Favorite Penn State Bowl Game?

[psu skp]

Removing the '83 Sugar & '87 Fiesta Bowls as being 'duh' choices...

anybody have a particularly favorite PSU Bowl Game appearance? (and why)

My top 3 are:
'89 Holiday Bowl (50-39 win over BYU) only bowl game I ever saw in person and one of the 5-6 most thrilling football games I have ever watched at any level.
'70 Orange Bowl (10-3 win over Missouri) before my time, but despite the low score, this was an amazingly exciting game (we ran our first play from shotgun formation) that featured numerous big plays on both sides (we intercepted seven passes alone) and helped us preserve our 2nd consecutive undefeated season.

'59 Liberty Bowl (7-0 win over Alabama) our very first bowl win in program history helped establish Penn State on the national scene... it also extended Bear Bryant's near decade-long draught of not winning a bowl game from 1954-1962.

 

[fairgambit]

1969 Orange Bowl. Here is the final 1:16. As for why it is my favorite, I will let the video speak for itself.

 

[Diego Badman]

Removing the '83 Sugar & '87 Fiesta Bowls as being 'duh' choices...

anybody have a particularly favorite PSU Bowl Game appearance? (and why)

My top 3 are:
'89 Holiday Bowl (50-39 win over BYU) only bowl game I ever saw in person and one of the 5-6 most thrilling football games I have ever watched at any level.
'70 Orange Bowl (10-3 win over Missouri) before my time, but despite the low score, this was an amazingly exciting game (we ran our first play from shotgun formation) that featured numerous big plays on both sides (we intercepted seven passes alone) and helped us preserve our 2nd consecutive undefeated season.

'59 Liberty Bowl (7-0 win over Alabama) our very first bowl win in program history helped establish Penn State on the national scene... it also extended Bear Bryant's near decade-long draught of not winning a bowl game from 1954-1962.

Fiesta Bowls after the 1981 and 1993 Seasons. (USC and Tennessee, respectively). Very dominating performances.

 

[bjf1991]

1969 Orange Bowl. Here is the final 1:16. As for why it is my favorite, I will let the video speak for itself.

View embedded media

Some folks may know this.....but, if not:

Go back to that clip and watch all three plays PSU ran from down on the three yard line (the two failed runs, then the Burkhart keeper around end for the TD)

Tell me if you see anything interesting



Another interesting tidbit:

After the game, the Ref who threw the flag for Kansas having 12 men on the field, was asked "How did you manage to notice that? In all the excitement and confusion of that final drive?"

His answer was very "interesting".

 

[fairgambit]

Some folks may know this.....but, if not:

Go back to that clip and watch all three plays PSU ran from down on the three yard line (the two failed runs, then the Burkhart keeper around end for the TD)

Tell me if you see anything interesting



Another interesting tidbit:

After the game, the Ref who threw the flag for Kansas having 12 men on the field, was asked "How did you manage to notice that? In all the excitement and confusion of that final drive?"

His answer was very "interesting".

Foster Grose was the man and let's just say he could have used Count von Count on the earlier plays.

 

[psuro]

1995 Rose Bowl
2006 Orange Bowl

 

[PSU87]

Fiesta Bowls after the 1981 and 1993 Seasons. (USC and Tennessee, respectively). Very dominating performances.

So do you mean the '92 Fiesta ('91 season) against Tennessee? If so, it was certainly one of the more interesting games, but despite the score I'm not sure I'd call it dominating. We were down 17-7. Then, in the space of something like 7 minutes, scored 35 unanswered to win 42-17. We scored offensively and defensively, and for the course of that 7 minutes, indeed dominated. For the remainder of the game, we looked downright awful!

 

[gopsu84]

Some folks may know this.....but, if not:

Go back to that clip and watch all three plays PSU ran from down on the three yard line (the two failed runs, then the Burkhart keeper around end for the TD)

Tell me if you see anything interesting



Another interesting tidbit:

After the game, the Ref who threw the flag for Kansas having 12 men on the field, was asked "How did you manage to notice that? In all the excitement and confusion of that final drive?"

