By necessity, Penn State has had to build up the Rose Bowl as its own personal championship, regardless of how the rest of the college football world defines it.
Even after Nebraska’s 24-17 victory over Miami Sunday night in the Orange Bowl, the Nittany Lions were hoping for a shot at No. 1.
But the fact is, in some ways, their preparation last week may have been even more difficult than Nebraska’s. Not only did the top-ranked Conrhuskers have some obvious title motivation going into the Orange Bowl, they also had a respected opponent and a bitter postseason rivalry to spur them on.
Penn State has the Ducks. And no matter how tough they walk and how loud they quack, they’re still Ducks.
“One of the things this team has to overcome is the false impression that Oregon is not a very good football team,” said Penn State coach Joe Paterno. “In reality, they’re an excellent football team that has played extremely well over the last part of the season.”
The first part of the season was a problem for the 12th-ranked Ducks (9-3), who started the season 1-2 with lopsided losses to Hawaii and Utah. But they finished strong, beating nationally ranked Washington and Arizona at home before concluding the season with a touchdown in the last 5 minutes against Oregon State, sending them to their first Rose Bowl in 37 years.
Currently riding a six-game winning streak, Oregon is still a 17-point underdog.
“It doesn’t bother me to be the underdog,” said coach Rich Brooks. “I’ve been the underdog before. I’ll just predict this: If we play our game, it will be a heck of a game.”
The Ducks’ defense is ranked 12th in the nation in rushing with opponents averaging 113 yards per game, and 19th in scoring, with opponents averaging 18 points. “The thing that impresses me about Oregon,” said Paterno, “is the fact that they get it done. They’re doers, they’re achievers. They have outstanding skill people.”
Not as good, however, as second-ranked Penn State (11-0) going to its first Rose Bowl since 1923 in its second year as a member of the Big 10 Conference.
The Nittany Lions possess, arguably, the best offense in college football history, averaging 520 total yards and 48 points per game-both tops in the nation-including 6.1 yards rushing per carry and a victory margin of 27 points.
Quarterback Kerry Collins was fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting. He led the nation in passing efficiency, and completed 176 of 264 passes for 2,679 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions and just three sacks.
Paterno said Collins is playing “as well or better than any quarterback we’ve had in the 45 years I’ve been at Penn State. . . . very few people could have done what he did at Illinois in the clutch.”
The Illinois game Nov. 12 was perhaps Penn State’s finest moment, and yet it undoubtedly cost the Lions No. 1 votes. They were trailing 31-21 at the start of the fourth quarter against the Illini when Collins completed 13 of 15 passes for 122 yards, including a 7-for-7 run during the final 96-yard game-winning drive to a 35-31 victory.
“Without a doubt, Collins is the best we will have seen this year,” said Oregon All-American cornerback Herman O’Berry.
Making Collins’ job somewhat easier is having All-American split end Bobby Engram (52 receptions for 1,029, including seven touchdown receptions), wide receiver Freddie Scott and tight end Kyle Brady.
The Ducks believe they have the fastest secondary in the nation and favor man-to-man coverage, which has the Lions salivating.
“I don’t think anybody can cover our guys one-on-one for four quarters,” said Penn State defensive back Brian Miller, who goes against Engram in practice.
“They think they can cover our guys one-on-one?” snorted teammate Keith Conlan. “No one can cover our receivers one-on-one for more than a couple seconds.”
Engram even had a hard time hiding his enthusiasm. “If I’m covered one-on-one all game and I don’t beat my man, I don’t deserve to be out there.”
If the passing game doesn’t do the job, Collins also has the luxury of looking behind him and seeing Ki-Jana Carter, who finished second in the Heisman voting after rushing for a nation-best 7.8 yards per carry and 139.9 yards per game in only 18 attempts.
Much of the pressure will be on Penn State’s defense, which, hampered by injuries, has allowed an average of 21 points, 27 in their last four regular-season games. It must contain a respectable Oregon offense that averaged 331 total yards and 27 points per game.
The defense also must contain the enthusiasm of a team that has virtually nothing to lose. “All they have to do,” said Penn State defensive tackle Eric Clair, “is go out and play their hearts out.”
How big would a Rose Bowl victory be in Eugene, Ore., when the trip alone has been so huge? “How could I describe it,” said Oregon’s free-spirited tight end, Josh Wilcox. “Well, if we ever achieve world peace, it would be close, I guess.”
