Story of the Year
Penn State Football
By Neil Rudel

The 2005 Nittany Lions restored the roar to a program that had endured four losing seasons in five years. They ripped through a 10-1 season en route to their second Big 10 title. So what turned Penn State around?

Offensive Weapons

The coaching staff snagged freshmen gems Derrick Williams and Justin King and moved cornerback Deon Butler to receiver. Williams was the team's leading receiver before he broke his arm Oct. 14. The Lions, though, moved King from corner to receiver and hardly missed a beat.

Play Calling

Paterno allowed coordinator Galen Hall to do his job. Hall incorporated a spread offense, with options and reverses that were part of Hall's repertoire as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, where he was part of two national championships, and when he was Florida's head coach (1984-89).

Senior Leadership

Team chemistry is higher than past years.

"We're a lot more tight-knit," Hunt said. "Everybody gets along better and works well together. The older guys are doing an excellent job leading."

Captains Robinson, Alan Zemaitis and Paul Posluszny lead the way, and it's difficult to remember underclassmen who look up to the seniors with more respect.

"I don't think I've ever played with guys that I just want to play so hard for," Butler said. "I don't want to lose for the seniors."

Misery Loves Company

Many of the seniors found trouble during their five years. Anwar Phillips was exonerated on a sexual assault charge and missed part of the 2003 season. Robinson and Matthew Rice were on probation for a fight. E.Z. Smith was hit with underage drinking, along with Tyler Reed and Andrew Richardson, and all three were involved in shooting arrows in a campus apartment, resulting in Smith's temporary expulsion.

"This senior class has been through a lot," Robinson said. "A lot of the seniors got in Joe's doghouse early and kind of lived through that, and it helped us bond."

Favorable Schedule

Three non-conference wins gave the Lions needed confidence, and a comeback at Northwestern - when Robinson's last minute 4th-down completion to Isaac Smolko set up a game-winning score - brought momentum into consecutive home games with Minnesota and Ohio State.

"It definitely gave us confidence, and it gave our defense more confidence in our offense," Robinson, the Big Ten's co-offensive player of the year, said. Penn State played 7 of their 11 games at Beaver Stadium, and the Lions finished unbeaten at home (7-0) for the fourth time in school history and first time since 1998.

Neil Rudel covers Penn State football for the Altoona Mirror.