...but today's disappointment doesn't even come close to the disappointment felt after the following losses against Penn State:
1950: Pitt Stadium was covered by 23 inches of snow, so the game was delayed a week and moved to Forbes Field. Pitt rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit, but a missed extra point doomed it to a 21-20 loss.
1975: Pitt scored first, but Penn State blocked the extra point, which would prove an ominous moment for the Panthers. Pitt kicker Carson Long missed three field-goal attempts, and the Lions escaped with a 7-6 victory at Three Rivers Stadium.
1977: Penn State sacked Panthers quarterback Matt Cavanaugh five times and intercepted him three times in a 15-13 win.
1978: Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill called Paterno “unethical” after the Penn State coach asked officials to inspect the Pitt players’ cleats. Mike Guman scored on fourth down in the fourth quarter, and the Lions went on to win 17-10.
1981: Perhaps the pinnacle for the Lions. Before the game Paterno was quoted as saying, “I would rather have a tough schedule and lose a couple of games than have a patsy schedule and be rated No. 1.” Ranked No. 11 at the time, Penn State rallied from a 14-0 deficit (courtesy of Dan Marino) to steamroll No. 1 Pitt 48-14. The key play: Roger Jackson’s end-zone interception of a pass that could have given the Panthers a 21-0 lead. The fricken irony today of that quote by the phony, JoePa!
1950: Pitt Stadium was covered by 23 inches of snow, so the game was delayed a week and moved to Forbes Field. Pitt rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit, but a missed extra point doomed it to a 21-20 loss.
1975: Pitt scored first, but Penn State blocked the extra point, which would prove an ominous moment for the Panthers. Pitt kicker Carson Long missed three field-goal attempts, and the Lions escaped with a 7-6 victory at Three Rivers Stadium.
1977: Penn State sacked Panthers quarterback Matt Cavanaugh five times and intercepted him three times in a 15-13 win.
1978: Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill called Paterno “unethical” after the Penn State coach asked officials to inspect the Pitt players’ cleats. Mike Guman scored on fourth down in the fourth quarter, and the Lions went on to win 17-10.
1981: Perhaps the pinnacle for the Lions. Before the game Paterno was quoted as saying, “I would rather have a tough schedule and lose a couple of games than have a patsy schedule and be rated No. 1.” Ranked No. 11 at the time, Penn State rallied from a 14-0 deficit (courtesy of Dan Marino) to steamroll No. 1 Pitt 48-14. The key play: Roger Jackson’s end-zone interception of a pass that could have given the Panthers a 21-0 lead. The fricken irony today of that quote by the phony, JoePa!
