Blue White Illustrated

"One Team" becomes the players' new slogan. SEPT. 1, 2012 Penn State ends a 126- year tradition and places names on uni- forms for :rst time at the season-opening game against Ohio University at Beaver Stadium. O'Brien says his controversial decision to add the names to the traditional plain blue and white jerseys is to honor the loyal players who did not leave the program when the NCAA sanctions al- lowed them to do so. Despite strong protests initially from many Penn State fans, the names grow in popularity. NOVEMBER 2012-MARCH 2013 Even before the 2012 season ends on Nov. 24, the team is honored before the Senior Day game against Wisconsin for what it ac- complished under the direst circumstance by having its numerals placed prominently at Beaver Stadium alongside all the Penn State teams that had been undefeated or won national or Big Ten championships. The 2012 Nittany Lions respond by beating Wisconsin, 24-21, in the light snow and freezing weather with a :eld goal in over- time. Three months later, the team is given the Brookshire Spirit Award for "com- mitment, leadership and outstanding ef- fort" by the Maxwell Club in an emotional presentation at a plush Atlantic City hotel. Captains Mauti, Zordich, Matt McGloin, Jordan Hill and Mike Yancich accept the award as the crowd cheers "We are… Penn State." J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2 - N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3 Quarterback Christian Hackenberg's early commitment to Penn State when he had other o;ers from such elite teams as Ala- bama and South Carolina is a best moment that continues to expand. Hackenberg proves his worth as a true freshman in leading the Lions to another winning sea- son in 2013 and claiming Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. That he remains at Penn State even with his mentor, O'Brien, now gone, is vital to the Lions as they continue to come back from the NCAA sanctions. What happens next will de- termine the true status of this best mo- ment. SEPT. 7, 2013 In another startling break with tradition, the uniform number 22, worn most signi:cantly by Penn State's only Hesiman Trophy winner, John Cap- pelletti, is o

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