Over the past year, many of our favorite athletes/students have given us some great things to remember. Being that it is the holiday season, and this will be out last post until Christmas, let’s take a look back on some of the greatest gifts of 2008. The list, after the jump…
1. A FOOTBALL ON THE TURF
Terelle Pryor and Navarro Bowman watch the scrum
When Penn State traveled to Columbus, Ohio to play the Buckeyes on October 25th, much had been made about the Nittany Lions’ winless record at Ohio Stadium since joining the Big Ten. 45 minutes into the game, and down by the score of 6-3, PSU had to dig deep to keep a then-perfect season alive. On an improvisational play by Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor, Mark Rubin stood between a touchdown and the Western Pennsylvania prep star. While attempting to make a diving tackle, Rubin knocked the ball out of Pryor’s hands and onto the turf. The rugby-style scrum that followed resulted in a Navarro Bowman fumble recovery and would lead to the only touchdown of the game; as Penn State would go on to win 13-6.
2. AN INCREBIDLE U.S. OPEN
Tiger Woods laughs after his chip one-hops in the hole on the 17th hole of the 3rd round
On the afternoon of June 14th, we began our week-long visit to Disney World. While I was having dinner at the Grand Floridian and dancing with Anastasia from Cinderella, Tiger Woods was putting on a clinic at Torrey Pines. His 33 on the back nine was highlighted by a 70-foot eagle putt on 13, a chip-in birdie on 17 and another 30+ foot bomb for eagle on 18 to take the outright lead going into the final round. After Rocco Mediate posted a 71 on Sunday, Woods needed a 20 foot putt for birdie to force a playoff, which of course he made. Then on Monday 18 more holes weren’t enough, but on the first extra hole Woods would put Rocco away and win his 14th major championship. Two days later it was announced that Tiger had a torn ACL while doing all of this, making it truly one of the greatest performances in the history of sport.
3. A MEMORABLE EIGHTH INNING
Matt Stairs "ass hammers" one into the right-field bleachers in game 4
Things were looking bleak for the Phillies on October 13th against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLCS. The Phillies, who were down 5-3 going to the eighth, were on the verge of letting a series they lead 2 games to none get back to two apiece. After a Shane Victorino two-run home run to tie the game at 5, and a single by much maligned catcher Carlos Ruiz, pinch-hitter Matt Stairs stepped to the plate to face hard throwing reliever Jonathan Broxton. After falling behind Stairs, Broxton was forced to give in with a 3-1 fastball which Stairs crushed into the right field bleachers. The events resulted in a 7-5 lead, which was plenty for Brad Lidge and the Phillies would go on to win the NLCS and even more, as you will see later. Oh, and as a side gift, Mr. Stairs gave us this great quote.
4. A FEW RENEWED RIVALRIES
Evgeni Malkin and the Pens took the Flyers down in 5 games
After a disastrous 2006-2007 season, the Flyers rebounded in 2007-08 and made the Eastern Conference playoffs as the six seed. After taking down the Capitals in overtime of the seventh game, the Fly guys beat the second-seeded Canadiens in the conference semifinals. Unfortunately, the Flyers ran into the buzz saw that was the Pittsburgh Penguins who beat them convincingly in 5 games. So far this season, the Flyers look to be in good shape. They are second in the division behind the Rangers and Jeff Carter leads the league in goals scored. No one is that excited yet, but until next September, it’s our best chance at another parade.
5. A SCHOOL-RECORD FOOTBALL SEASON
Penn Manor. Football. 9-3. Really.
Penn Manor football came into 2008 with a second-year coach who went 1-9 last year. By the time the Comets lost a second-round district playoff game at a soggy Cumberland Valley, the Comets had wrapped up a 9-3 season; easily the most wins in school history. Or as I like to look at it, 80% more wins than I witnessed as a student during my four years of education in Millersville.
6. AN INCREDIBLE SUPER BOWL
Would it be unfair to say that Rodney Harrison's terrible coverage cost the Patrios a fourth Super Bowl?
We don’t like the Giants, but what they did against the Patriots in February’s Super Bowl made it the best one ever played. David Tyree’s catch late in the fourt quarter set up an Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress touchdown connection and gave the Giants the win over a previously unbeaten New England team. Former Penn State standout Jay Alford had a key sack on Brady during the final drive. Since then, the Giants have been the best team in the NFC and Plaxico Burress has shot himself in the leg.
7. A ROSE BOWL SEASON
Daryll Clark and Stephfon Green are going to Pasadena
At the beginning of the season, I expected a 10-2 season from the Penn State Nittany Lions. The ride that they took us on through late September and all of October was incredible, and fall on the second Saturday of November hurt. Penn State was dominant at home, winning by margins of 56, 31, 42, 14, 29, 27 and 31 points, including the most memorable two games I’ve ever been at; a win over Illinois in the warm rain in September and a snowy celebration the day of the Michigan State game. Despite the blemish, Penn State was still good enough for roses for just the third time in school history. The reward for going 11-1, is facing USC in a bowl that is practically a home game for the Trojans on the first day of 2009.
8. AN UNBELIEVABLE TURNAROUND
Central Manor’s slow-pitch softball team had struggled to be competitive in its first two years of existence. As a team, we knew we’d be better in 2008, but after winning seven of our first eight games, we were thinking bigger things. After a mid-season five-game losing streak, we righted the ship just in time for the playoffs. Upsetting the higher-seeded Highland Presbyterian in the second round of the playoffs helped out, and the path was clear to the division finals with Salem U.C.C., a team which had beat us twice during the regular season. Facing a must-win first game, the maroon and white came out and swung the bats in a 15-2 mercy-rule win. The win set up a championship game with Salem, where we dropped a 20-10 decision to finish in second place, and with a 15-10 record on the year. Not a bad season considering the two before it.
Jon Kiefer played a key role in Central Manor's resurgance
9. AN UPSET
On Groundhog Day here in Pennsylvania, the Penn State Men’s Basketball team knocked off seventh-ranked Michigan State by the score of 85-76 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The upset, which Penn State had been on the verge of pulling a home upset for a while (see Ohio State in 2007), and this win finally did it for them. More impressive, the win was without all-Big Ten candidate Geary Claxton, who had gone down with a knee injury a month earlier.
Talor Battle was king on campus after PSU's upset of Michigan State
10. A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
How could I leave the Phillies off the list. The baseball season, as long and frustrating as it was, was full of moments, good and bad. For every Pat Burrell trot around the bases, there was a horrible Adam Eaton start. For every Chase Utley diving stop, there was Carols Ruiz grounding into a double play. For every Shane Victorino fist pump, there was a Ryan Howard strikeout on an off-speed pitch. But when the dust settled, the Phillies found themselves playing the best baseball and the most opportune time. After winning the division, they took down C.C. Sabathia and the Brewers in the division series. Then when no one said they’d beat the Dodgers, they did it in five games. Finally, they took down the American League champion Rays four games to one to win the World Series. The playoff images are memorable; Victorino taking Sabathia deep for a grand slam in the divisional series, Matt Stairs hitting a ball to Nevada in game four of the LCS, Chase Utley’s game one homer in the World Series, Carlos Ruiz’s swinging bunt walk-off winner in game three, Howard going deep twice in game four and lights out Lidge nailing it down in game five. What a ride the Phillies took us on this year.
Mr. Perfect, -er, Brad Lidge and Carlos Ruiz celebrate Philly's first title since 1983
Something like that leaves you hungry for another year.
To everyone out there, have the merriest of Christmases and we will be back next week with our Rose Bowl coverage.