His answer was very "interesting".

 

[gopsu84]

12 defenders on each play.

 

[john4psu]

The '69 Orange Bowl. My mom let me stay up and watch it with my uncle, a PSU student at the time, and I was hooked.

 

[bjf1991]

12 defenders on each play.

Yep

And when the Ref was asked about the flag on the 2 pointer, he replied something along the lines of:

"I count the # of players on EVERY play. It's one of my responsibilities - and it's important for officials to be disciplined, no matter what's going on in the game"

 

[Diego Badman]

So do you mean the '92 Fiesta ('91 season) against Tennessee? If so, it was certainly one of the more interesting games, but despite the score I'm not sure I'd call it dominating. We were down 17-7. Then, in the space of something like 7 minutes, scored 35 unanswered to win 42-17. We scored offensively and defensively, and for the course of that 7 minutes, indeed dominated. For the remainder of the game, we looked downright awful!

I call foul on myself.
It was the Citrus Bowl after the 1993 season.
You are right about that '92 Fiesta. I remember trying to figure out what I had just seen after that one was over. I never saw a Penn State game like that.

 

[psu skp]

You are right about that '92 Fiesta. I remember trying to figure out what I had just seen after that one was over. I never saw a Penn State game like that.

LOL... I spent most of THIS season experiencing that very thing

 

[wex18]

I was at the '69 Orange Bowl and didn't know what the penalty was for until the next morning.

Supposedly, one of the PSU players (Ted Kwalick?) told the ref before the first conversion attempt that Kansas had 12 men on the field. The ref reportedly said, "I know."

 

[ILLINOISLION]

KU also played with 12 on D earlier in the third quarter!

I've posted about this before.....interesting watching this with my Dad (a PSU graduate) and having been born and raised on PSU football but being a freshman at KU (and knowing many of the players).

The day the bowl pairings were announced I was physically miserable. I knew then (screw tOSU) these were probably the two best teams in the country and, no matter how it played out, I'd be both ecstatic and miserable the rest of my life!

 

[psuro]

I don't care if you took it off the list or not '83 Sugar. I LIVED IT!!!

I spent an entire week in the Big Easy for $200. Drove in a Datsun 210 with 3 friends, slept on the floor of a fraternity at Tulane, Ate "takie outie" chicken satee, and drank 20 oz beers on the street. AND WE WON!!!!

You need to do that again.

 

[psu skp]

I knew then these were probably the two best teams in the country and, no matter how it played out, I'd be both ecstatic and miserable the rest of my life!

Whenever I see NFL Films videos of John Riggins running the old '50 gut' or something and nobody being able to stop him, I'm reminded that PSU shut him down pretty good in the '69 Orange Bowl

 

[fairgambit]

I was at the '69 Orange Bowl and didn't know what the penalty was for until the next morning.

Supposedly, one of the PSU players (Ted Kwalick?) told the ref before the first conversion attempt that Kansas had 12 men on the field. The ref reportedly said, "I know."

My parents were willing to send me to the game as a Christmas gift, but I would have gone with my Dad. Ordinarily I would have jumped at the chance, but I wanted to spend New Years with the girl I was dating and who later became my wife. They would not send us both alone, and her parents would not have permitted it in any event, so I stayed home. I am still married to that lovely young lady so it all worked out in the end.

 

[psuro]

My parents were willing to send me to the game as a Christmas gift, but I would have gone with my Dad. Ordinarily I would have jumped at the chance, but I wanted to spend New Years with the girl I was dating and who later became my wife. They would not send us both alone, and her parents would not have permitted it in any event, so I stayed home. I am still married to that lovely young lady so it all worked out in the end.

I hope she realizes the sacrifices you have made for her.

Clearly you are a husband of the century candidate.

 

[Option Bob]

1972 Coton Bowl. My late wife and I were "special guests" of the Texas Die Hards who invited us to ride on their chartered bus to Dallas. The entire ride up I-35 was boasting and bragging about how the 'Horns would prove that Nixon was right in 1969.

