Blue White Illustrated

Wisconsin Postgame (11/24/2012)

Penn State Sports Magazine

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/95089

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 0 of 11

POSTGAME REPORT WEEK 12 PENN STATE 24, WISCONSIN 21 ON THE BALL After Ball's first-quarter touchdown, Penn State's defense clamped down hard. THE GAME AT A GLANCE Overtime field goal lifts Penn State past Wisconsin on emotional Senior Day FAREWELL TOUR MATT HERB | M A T T@B L U E WH I T E O N L I N E . C O M After it was all over – after Kyle French's tying field goal attempt had veered wide left and pandemonium had gripped the Penn State sideline, rippling outward through the grandstand – Matt McGloin stood off to the side and hugged lineman Mike Farrell. It was a quiet moment in a maelstrom, and it neatly summed up the final afternoon of the Nittany Lions' 2012 season. For all the talk about off- the-field matters, ultimately, the season was about the players, especially the team's deter- mined, tight-knit senior class. "This is the greatest group of guys I've been around," McGloin said in the media room af- terward, still wearing his uniform following the Lions' 24-21 overtime victory over Wiscon- sin. "There are so many leaders, friends off the field, guys you just want to be around each and every day. That's the reason you play the game, for the guys around you." On their final day as Penn State players, those guys spearheaded the team's grittiest victory of the season. The seniors had help, to be sure. Sophomore Sam Ficken hit a 37-yard N O V E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 1 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Steve Manuel GOOD NEWS Penn State put some pressure on its players by adding the 2012 season to the Beaver Stadium honor roll before the campaign was even over. But the team responded, turning in one of the best overall efforts of a valiant season. BAD NEWS This is the flip side of having a great senior class. When Penn State opens its 2013 sea- son at Syracuse, it will be without Michael Mauti, Ger- ald Hodges, Jordan Hill, Matt McGloin, Michael Zordich, Pete Massaro, Matt Stankiewitch… THE TAKEAWAY Penn State doesn't have a bowl game, but it heads into the off- season on a high note, as it looks to keep the team to- gether now that the second round of free agency is under way.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Blue White Illustrated - Wisconsin Postgame (11/24/2012)