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Bodani: Epic win will lead PSU to places it may have never dreamed

Frank Bodani

fbodani@ydr.com

STATE COLLEGE — The most raucous Penn State celebration had been building for weeks, though most did not truly see it coming.

Penn State's perseverance and dramatic improvement was signified by linebacker Jason Cabinda (40), who returned from missing more than a month to injury. He played the game of his life with 12 tackles and a critical sack and led a resurgent defense. Here, he brings down Ohio State's Marcus Baugh.

The first Penn State victory over a Top Two team in 26 years seemed to be an unleashing of all of the troubles and hurdles this program has fought back from since the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke and it was hammered by NCAA sanctions.

This may have been the most shocking Penn State victory in Beaver Stadium in 52 years — the last time the unranked Nittany Lions beat a Top Five team at home.

But now comes the most critical part: Where will this monumental rally over undefeated Ohio State propel this team? What will it mean to a rebuilding program beyond one unforgettable night?

To start, these Nittany Lions now have the foundation complete to run the table the rest of this fall. They probably will be favored in each of their remaining games, including road games against last-place Purdue, struggling Rutgers and even improved Indiana. Same for home games against Iowa and crumbling Michigan State.

It doesn't mean they will win them all.

But they are healthier than ever. They won't face another team as talented as these Buckeyes. And they own more confidence than at any point since James Franklin took over as head coach in January of 2014.

"To be honest, I don't want to spend a whole lot of time thinking about the big picture right now," said Franklin, who fought back tears in the postgame interview room, part from emotions of the victory, part from tragically losing his brother-in-law earlier in the week.

Penn State cheerleaders celebrate after a second-half touchdown in the upset of Ohio State. "Even when we (were down) 21-7, we had no change of heart," said tailback Saquon Barkley. "We knew we were going to win the game no matter what."

As Saturday night turned into Sunday morning, he told his players: "Before you leave this locker room, nights like this don't happen very often. Savor it. Turn the music up, enjoy each other. There's nothing outside the locker room better than what we got going on in (there)."

And it wasn't just that Penn State found a way to pull the most unlikely upset, it was how they went about doing it.

James Franklin: "Big step in the right direction"

After their special teams let them down time and again, they blocked their first punt and field goal of the season, the latter returned for the winning touchdown by cornerback Grant Haley. Penn State officials didn't even know the last time that happened.

Then, when it was over, tight end Mike Gesicki revealed that Haley actually had called the game-winning play earlier in the week. Or at least that he was going to make some kind of play to help own the upset at the end.

The postgame celebration will last forever, from the fans rushing the field and singing the alma mater with their players, to Franklin letting all of his emotions flow for all to see.

"It was like a huge sigh of relief for this whole program. Everything we've been through the last three years," Haley said.

"Seeing coach Franklin after the game and just the tears coming out of his eyes. You could see how much this means to him and how much he cares about us. Just gave him a big hug after the game ..."

This kind of dramatic result will result in their first national ranking in five years and surely will boost an already-surging recruiting effort by Franklin and his staff. Suddenly, the Lions are on course to their biggest bowl game since beating LSU in Orlando after the 2009 season.

The Nittany Lions' offense struggled but came through when it mattered most to upset Ohio State. Like this run by quarterback Trace McSorley (9) and block by Saquon Barkley (26). McSorley ran for 63 yards and threw for 154.

But it's even more than all of that. Since Franklin took over there was the laser-focus goal of building back a battered program to where it once was. It would not come quickly or easily or as many wanted or planned.

Actually, there would be no exact design because a team like Penn State never had to overcome what it has.

But it now seems that these Lions, though still uneven with talent and depth and experience, are much closer to where they want to be. And much of that is because of perseverance earned through struggles.

Look at last season's bowl game against Georgia. This year's loss at Pitt and victories over Minnesota and Ohio State.

That's the kind of resiliency earned that cannot be overstated and overvalued.

"We've been through so much and I think that's what helped us get to where we are today," Gesicki said. "Because of those moments two years ago, last year."

That will lead this team to places it may have never dreamed of going.

And this program to a recovery envisioned but never guaranteed.

Listen to linebacker Jason Cabinda, who played the game of his life after not playing for five weeks because of injury. He's a team leader tutoring sophomore linebacker Manny Bowen, who impressed with 11 tackles against Ohio State.

Cabinda smiled when asked about the toughness and perseverance gained.

"You just don't give up, simple as that. You keep fighting. I'm sore as hell. I don't remember the last time I was this sore.

"Me and Manny stayed up (Friday) night, it was hard to finally fall asleep. We were just talking about how great this would be to pull this off and how it would be like writing history."