September 24, 1988 -- The Goal Line Stand -- Were You There?
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
Was in my truck on River Road at Hoes Lane when PSU failed to convert at the end. Almost drove off the road. During that last PSU series, I kept waiting for the words "There is a flag on the play." I was convinced we were going to get jobbed. Didn't happen fortunately.
Got in before thread lock.
I distinctly remember listening to it in my Hoboken Apt on Garden Street, pacing with a Coors in my hand. Had just started working in NYC making decent money for the first time, in my mid-twenties, full head of hair, 20 pounds lighter, out to conquer the world. Life was good and that victory made it even better.
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My son was nine months old and it was a nice day, so we brought him to Sandy Hook. Because he thought it would be a good idea to throw sand in his eyes, we left early and I turned on the game on the way home. My wife had no idea why I was so excited by the win.
Beat Ped State.
This event should be more prominent in Rutgers lore.
Steve Tomkins was big on the goal line stand.
Steve Tomkins was big on the goal line stand.
Thanks for the memory. It was my freshman year at RU and I too was listening on the radio. Great to see the video.
Remember it well I was camping at Norvin Green state forest with some other RU faithful. We were jumping around on the top of the mountain screaming and hugging (not that theres anything wrong with that) listening on the radio. There may have even been some nudity involved.
Ironically most of that same group will be camping again in 5 weeks
Ironically most of that same group will be camping again in 5 weeks
I’m a Penn State fan, bleed Blue, but the video was great. Special moment in Rutgers Football History. Best to you all Saturday
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Great stand . Was listening to Bruce Johnson on the radio. Wow that guy was really open on third down.
I was there and it was the greatest road game I've been to. Incredibly fun.
I remember noticing that PSU fans were all exceptionally nice and courteous about the whole thing, especially considering I was a (slightly) obnoxious and drunk undergrad.
I remember noticing that PSU fans were all exceptionally nice and courteous about the whole thing, especially considering I was a (slightly) obnoxious and drunk undergrad.
yup. Drove out and back on the same day. sat about 8 rows away from the other couple we went with. It was an awesome day.
I lived downstairs in a Newell apartment from some of the guys on the team.
They were all so happy when they came back. We hi-fived and then the kegs started to arrive. And arrive. And arrive...along with the people.
With the amount of people and the extra weight upstairs we decided to go to the fraternity house that night to await the report of a collapse on Cook. LOL
They were all so happy when they came back. We hi-fived and then the kegs started to arrive. And arrive. And arrive...along with the people.
With the amount of people and the extra weight upstairs we decided to go to the fraternity house that night to await the report of a collapse on Cook. LOL
I was. With the band. Had a trumpet solo, too.
There’s a Penn State tradition that the drum major leads their band out pre-game marching 10-15 yards in front of the band, marching left to right if you’re on the Home side. The tradition is he does a flip on the 50 yard line. If he lands on his feet they win. He stumbled. The crowd audibly gasped. They lost.
Also, their student section sucked! They got into their blue and white marshmallow fight and thought it would be funny to wet them down and pelt the girls in the clarinet section while we were performing. Scum bags!
That damn mountain lion roar is annoying as hell!
The WE ARE chant did sound cool, though.
I remember walking into the stadium and students yelling at us, “don’t know why you came, we’re gonna kick your asses!”
I remember afterward some of the retired RV crowd congratulating us.
But mostly, I remember the excitement of winning!!!
There’s a Penn State tradition that the drum major leads their band out pre-game marching 10-15 yards in front of the band, marching left to right if you’re on the Home side. The tradition is he does a flip on the 50 yard line. If he lands on his feet they win. He stumbled. The crowd audibly gasped. They lost.
Also, their student section sucked! They got into their blue and white marshmallow fight and thought it would be funny to wet them down and pelt the girls in the clarinet section while we were performing. Scum bags!
That damn mountain lion roar is annoying as hell!
The WE ARE chant did sound cool, though.
I remember walking into the stadium and students yelling at us, “don’t know why you came, we’re gonna kick your asses!”
I remember afterward some of the retired RV crowd congratulating us.
But mostly, I remember the excitement of winning!!!
I was in the kitchen making coleslaw for a BBQ the next day. I could barely pick up WCTC so it was loud with a lot of static. My wife kept complaining about the noise. When the last pass was incomplete I let out such a scream she came running in thinking I had sliced my finger off.
Isn't the color analyst on the broadcast JoePa's brother?
Isn't the color analyst on the broadcast JoePa's brother?
I was in my last year of residency in NY and listened on the radio, yelling and screaming. Great video! BTW, I miss the look of the huge shoulder pads (even the QB's), thick thigh pads, etc. I wonder if those pads were mandatory, would there be less injuries in today's game. It would certainly slow them a bit, maybe that would be significant?
Brother Jay most likely.Joe was very courteous to Dick Anderson with the handshake.Why not,they were friends.Been 29 years since then. Time to reprise that losing ending.
I looked it up. It was George Paterno, former HC at The Merchant Marine Academy. He worked TV and Radio for PSU from 1976 -1999. Passed away in 2002.
I guess my memory isn't so bad.....yet :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Good to see this thread bumped up. The stand should be up there with lville, tenn etc
I wasn’t there but got to know Dave Jakob very well as my wife worked with him. He knows I’m a huge Rutgers fan and we always talk about that game. What a great guy
Wife , sons and myself up at the Delaware Water Gap on an absolute beautiful NJ fall day. Remember driving back to sister-in-law laws house in Wayne where my brother in law took everyone out to China Paradise for party time. Great memory… great celebration for Rutgers long overdue win. Sounds familiar for weather this Saturday so might as well win one we’re not supposed to… 17 1/2 point dog this week …can’t remember what the spread was back on September 24, 1988.
Aside from getting pelted with marshmallows do you remember when we were leaving the stadium after the win and getting pelted by ice cubes? They definitely had their share of crappy fans. I do remember the band stayed with a bunch of band families from Bellefont HS where we performed at their halftime the night before and they gave us a great send off and someone even printed out a “Beat Penn State” banner to hang on the windows of one of the band busses. That was our Andrew Lloyd Webber halftime!
Lived in Newell below a couple of the players and congratulated them when they got back.
But when I saw the amount of kegs that just kept coming and coming I bailed and went to my fraternity on Union Street for safety. LOL