since gone out. The problem is that Penn State, the fans, and students almost seem to expect to re-enact that atmosphere that night but in reality it can never be done.
So when one of the cheer leaders gets on the microphone as part of a relatively new part of the pre-game show and gets the crowd pumped by saying "In 2005 Ohio State came here..." and reminds us that Penn State was victorious that night in front of a raucous crowd, it seems kind of silly. Especially considering Ohio State has already made a return trip to Happy Valley in 2007 and gave Penn State a 37-17 loss.
After Ohio State won their second straight game in Beaver Stadium, it is now officially time to retire the attempts for a repeat performance of 2005. It was fun while it lasted, but it is far past time to move on from the past.
BCS, AP, Coaches poll dip Penn State
As expected, and deserved, Penn State fell down the rankings all over this weekend. The BCS poll drops Penn State from #11 to #18, which essentially puts the Nittany Lions out of contention for a BCS bid. The AP poll moves Penn State from #11 to #19 while the USA Today Coaches' poll drops them from #10 to #17.
OUTBACK BOWL? ORDER SOME BLOOMIN' ONION!
With Penn State now tied for third place in the Big Ten with Wisconsin it now looks as though the Outback Bowl is the best possible bowl destination. The Big Ten champion, either Iowa or Ohio State, will pack their bags for Pasadena, California and the Rose Bowl and the first runner-up will more than likely play in the Capital One Bowl.
The next in line would be the Outback Bowl, where the Big Ten representative will take on a team from the SEC. The Outback Bowl is still a New Year's Day bowl so there is still some pride in that accomplishment, but it is hard not to view the Outback Bowl as a let-down for a Penn State team that most had predicted to play in a BCS bowl of some capacity before the season started.
Penn State is 3-0 in the Outback Bowl. In their first appearance in the game (1996) Penn State dismantled Auburn 43-14. In 1999 Penn State took out Kentucky and quarterback Tim Couch 26-14. In 2007, Penn State's most recent Outback Bowl appearance, Penn State stunned Tennessee with a fumble return for a touchdown and won the game 20-10.
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For more Penn State coverage head to Nittany White Out.
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