Career win No. 400 for coach beloved Penn State is being remembered around Happy Valley for a long time.
Backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw for four touchdowns, the defense pitched a shutout in the second half and the Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) rallied from a three-touchdown deficit of the night Saturday to defeat the northwest 35 to 21 and get the 83-year-old Paterno his latest milestone.
"I was there before I knew it. I was hoping that it is not very honest," said Paterno after getting besieged near the end zone for the players, school officials and family including his wife, Sue. Chima Okoli and lineman Eric Shrive were among the players who lifted a smiling Paterno his feet.
"I would be dishonest if I told you it was an emotional night for me, and it was," Paterno said.
Joep is the first major college coach to hit 400 wins, but tried to keep things as low key as possible, even with many of the more than 100,000 fans chanting his name. He always tried to stay focused on your team and play, no matter how much hype might have about his career.
With the backup running back Stephfon Green (FSY) proudly with a banner reading: "400. El Camino Paterno," the coach finished his short speech after the game to the inhabitants of blue and white with the observations that led even more excited.
"People ask me why I've been here so long, and you know what, look around, look around," he said as the crowd roared. "Now that the holiday is over, we will beat Ohio State!"
Only two other coaches most wins. Eddie Robinson had 408 public school FCS Grambling, while John Gagliardi had 476 entering the weekend with the Division III St. John's, Minnesota
The party seemed to be put on hold after boring first half for the Nittany Lions, Wildcats and dual-threat quarterback Dan Persian (FSY) has done everything possible to play spoiler.
Cut through the defense for 109 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown runs of 6 and 4 yards in the first half. Also was 16 of 25 passes for 201 yards, including a shot taken with one hand while jumping tight Drake Dunsmore (FSY) in the back of the end zone for a 21-0 lead at the end of the average Northwestern (6-3, 2-3).
To be the last big play of Northwestern and Penn State dominated from there.
After a so-so start, McGloin revitalized the team with a two-minute drill that ended with a reception from 7-yard touchdown from Brett Brackett (FSY) with 3 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 21-7 .
McGloin threw two more touchdown passes in the third quarter against a defense of war neurosis northwest corridor before freshman Red Silas put Penn State for good with a 4-yard run with 1:31 remaining in the quarter.
"We lost the momentum. They played with a bit more of a chip on his shoulder," said Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald. "We must correct our attitude and being able to seize the momentum back and put our kids in a position to do that."
As if the story is not enough as they are performed in the raucous Beaver Stadium, the victory also coincided with the biggest victory coming from behind Paterno. In 1994, the Nittany Lions also met from 21 down to beat Illinois.
Freshman Rob Bolden started for the first time since being knocked out of the game of Minnesota for two weeks with a concussion, but was pulled after fumbling the ball on a sack in his second round.
Enter McGloin, former walk-in fighting that ended 18 of 29 for 225 yards passing. Paterno later said Bolden was not injured.
The Northwest had a last gasp when Persian led the offense to the Penn State 9 with 8:13 left, but threw an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth down. Linebacker Michael Mauti led a furious charge in the second half defensively to hold the dual quarterback threat.
The cries of "Joe Paterno! Joe Paterno!" echoed through the stands with 6:30 left and Penn State comfortably by two touchdowns. With fans furiously click away on their cameras, Paterno was idly on the bench, no hands in the gray parka from Penn State, paying close attention to all the fuss.
Even Sue Paterno was trying not to do much about the milestone this week. The son of Parental and quarterback Jay Paterno, the coach said the family initially did not plan to attend.
"Mom, I hate to say but it's a kind of a big deal. 400 victories in fact not been made at this level," he said in the transmission of the conversation before tearing.
The boss, meanwhile, was more impressed by how his team won.
"To see them back the way we came back," said Joep, "really rings false, but actually it was more important to me that if I was 350 wins and 400 wins."
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