Dec. 15, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State is one of 13 schools vying for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year. A $100,000 general scholarship contribution from Pontiac is on the line for the play voted best of the 2008 college football season.
Fans will determine the recipient of the $100,000 scholarship contribution by voting at pontiac.com/ncaa. Four rounds of balloting will take place prior to the BCS Championship game on Jan. 8, when the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year and winner of the $100,000 general scholarship contribution will be announced on FOX.
Penn State was the landslide winner of the Pontiac Game Changing Performance in weeks eight and nine of the 2008 season. Versus Michigan in week eight, junior defensive tackle Jared Odrick (Lebanon, Pa.) sacked Wolverines quarterback Nick Sheridan in the end zone for a safety, sparking a 32-0 second half scoring burst by the Nittany Lions
With the game tied at 17-17 late in the third quarter and the Wolverines backed-up deep in their own territory, defensive end Maurice Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pressured Sheridan, forcing him from the pocket. Odrick then dropped the Michigan signal-caller in the end zone, giving Penn State its first lead at 19-17
The play ignited a 27-0 outburst over the final 19-plus minutes of the contest, as the Nittany Lions improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play.
One week later, another key defensive play lifted Penn State to an epic 13-6 road victory over Big Ten rival Ohio State.
With the Buckeyes leading, 6-3, in the fourth quarter, senior safety Mark Rubin (Amherst, N.Y.) hit Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was trying to convert a third-and-one from midfield, and knocked the ball loose. A mad scramble for the ball ensued, ended when sophomore linebacker Navorro Bowman (District Heights, Md.) made the clutch recovery at the Ohio State 38-yard line. Penn State capitalized on the turnover by embarking on a 4:13 clock-chewing drive, capped off by what would prove to be the game-clinching touchdown.
Coach Joe Paterno's Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions (11-1) are preparing for their New Year's Day clash with No. 5/4 USC (11-1), the Pac-10 champions, in the 95th Rose Bowl presented by Citi in Pasadena, Calif. The ninth meeting between the traditional powers will kick off at 2:10 p.m. PT/5:10 p.m. ET and air on ABC, ESPN Radio and the Penn State Sports Network.
No. 6 Penn State will be playing in its 35th bowl game under Paterno (23rd New Year's bowl), who is the all-time leader in bowl appearances and wins (23-10-1 record).