Franco didn't start the game, and Penn State trailed at the half 6-3. Then Lydell and Huffnagel took over, while the defense stuffed the UT Wishbone, holding Texas without a touchdown for the first time in years.

The ride back to San Antonio was comically silent, and my wife (a true saint) wouldn't let me gloat. I did mention that the 1969 defense was even more dominating than this one, and the offense had Harris, Mitchell, and All-American Pittman in the backfield.

30-6 ... a score that live forever.

 

[fairgambit]

I hope she realizes the sacrifices you have made for her.

Clearly you are a husband of the century candidate.

Thank you. I will read her your post although, having been married over 40 years, I know I am the lucky one.

 

[artsandletters]

1972 Coton Bowl. My late wife and I were "special guests" of the Texas Die Hards who invited us to ride on their chartered bus to Dallas. The entire ride up I-35 was boasting and bragging about how the 'Horns would prove that Nixon was right in 1969.

Franco didn't start the game, and Penn State trailed at the half 6-3. Then Lydell and Huffnagel took over, while the defense stuffed the UT Wishbone, holding Texas without a touchdown for the first time in years.

The ride back to San Antonio was comically silent, and my wife (a true saint) wouldn't let me gloat. I did mention that the 1969 defense was even more dominating than this one, and the offense had Harris, Mitchell, and All-American Pittman in the backfield.

30-6 ... a score that live forever.

Scottie Skarzynski scored on a long TD pass in that game. He's from South River, NJ, same town as Joe Theismann. They played on the high school team there.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Thank you. I will read her your post although, having been married over 40 years, I know I am the lucky one.

Fair, I more than suspect that you are BOTH very very VERY fortunate. AND If you still get lucky after 40 years, then you are indeed the lucky one!

 

[fairgambit]

Fair, I more than suspect that you are BOTH very very VERY fortunate. AND If you still get lucky after 40 years, then you are indeed the lucky one!

Thanks for the kind words. As for getting lucky, I have a couple of good lines but decorum prevents me from using them here.

 

[N&B4PSU]

1972 Coton Bowl. My late wife and I were "special guests" of the Texas Die Hards who invited us to ride on their chartered bus to Dallas. The entire ride up I-35 was boasting and bragging about how the 'Horns would prove that Nixon was right in 1969.

Franco didn't start the game, and Penn State trailed at the half 6-3. Then Lydell and Huffnagel took over, while the defense stuffed the UT Wishbone, holding Texas without a touchdown for the first time in years.

The ride back to San Antonio was comically silent, and my wife (a true saint) wouldn't let me gloat. I did mention that the 1969 defense was even more dominating than this one, and the offense had Harris, Mitchell, and All-American Pittman in the backfield.

30-6 ... a score that live forever.

I remember that game like yesterday but waited to post til i checked this thread cuz i had a hunch someone (lol) might have beaten me to it.

I still have the clippings from the The Daily Bulletin (Philly rag) which shows Joe & Sue celebrating.

To me, this game more than any other told the world we were for real. No one would have predicted this outcome or that we'd totally throttle the 'horns in the second half. It was like a wrecking ball... they wanted to make up for what happened against Tennessee in the season finale disaster... they did.



soemthing that made me smile... vitiello's kicks. When he converts the PAT it was like 'wow'... later he hits a 37 yarder and it's a big deal. We've come a lonnnnnnng way!

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Thanks for the kind words. As for getting lucky, I have a couple of good lines but decorum prevents me from using them here.

I, too, am trying to be respectful. It's SO hard, but all the Moderator training is helping!

 

[fairgambit]

I, too, am trying to be respectful. It's SO hard, but all the Moderator training is helping!

 

[Option Bob]

Thanks for attaching that highlight clip. I have never been able to find a replay of that game.

I do remember that Gary Gray and Jim Laslavic had great games for the defense.

Years later, I spoke with a former UT player who was awed that the 1969 squad had Harris, Mitchell, Reid, Ham, and Ebersole on it. He even knew of Onkotz. That team really would have whipped the Longhorns had they played, IMO.

