Glory days....
- Thread starter s1uggo72
- Start date
I was at that game as a PSU sophomore.
JoePa was wearing some pretty snazzy pants!!!
I was there. Those were fun times. Oh, and we kicked their ***.
How is it that I was working my first real job, my wife was doing graduate school at Pitt, my kids were not born yet, my Mom and brother were alive, Uncles Walter, Eddie, Mike, Benny and Jackie, Aunts Helen, Mary, June, Catherine, Jeanie, were all alive, and life was all ahead of me?
How is it that I was working my first real job, my wife was doing graduate school at Pitt, my kids were not born yet, my Mom and brother were alive, Uncles Walter, Eddie, Mike, Benny and Jackie, Aunts Helen, Mary, June, Catherine, Jeanie, were all alive, and life was all ahead of me?
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Same for me. I’m pretty sure you hit me in the head with a paper cup.
Kentucky was such a letdown, couldn’t believe it.
First year my family got season tickets. Section WC, Row 69 Memories
Very cool. I recognized 4 fraternity brothers in the crowd after a PSU score. I froze the screen and shared it with them.
There was some big time talent on that team. Fusina, Cefalo, Suhey, Guman, Shuler...and Ed Guthrie looked pretty good in those clips!
I was there ... 2nd year with season tickets in Section NA.
Houston was loaded with talent and Danny Davis was a master at the veer option. PSU defense just knew how to defend that offensive system.
This game was Chuck Fusina's coming out party.
Someone above mentioned Ed Guthrie who I thought was a very promising young running back. What ever happened to him?
Bill Yeoman with the drive by post-game handshake.
Houston was loaded with talent and Danny Davis was a master at the veer option. PSU defense just knew how to defend that offensive system.
This game was Chuck Fusina's coming out party.
Someone above mentioned Ed Guthrie who I thought was a very promising young running back. What ever happened to him?
Bill Yeoman with the drive by post-game handshake.
Houston had manhandled UCLA on a Monday night before this game. UCLA had upset Ohio State in the Rose Bowl the previous January 1. Houston had defeated the unbeaten Maryland Terps and Randy White in the Cotton Bowl. They were returning most of their production from that squad.
To prepare for the Houston veer, which they ran on a quick count nearly every snap - usually the first sound - Joe had 2 "demonstration" (as he often called the foreign team) offenses run plays one immediately after the other. So, play over, ball spotted, 2nd foreign team is on the ball, defense has to hustle like crazy to get lined up and ready to go. Over and over. The guys said the game was much slower for them as a result.
Danny Davis separated his shoulder in this game, and Houston as a whole was generally pretty beat up from this game.
As for Ed Guthrie... he was a highly recruited RB from Georgia who chose PSU over the Bulldogs. He could not crack the starting lineup here, and after this 1977 season, transferred back home to Georgia, I believe. He was a role player there, too, if I recall.
This 1977 team was as good as anyone by the end of the season. The upset at home to Kentucky, with DE Art Still and QB Derrick Ramsey, was the only loss. We lost 24-20, after being up 20-10 at the half in a rainstorm. The rain ended at halftime, and Kentucky outscored us 14-0 in the 2nd half. Ramsey became a very good TE in the NFL, and Still had a solid NFL career as well. I believe he is the Uncle, perhaps Great Uncle?, of our own Devon Still, a great DL for us around 2009-2012 or so.
Unbeaten Texas lost to once-beaten ND in the Cotton Bowl, by like 38-10 or something, to claim the NC. I would have loved to see a playoff that season. I think we would have been a very tough out. We dominated Arizona State in the Fiesta Bowl to wrap up that season.
I was crawling up and down the bleachers at that time. Always found money or something Intersting.
Very solid recap. I recall Davis getting his bell rung relatively early and we thought he had a broken collarbone. One of the things the younger fans may not be aware of is that Penn State had a reputation as hard-nose guys who hit you. ABC's Keith Jackson always said 'the Lions will put a hat on you' during every broadcast. It was true. The defense always seemed to be very physical and really pop running QBs as if they were taught to do so.
It was not unusual for opposing teams to come off of PSU games with a few key players needing a few weeks off on the IR list.
I think it was an article in some publication, but perhaps just in conversation with a couple players, but the common thought was that a few teams had their seasons ruined coming off the PSU game because of injuries.
And yes, I recall Keith Jackson saying that... a source of pride for PSU fans, and players!
I can actually tell you the real name of the “Hey, hot dog” guy. He was a friend of a friend. Loved it when we’d all join in the chant.
Kentucky was 10-1 that year and was 6-0 in SEC play. They were on probation and couldn't play in the post-season or share the SEC Championship. They were #6 in the poll they were eligible for.
Good memories from those days. Track around the field, soda vendors yelling ‘mixers’ in the student sections, old Pozniak lion logo on cheerleaders uniforms. 48 years ago! Time does fly.
The best logo we ever had, IMHO
The best logo we ever had, IMHO
Doesn't get any better than the 70's and 80's PSU Football.
Speaking of Glory Days... here's a local event that may be of interest to some of you. July 26, at the NLI.
PSU Adaptive Athletics Fund Raiser at Nittany Lion Inn
Guy Gadowsky is the Keynote Speaker, with entertainment by Mike Reid. A number of late 60s and 70s era players are expected to attend.
Note that (separate) donations to PSU Adaptive Athletics are eligible for NLC points.
