14 years ago today: Judgment Day
...in Happy Valley. #4 Michigan destroys #3 Penn State by a final score of 34-8.
The current PSU scandal and all those involved were a part of this game. Jerry Sandusky was still on the sideline watching his defense get shredded. Once Michigan went up 31-0 in the 3rd quarter, the camera showed Sandusky staring off into space and Bob Griese made a point of saying, "Jerry Sandusky cannot believe this."
A quote from Penn State quarterback Mike McQueary before the game:
"We've played tougher games in the 4th quarter than Michigan and that will probably be the difference. We're Penn State and we're not the kind of team that shies away from a particular player like Charles Woodson. We'll go right at him. We'll be careful with the ball and know what he can do. He's a great athlete and a great corner, but certainly, we're going to be a big challenge for him."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKV_6vmCSc&feature=related
November 8th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
I remember this game so well. I had a whole bunch of family over and we were supposed to go out to eat, but I wouldn't leave the game even when we were up by 31. So all 20 of them were standing in my living room watching me as I watched the game. Heh. I still like to watch the first half of that game once a year. Plus, this had the best hit I have ever seen in football when Taylor laid out that full back.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
I would say that that game had one of the biggest hits ever not the best, as neither player ever played football again. From the reports on the interwebs, Taylor broke a bone in his neck and Stephenson had to relearn how to walk.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
This was my first ever time going to a college football game. I was a youngster, but I remember sitting around all PSU fans, and I was rocking a starter pullover Michigan jacket. It was awesome.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
you had me at "starter pullover Michigan jacket."
November 8th, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
November 8th, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
Interesting how much worse both he and Sandusky's situations have become in the time since then.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
We obviously ended the careers of the wrong guys that day.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
If any of you have ever sat in the PSU student section, its a harrowing experience to say the least. And it was made even more difficult by Michigan's absolute blowout of PSU that day (because I wanted to jump up and down like a complete idiot at the risk of getting punched in the nose). We made the trip from Ann Arbor and it was obviously well worth it. Seeing Woodson break open in the middle of the PSU defense, catch the pass, and then streak into the endzone is one of my most memorable Michigan moments. I love it when PSU fans are quiet. Great memories.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
I am sure they are quiet today. My PSU friend called in sick and is very upset. I wish taylor could have hit Sandusky instead.
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<br>Greatest game ever.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
Wasn't there another top five battle that day in FSU-UNC? If I remember correctly, Dre Bly & co. couldn't keep up with the Seminoles, making both games blowouts.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
Yes the UNC/FSU game was that day. That was also the day of the Nebraska/Mizzou game that Neb won when the player intentionally kicked the ball in the endzone to his teammate.
November 11th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
Wasn't that Saturday the original ESPN-titled "Judgment Day?"
November 8th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
I was at that game. That game and the Cap One bowl were the only times I was ever in awe of my own team.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
said before the game that "michigan should just send the band!" this make it even sweeter.
glen steele sack on the first play from scrimmage gives me chills
November 8th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
After the game, someone asked McQueary if he'd see Michigan defenders in his sleep. He said something like "I hope not. I saw enough of them today."
November 8th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
was that ESPN decided they needed to give stupid nicknames for every weekend that had a big game.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:10 PM ^
It was actually rare at the time. That's why we still remember the name today. (That and the fact that we kicked some serious ass to become #1.)
November 8th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^
That was one of the best games I have ever been to. A group of 5 or 6 of us left Ann Arbor mid-morning on Friday and drove straight to State College where we slept on the floor of a fraternity house on Friday night. We got up early, heading to the Stadium to start our tailgate. We ran into one of the Baldwin Brothers (Stephen I think, PSU grad and wrestler at PSU). We had those seats low in the corner of the endzone near the PSU Student Section. I remember going up 21-0 or so and started the chant, "We can't hear you." It seemed so loud - just our small Michigan contingent. As one poster mentioned, it was the icing to have the team run up to us and celelbrate with us all. Oh it was great!
Go Blue!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:46 PM ^
Ah, college life!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:33 PM ^
What a great year.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:55 PM ^
When I took a poll on here awhile ago, MGoBloggers voted this as the greatest Michigan game of the 90s.
Anytime penn state gets destroyed at home is a good thing. Hate their classless fans.
November 8th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
I road-tripped to State College for our game there in '99 (which we won 31-27), and I actually think their fans were some of the classiest I saw during any of my B1G college road trips. The worst, surprisingly, were the fans in Madison. The fans in East Lansing and Columbus were bad, but the fans in Madison were worse.
November 8th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
My wife and I were vacationing in Key West for that game. We watched it in a sports bar just off Duval Street. At half time I go into the restroom and meet a guy in there wearing Michigan gear. He tells me he's got a brother on the team. Turns out it's Jeff Griese. I invite him out to our table and he sits with us for a while drinking celebratory shots.
Next to us is a table of Nebraska ex-football players who all congratulate us after the game and say we should be No. 1.
One of my favorite memories ever.
November 8th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
I remember that game very well...Dadrion Taylor crushing the PSU TE with the biggest hit in history...
and then late in the game ... "Joe Pa has taken the headphones and is now calling the plays!!!"
LOL at the little egotistical puke when he pulled that crap on his OC and started calling the plays himself....
didnt work Joe you were well past your prime by 1998 buddy.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^
a PSU blowout and Michigan should just send the band. I remember being in the stands for the OT game vs PSU when Chris Perry scored and cheering.....We own, Penn State! My oh my but how the mighty have fallen....