LOOKING AHEAD
Penn State at Virginia, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va. TV: ESPN. Cavaliers (1-1) squeaked past Division I-AA Richmond, 17-16, yesterday.
NOTEBOOK
Adam Taliaferro, who injured his spinal cord Sept. 23, 2000, in a game against Ohio State, was introduced to the crowd, walked about 20 yards, acknowledged the fans, then broke into a jog to midfield. Penn State Coach Joe Paterno led the team onto the field once Taliaferro was safely on the sideline. A video tribute preceded the event.
"Before the game I was nervous but once I got out there all the nerves went away," Taliaferro said. "I just did what my body told me to do. It was a great moment. The adrenaline was definitely flowing. It took me back to last year. I can't put into words. The moment just took over. I just went out there and did what my heart told me to do."
Paterno fired up the crowd Friday night at a pep rally at Rec Hall. Reacting to Miami running back Clinton Portis' comment early in the week about scoring 60 or 70 points on the Nittany Lions, Paterno stepped up, took off his jacket, threw it down to the ground and said, "I'm sick of hearing this stuff about 60 or 70 points."
The 1986 national championship team that defeated Miami in the Fiesta Bowl celebrated its 15th reunion last night. Players from the team were introduced at halftime.
Miami was the highest ranked team to play in Beaver Stadium since the Hurricanes played there in 1992. They were No. 2 then as well.
Penn State has lost 11 of its past 17 games.
Miami has won three of the past four against Penn State at Beaver Stadium. The Hurricanes won in 1992 and '79. The Lions won in '80.
Penn State has lost four of its past five regular-season games against non-conference opponents. The Lions lost last season to Southern California, Toledo and Pitt and beat Louisiana Tech.
With the loss, Penn State is 20-5 against Big East teams since the conference was formed in 1991.
Penn State is 29-7 in season openers under Paterno, but the Lions have lost the past two. They lost to USC, 29-5, in the Kickoff Classic last season.
Miami is 76-7 against unranked teams since 1990.
Miami has two players starting on its offensive line with Pennsylvania connections. Senior tackle Bryant McKinnie (6-9, 335), who attended Lackawana Junior College near Scranton, is regarded as one of the top linemen in the country. Guard Martin Bibla (6-4, 300), who went to Crestwood High in Mountaintop, Pa., is a three-year starter at guard.
Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said he didn't recruit McKinnie, who wanted to go to Penn State, because the Lions traditionally have not recruited players out of junior colleges. "I knew he was up there. We've never done a lot with junior colleges. I don't know much about him, but I know he's one heck of a tackle."
Paterno remembers recruiting Bibla. "We talked to [Bibla]. But offensive linemen are difficult to evaluate. You don't know if kids are going to have the moxie to stay in there. We've missed offensive linemen throughout the years. He may have been smaller in high school, worked hard in the weight room, added bulk and power. But he is a good football player."
Miami probably leads the nation with sons of NFL Hall of Famers. They have two on the squad. Jarrett Payton is the son of former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. Kellen Winslow II is the son of former San Diego Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow. Winslow II is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver who is one of four true freshmen expected to garner playing time this season.
Starting LB Derek Wake's left knee was injured late in the first quarter when RB Willie McGahee cut him on a pass play. Wake left the field under his own power.
"Looks like it's a pretty bad knee injury," Paterno said. "Looks like he's going to need surgery."
C Eric Rickenbach (knee) and G Joe Hartings (back) did not dress. RB Larry Johnson (hamstring), DB Shawn Mayer (back) and OL Chris McKelvy (concussion) were listed as probable.
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