PSU Adaptive Athletics Fund Raiser at Nittany Lion Inn
Guy Gadowsky is the Keynote Speaker, with entertainment by Mike Reid. A number of late 60s and 70s era players are expected to attend.
Note that (separate) donations to PSU Adaptive Athletics are eligible for NLC points.
So that's who it was.
First year on campus as a Jr after transferring down from Scranton. We usually sat in the lower EJ rows.
When I was an undergrad I remember finding a $20 bill rolled up on a step. That was like $100 then and for a struggling kid it helped me a great deal. It never hurts to hand a $5 bill to a kid you know could use it to get something he needs.
Fusina to me is the forgotten QB....playing in 3 USFL Campionships winning 2....yes I realize that was the USFL...which means he was playing with USFL roster and excelled
Guthrie transferred back to UGA just in time to sit behind some freshman kid named Walker.
I think Guthrie was eligible at Georgia for the 1979 season after sitting out 1978 (xfer rules at the time). Hershel arrived at Georgia for the 1980 season. Not sure if Guthrie continued to play after 1979? But if so, he certainly sat behind Walker in 1980, which would have been Ed's final season of eligibility.
This one is classic. You attach a string to the underside of a dollar bill and hide behind a corner. And when somebody reaches down... you yank it away. If the victim really doesn't get what's happening, you can keep pulling ant they'll keep chasing. Fun and simple.
I hope your kids aren’t going to tell this story at your funeral, Thomas.
This one is classic. You attach a string to the underside of a dollar bill and hide behind a corner. And when somebody reaches down... you yank it away. If the victim really doesn't get what's happening, you can keep pulling ant they'll keep chasing. Fun and simple.
Anyone else on here go to the Adaptive Athletics fund raiser last night at the NLI?
Terrific event.
Brian Tripp was the MC.
Guy Gadowski spoke about culture and purpose.
Great stories from Lydell Mitchell, Warren Koegel, Chuck Burkhart, Mike Reid, Dana Harris, and SuePa.
Got to meet the newest Adaptive Athletes themselves.
Mike Reid performed for about 30 minutes or so.
All the former players and Sue and Dana, and many of the Adaptive Athletes made themselves available to whoever wanted to chat with them before and after.
Lots of laughs and inspiration.
Certainly another successful fund raiser.
We certainly have lost this reputation and are now seen as a finesse team. Kaytron Allen would have thrived on this 1977 Team.
Also a great example of playing an excellent schedule. Where is FIU?
I saw Franklin is happy with the non-conference schedule, I'm sure he is when your win probability is 100% for each game, lol
I use to sell cokes in the beaver, emphasis on senior section, I sold mixers, and if you bought a tray I discounted by 50 cents a cup. I was doing volume sales. The more trays I could turn over in a half the better it went. After the half sales plummeted. During the halftime they soared. You tended your own till and payed the uni so much a tray, so in essence. I was a freelancing. Independent contractor. Usually by halftime I would pocket a hundred bucks. Not bad money in mid seventies for a college student. 7 to 8 bills in a football season.
That 77 team was better than 78. Should have beaten Kentucky. Damn shame. Fusina threw some schafer like passes in the first half albeit in terrible weather.
Good points but I disagree slightly.
The '77 offense, I think, was much better than '78's, despite Fusina and Fitzkee being a year older. Jimmy Cefalo added tremendous versatility and athleticism as both a WR, punt returner, and a proven runner (see 1975 Cotton Bowl).
Furthermore, Geise and Torrey were powerful runners and with Matt Suhey and Ed Guthrie gave the Lions a formidable crew of RBs. And Mickey Shuler was an outstanding TE.
However, what makes the 1978 team better than the '77 squad is the defense. Clark and Millen were in their first year as DTs, after playing LB as true freshmen in 1976. In '78, Salt and Pepper were absolutely dominating. The rise oif Larry Kubin at DE was also a huge plus for the defense, as was Rich Milot's huge improvement.
Offensively, Mike Guman brought needed speed to the backfield, as did young Booker Moore. I don't know how to assess an OL accurately, so I won't pretend I do. Maybe they were both similar, but Alabama's defense was too stout in that Sugar Bowl.
Anyway, you are so right about the 1977 squad; it should have beaten Kentucky. I think it might even have led at the half, but I don't remember it well since I did not get to see the game. But I have a bias in favor of that 1978 defense that shut out Ohio State in Columbus.
From my post above:
This 1977 team was as good as anyone by the end of the season. The upset at home to Kentucky, with DE Art Still and QB Derrick Ramsey, was the only loss. We lost 24-20, after being up 20-10 at the half in a rainstorm. The rain ended at halftime, and Kentucky outscored us 14-0 in the 2nd half. Ramsey became a very good TE in the NFL, and Still had a solid NFL career as well. I believe he is the Uncle, perhaps Great Uncle?, of our own Devon Still, a great DL for us around 2009-2012 or so.
I agree with basically everything you posted about the '77 team vs. the '78 team. ('77 better on O, '78 better on D). Both teams were as good as anyone after the regular seasons.
The '78 OLine was very good, anchored by Keith Dorney at Tackle. The college game was still very much a running-oriented game then, and they dominated throughout the season. That Sugar Bowl was basically a draw, with Bama making one more crucial play than us at a very crucial time on the goalline to determine the National Champion.