Gameday Observations: Michigan State
Penn State football fans can rest easy knowing the Land-Grant Trophy is, once again, safe and sound in State College.
The Nittany Lions’ 39-24 rout over Michigan State let them claim college football’s ugliest greatest prize. Even better, Penn State is off to a three-game win streak and looking far better than the 0-5 team we saw just a few weeks ago.
Products of the Morrill Act of 1862 aside, you probably missed a few fun things outside the Xs and Os this weekend. Here are a few amusing things we noticed from the couch, computer, and (virtual) tailgate lots.
Penn State Celebrates Senior Day
Even amid strange circumstances, Penn State’s oldest Nittany Lions celebrated Senior Day this weekend.
Spectators weren’t able to attend Saturday’s game due to new restrictions implemented by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. However, some families, including Shaka Toney’s, managed to make their inside Beaver Stadium to snap some pictures and celebrate.
— Onward State (@OnwardState) December 12, 2020
Following the game, several players took in the scenery with some slow walks around the stadium. Toney and fellow defensive end Shane Simmons touchingly did so arm-in-arm with a specially made banner draped on their backs.
Head coach James Franklin believes this senior class could go down as one of Penn State’s greatest, and for good reason. The group began its career in Happy Valley with the 2016 Big Ten title and later helped Penn State pick up wins in the 2018 Fiesta Bowl and 2020 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Nittany Lions Defend The Land-Grant Trophy
For the second year in a row, everyone’s favorite 76.2-pound prize will stay in Happy Valley.
Penn State played arguably its best game of the season with the Land-Grant Trophy on the line to make sure it stayed in the Nittany Lions’ possession. Once the clock hit zero, the team quickly celebrated by hoisting that hunk of wood into the air.
Hours after the game, Penn State football’s social media team let us know the trophy was resting soundly inside the Nittany Lions’ locker room. Sweet dreams, LGT.
Penn State *Avoids* Making History
Over the last few weeks, the Nittany Lions made history by notching their 900th all-time win, starting countless freshmen, and beginning a season 0-5 for the first time ever. Thankfully, Penn State didn’t wind up in the record books this weekend.
If the Nittany Lions had lost to Michigan State, they would’ve become just the first Penn State team to go winless at home since 1918 — the same season affected by the Spanish flu pandemic. It seems Penn State home field advantage and global pandemics just don’t mix, eh?
Keyvone Lee Flips For Joy
If you were paying close attention late in Penn State’s victory over Michigan State, you might’ve noticed a pretty unique victory formation on the Nittany Lions’ part.
With just about 10 seconds left on the lock, freshman running back Keyvone Lee pulled off a smooth backward flip as Penn State iced the game. On Twitter, he’d later comment he’d always wanted to try it in on the field.
uᴉʍ
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 12, 2020pic.twitter.com/p5nFz5VXXt
If you posted 260 rushing yards and a touchdown over your last three games, you’d probably feel like doing a flip, too.
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