The year? 1987. It was a bitter, cold and windy Saturday when Penn State upset Notre Dame, 21-20

[Michael.Felli]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

 

[Lions8286]

I was there, sitting practically alone in the student section.

 

[JerseyRon]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

Where my friend was sitting a guy had a heart attack and died in his seat. The para-medics had trouble getting to him because it happened around halftime. Turned out he was a former letterman there visiting his daughter who was a student at the time. I will never forghet that day.

 

[kgilbert78]

I was there--boy was it cold, especially after I "lost" my flask of Irish whiskey

 

[CentexLion]

My wedding day in Austin TX. Watching the end of the game with my wife's cousin (he played O-Line for Notre Dame in the early 80's from Plano, TX). Was a bit late for the reception since the game was riveting at the end.

Weather here was great. Had a big BBQ outside that evening. Our 28th year anniversary is coming up in 6 months

 

[EPC FAN]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

I was there with a blown disc (L4-5) in my back. I went up into the stands early because I needed time to get to WA near the top. I suffered, but the game made it worthwhile.

 

[fairgambit]

I had season tickets then and , with my wife and 2 daughters (11 and 9) I drove up from Pittsburgh the day of the game. We all went to the stadium and my family lasted about a quarter and headed for the HUB. I stayed until the end frozen but happy. We immediately headed for home and around Altoona I finally warmed up.

 

[EPC FAN]

I had season tickets then and , with my wife and 2 daughters (11 and 9) I drove up from Pittsburgh the day of the game. We all went to the stadium and my family lasted about a quarter and headed for the HUB. I stayed until the end frozen but happy. We immediately headed for home and around Altoona I finally warmed up.

The group I was with had a pitcher of Manhattans. I enjoyed them that day.

 

[niteowlgt]

When we pulled in the lot, the people next to us were peeling shrimp. Couldn't believe it. When you win, it's not too cold, when you lose, it's bitterly cold, but we pulled it out. We went to the Gaff after the game and it felt like 140 degrees inside. I remember -15 wind chill. This was the coldest game, but when you beat ND, say no more.

 

[ebervale]

Would any of you have considered wearing white that day?

 

[BarryPSU]

I have been a season ticket holder for a lot of years and that is the coldest game I ever attended. I remember it was well below "0".

 

[TheGLOV]

If you recall, it was known as the underwear game because Penn State, on orders from Joe Paterno), purchased then version of under-armour, to keep his players warm during the cold weather game. I had tickets but sold mine that Tuesday before the game and ended up watching it on TV, Those that sold their tickers were called 'logic' majors for using their good logic and staying home! LOL!!!

 

[rjg82]

I was there...and stopped drinking because I was so cold.

 

[SouthWindsorLion]

I was a Freshman in NROTC selling hot cocoa during that game. It was so cold. One fan told me to sit next to him and keep handing him and his family hot drinks. They bought it all. I got to see the win and was happy

 

[TheGLOV]

I was there with a blown disc (L4-5) in my back. I went up into the stands early because I needed time to get to WA near the top. I suffered, but the game made it worthwhile.

Great story EPC.

 

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

I also was at this bitter cold game, sitting behind the Notre Dame bench. I was with 2 buddies and we survived the game despite 2 of the 3 of us visiting from Phoenix. This was Lou Holtz's 2nd year at ND and he won the National Championship the next year in 1988, defeating Major Harris/West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl, which I also attended (of course it helped that Harris separated his throwing shoulder on the first series of the game). I remember this game for Blair Thomas rushing for over 200 yards, Heisman winner Tim Brown having a rather pedestrian game, and for FR ND RB Ricky Watters kicking Trey Bauer in the helmet during a late hit out-of-bounds melee on the ND sideline, with only Bauer drawing a flag. The linked article references a Notre Dame player doing a "moonwalk on Bauer's face", it sure looked like Harrisburg's Bishop McDevitt and future 49'er Ricky Watters doing the moonwalk/kick. This linked Mike Downey LA Times article summarizes the game nicely.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-22/sports/sp-23730_1_penn-state

 

[BobPSU92]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

It's refreshing to see you post something relevant.

 

[Shendojoe]

I had never been and hope to never be again that cold. Even the Yukon Jack didn't help. Damn metal seats.

 

[EPC FAN]

I also was at this bitter cold game, sitting behind the Notre Dame bench. I was with 2 buddies and we survived the game despite 2 of the 3 of us visiting from Phoenix. This was Lou Holtz's 2nd year at ND and he won the National Championship the next year in 1988, defeating Major Harris/West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl, which I also attended (of course it helped that Harris separated his throwing shoulder on the first series of the game). I remember this game for Blair Thomas rushing for over 200 yards, Heisman winner Tim Brown having a rather pedestrian game, and for FR ND RB Ricky Watters kicking Trey Bauer in the helmet during a late hit out-of-bounds melee on the ND sideline, with only Bauer drawing a flag. The linked article references a Notre Dame player doing a "moonwalk on Bauer's face", it sure looked like Harrisburg's Bishop McDevitt and future 49'er Ricky Watters doing the moonwalk/kick. This linked Mike Downey LA Times article summarizes the game nicely.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-22/sports/sp-23730_1_penn-state

As I said in an earlier post, I went up into the stands early that day. Because I was so high, I got to see the snow squall come up the valley. It was incredible to see. Man, when it hit, the snow was like needles. It went by quickly, but it left a freezer behind.
The only other game I was at where that happened was a high school game in Berwick, between the Dawgs and Bethlehem Catholic. The squall came right into our faces, so we turned our backs on it and when it passed, we were all covered with snow all down our backs.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

I remember pulling into the parking area where the track is...freezing...kids where sleighriding on their bellies...no shirts on! My future bride wore sneakers, with an extra pair of socks. That didn't work out to well. I recall the student section emptying out...

