Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 19 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M FIVE YEARS AGO, 2020 With its options dwindling as sum- mer turned to fall, the Big Ten an- nounced on Sept. 16 that it would play a football season in 2020. Teams would play nine games in nine weeks starting the weekend of Oct. 23-24. There would be no nonconference games, and the stadiums would be empty, save for the teams and their traveling parties. A key part of the plan was that play- ers, coaches, trainers and other on-field personnel were to be tested daily for COVID-19 starting Sept. 30. Anyone testing positive would be required to sit out for at least 21 days and undergo a full cardiac evaluation before being allowed to return to practice. Penn State athletics director Sandy Barbour lauded the Big Ten's efforts, noting that the league had "placed health and safety at the forefront." Three days later, the Big Ten unveiled its schedule. Penn State was set to open its campaign with a visit to Indiana, followed by home games against Ohio State and Maryland. "I'm thankful and appreciative that we have this opportunity," coach James Franklin said. "I'm trying to stay open- minded and creative. The frustration comes when you try to make this year like anything you've experienced be- fore. It's not." 10 YEARS AGO, 2015 Penn State had suffered a 27-10 loss to host Temple in its 2015 season opener, and it was not faring much better the following week against Buffalo. The vis- iting Bulls were hanging tough, trail- ing by only a field goal late in the third quarter. PSU needed a spark, and it got just that from a true freshman running back named Saquon Barkley. Barkley had carried just once for 1 yard the previous week against the Owls. With veteran tailback Akeel Lynch starting in the backfield versus Buffalo, Barkley didn't get his first carry until the second half. He managed just 9 yards on his initial drive, but he soon showed that he had the ability to elevate a struggling PSU offense. On the first highlight-reel moment of his college career, he hurdled a Buffalo safety on a run up the middle early in the fourth quarter, gaining an extra 14 yards to set up a touchdown. The Nittany Lions went on to win, 27- 14, and Barkley was the game's breakout star. He finished with 115 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 9.6 yards per rush. "He's a unique guy," Franklin said. "From the day he got on campus, it was obvious. Everybody says they want to play as a freshman, but he approached it that way. He was constantly harass- ing [starting quarterback Christian Hackenberg] about watching film, throwing with him in the summer, all those types of things. He really ap- proached it as if not only did he want to play but he was going to make it happen." 25 YEARS AGO, 2000 Pe n n S ta te o p e n e d i ts 2000 season by dropping four of its first five games, including a 24-6 shocker against To- ledo in its home opener on Sept. 2. The Nittany Lions' only victory in that span was a 67-7 romp over Louisiana Tech. Subtract that result, and they had been outscored 110-17 heading into a visit from No. 22 Purdue on the last day of September. It was the team's worst start in 36 years, but the Boilermakers' visit helped Penn State regain some of its swagger. With running back Eric McCoo sup- plying 106 rushing yards on 16 carries, PSU took a 22-13 lead late in the third quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Rashard Casey. Purdue got a late touchdown of its own but missed a 46-yard field goal try with 2:32 remain- ing, and a deep pass by Drew Brees on the final play of the game fell incom- plete in the end zone. There was bedlam on the field and in the stands when the clock hit zero on PSU's 22-20 win, but the game had taken place against a somber backdrop. The previous week at Ohio State, fresh- man defensive back Adam Taliaferro had been carted off the field after suf- fering a spinal injury. Taliaferro's prog- nosis was still unknown when the Lions faced the Boilermakers, and amid the postgame revelry, ABC's Lynn Swann asked Joe Paterno for his thoughts after what had been an emotional week for the veteran coach and his players. "These kids wanted to win for them- selves. They needed a win," Paterno said. "They worked hard, and they deserved it. Adam, if you're out there watching, we're still praying, kid. We're praying for you." — Matt Herb This Month In Penn State Athletics History In only his second game at Penn State, Saquon Barkley rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in the Lions' 2015 home opener. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL TixManJim@gmail.com www.TixManJim.com at