 

[N&B4PSU]

 

[vops]

1969 Orange Bowl. Here is the final 1:16. As for why it is my favorite, I will let the video speak for itself.

View embedded media

My freshman year and my first bowl game. I got so exited I fell backward off the living room rocker and got my bell rung.

 

[Option Bob]

I remember on one if the interviews before the game, Joe was downplaying his defense. In response to how the squad was responding to defending the Texas Wishbone, Joe said (approximate quote, as near as I can remember): " we haven't stopped it yet, and I imagine Texas runs it better than our scout team."

Apparently not.

 

[N&B4PSU]

My freshman year and my first bowl game. I got so exited I fell backward off the living room rocker and got my bell rung.

i wish i had THAT excuse.... lol

 

[N&B4PSU]

For all of us ollllllddddddd dudes....

http://www.statecollege.com/news/lo...penn-state-football-1972-cotton-bowl,1318124/

and enjoy this bit from that bastion of newspaper editorialship... the NYT. lmao... typewriters made writing a whiole lot harder!

http://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/03/a...lucky-lions-defense-shatters-tricky.html?_r=0

 

[kijanalives]

Removing the '83 Sugar & '87 Fiesta Bowls as being 'duh' choices...

anybody have a particularly favorite PSU Bowl Game appearance? (and why)

My top 3 are:
'89 Holiday Bowl (50-39 win over BYU) only bowl game I ever saw in person and one of the 5-6 most thrilling football games I have ever watched at any level.
'70 Orange Bowl (10-3 win over Missouri) before my time, but despite the low score, this was an amazingly exciting game (we ran our first play from shotgun formation) that featured numerous big plays on both sides (we intercepted seven passes alone) and helped us preserve our 2nd consecutive undefeated season.

'59 Liberty Bowl (7-0 win over Alabama) our very first bowl win in program history helped establish Penn State on the national scene... it also extended Bear Bryant's near decade-long draught of not winning a bowl game from 1954-1962.

'95 Rose over '06 Orange by a hair....

My namesake's electric TD run to open the scoring set the tone..."shout out of a cannon!"

Joe vs Bobby was a great OT thriller and our boys really stepped up in the second half (sound familiar?).

 

[Nit16]

Only been Penn St guy for about 15 years but the slop fest at the Citrus Bowl against LSU was great. My first Bowl trip. Will always remember it.

 

[kijanalives]

Only been Penn St guy for about 15 years but the slop fest at the Citrus Bowl against LSU was great. My first Bowl trip. Will always remember it.

Forgot about that one....you paid your dues sitting in that weather...welcome to the family, albeit 9 years late....

 

[getmyjive11]

I thoroughly enjoyed the Outback Bowl win over Tennessee in the 2006 season. Tony Hunt crushed their souls.

 

[NC2017]

The '94 Citrus Bowl - PSU 31, TN 13.

After watching this demolition I knew the 1994 season was going to be special. We're in a similar situation going into this Rose Bowl.

 

[Bob78]

Scottie Skarzynski scored on a long TD pass in that game. He's from South River, NJ, same town as Joe Theismann. They played on the high school team there.

As was Drew Pearson of Dallas Cowboys fame. All three on the same HS team at one point, one year separated. Pearson went to Tulsa, iirc.
South River was the dominant HS football team at that time and into the 70s.
A decade later, the HS of the Jackson brothers of PSU fame!
Oh yeah, and Wifey's HS.

 

[Bob78]

The '94 Citrus Bowl - PSU 31, TN 13.

After watching this demolition I knew the 1994 season was going to be special. We're in a similar situation going into this Rose Bowl.

We were down 10 -0 early in that game, and Tenn. scored or hit a big play on some trickeration.
JVP pulled the team together on the sidelines and told them, 'They're not beating us, they just tricked us. Play our game and we'll be ok.' KiJana ran for a TD just before the half and we dominated the game after that.

Same as we did in the '92 ('91 season) Fiesta - we were down to Tenn. and not doing much, made a break for ourselves and the floodgates opened for us to win in a dominating way.