 

[Mace54]

I was a junior residing in East Halls. The night before I was at a party downtown at Cedarbrook. I woke up that morning around 7:00 on the floor of an apartment soaked from the waist down. I had to walk from Cedarbrook to East halls, wet, with winds whipping and biting cold. I remember ducking in and out of doorways to catch my breath and avoid the wind. I never made it to the game....

 

[LemonEars]

I was there with a PSU colored blanket wrapped around me. I remember that after a bit the blanket was frozen solid and became like a tent. I recall my feet being so cold they were totally numb. Great game, though.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

I was there, sitting practically alone in the student section.

My buddy and I were also in the almost empty student section, stayed the whole game. By the end we were in the front row. Froze our asses off!

 

[alton11]

10 - November 21, 1987 - Penn State 21, Notre Dame 20: This may have been the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium with 30 mile an hour winds, snow flurries and wind chills of zero to 18 degrees the numbing 84,00 shivering fans. Notre Dame scored with 30 seconds remaining and went for the win but quarterback Tony Rice was tackled short of the goal by linebacker Pete Curkendall. "It was a moment that will always be frozen in the history of Penn State football," Paterno said.

I miss the Eighties!

What a game!!!! I called it the Blair Thomas show.

 

[Vyto Kab - TD]

I was there! My Dad likes to tell the story when he was tailgating he took a sip of beer and set the can down and the drops froze on the mouth of the can it was so cold. It was freezing, people just left the game, the stadium might have been half full at the end. Couldn't feel my feet for an hour after the game in the car. Brutal, good times!!

 

[bkmtnittany1]

If I am not mistaken...2 years later when ND came to PSU, the Rocket was on that team and ND won the game...it was as cold if not colder...

 

[lucy_vp]

I was there. Cold. Stuck it out til the end.

 

[chrzan5]

I was there...Sat in the South End Zone. We brought cardboard into the stadium to put our feet on. The bare concrete just sucked the heat right out of your feet.

I remember standing near the top of the student section with a couple stadium blankets on taking it all it. The wind whipped all the game day Collegians to the south end of the stadium. Funny how the win made the experience so much more enjoyable!

 

[dawgduice]

ND is THE team I would love to have a home and home with and as long a series as possible !!

 

[badlab3]

ND is THE team I would love to have a home and home with and as long a series as possible !!

Rode to the game from Carlisle with my best friend, Phil Grosz & his brother Phil resided in Harrisburg back then. Remember Watters kicking Trey Bauer but the best hit of the day was after PSU scored & was returning the ensuing PSU kickoff & Rogers Alexander leveled Alvin Miller the prior year's USA Today HS player of the year. Sounded like an explosion.

 

[THEEHMANN]

It too was the coldest game I ever attended. Was that game a 3:30 start? I remember the lights being on near the end of the game.

 

[badlab3]

Rode to the game from Carlisle with my best friend, Phil Grosz & his brother Phil resided in Harrisburg back then. Remember Watters kicking Trey Bauer but the best hit of the day was after PSU scored & was returning the ensuing PSU kickoff & Rogers Alexander leveled Alvin Miller the prior year's USA Today HS player of the year. Sounded like an explosion.

Excuse me meant to say "Phil's brother Bill".

 

[Wrestler2u]

I was three rows from the top of Section SH, south end zone. The wind in my face was bitter. It got much colder in the second half when 90% of fans left the stadium.

 

[TheGLOV]

ND is THE team I would love to have a home and home with and as long a series as possible !!

Forgetaboutit.

They're afraid of us and have been for many a year!

 

[ND Don]

That was a great game. Have it on dvd.

 

[dawgduice]

One year my son and I decorated my neighbors house with Blue and White streamers AND a massive sign on his lawn "WE ARE". He is a ND guy. Great fun when he got home from work

 

[TheGLOV]

One year my son and I decorated my neighbors house with Blue and White streamers AND a massive sign on his lawn "WE ARE". He is a ND guy. Great fun when he got home from work

Luv it!

Did it piss him off?

LOL!!!

 

[siff]

Remember this game well, my freshman year. My roommate from New Orleans was so hyped for this game that he decided to go 1 hour early to get a good seat. He was never so cold and didn't make kick off! The rest of us hardy Pennsylvanians made it through the entire game and saw probably the best game during my time at PSU. Also slightly remember the night before out on College Ave, hammered pretty good and slipping all over the snow/ice.

 

[Nit777]

Rogers Alexander graduated after the 1985 season and the loss to Oklahoma.

He wasn't playing in 1987.

 

[badlab3]

Rogers Alexander graduated after the 1985 season and the loss to Oklahoma.

He wasn't playing in 1987.

My mistake. Remember a PSU fan walking around prior to the game wearing nun's garb with a sign :ND has a habit of losing to PSU".