UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Watch highlights and postgame locker room celebration footage from Penn State's thrilling 24-21 overtime victory over Wisconsin on Senior Day.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head into the Penn State locker room to hear from head coach Bill O'Brien and several players following Penn State's 24-21 overtime victory over Wisconsin on Saturday.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com Gameday Photo Blog for Penn State's Senior Day clash with Wisconsin in Beaver Stadium.





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13:11, 1st Quarter - Wisconsin 7, Penn State 0
Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon puts the Badgers on the board quickly, with a 57-yard touchdown catch and run pass from Curt Phillips. Montee Ball opened the game with rushes of nine and seven yards, leading to the quick touchdown for Wisconsin. 

8:17, 1st Quarter - Wisconsin 7, Penn State 7
Penn State answers with a great drive. The Nittany Lions put together a 15-play drive taking up 4:50 on the clock. PSU converted on all three third downs and Zach Zwinak capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Zwinak was huge, rushing for 41 yards on nine carries. A big pass interference call gave the Nittany Lions the ball at the Wisconsin 47. Later in the drive, Matt McGloin hit tight end Jesse James on a big 12-yard reception to the 17. From there, it was all Zwinak with the next five carries, leading to the touchdown. 

6:27, 1st Quarter - Wisconsin 14, Penn State 7
Another quick drive of four plays for 53 yards results in a 17-yard touchdown run for Ball. Wisconsin's Kenzel Doe had a return of 47 yards on the kickoff giving the Badgers a drive start at their 47. Jarred Abbrederis took a reverse for 24 yards, followed by Ball rushes of five, seven and 17.

End of 1st Quarter - Wisconsin 14, Penn State 7
Through a quarter of play, the Badgers have outgained the Nittany Lions 143-112. Penn State is doing a good job of moving the football, totaling 25 plays in the first quarter. Zwinak already has 70 yards on the ground. 

Halftime - Wisconsin 14, Penn State 7
The Nittany Lions and Badgers played a scoreless second quarter.  The Nittany Lion defense did a better job containing the the running game in the second quarter, but the offense did not threaten on its three possessions.  Zach Zwinak led the way offensively with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown during the first half.  McGloin finished the half 10-for-18 for 47 yards.  Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball tallied 84 yards on the ground and his NCAA record 79th career touchdown.

End 3rd Quarter - Wisconsin 14, Penn State 13
Arguably the most improved player for the Nittany Lions during the 2012 season has been Sam Ficken.  The sophomore kicker was inconsistent to start the season, but he has been terrific in Big Ten play.  Ficken made his eighth and ninth-straight field goals in the third quarter to trim the Wisconsin lead down to 14-13.  The Nittany Lion defense has been terrific since the second Wisconsin touchdown in the first quarter.  The Badgers have managed just 79 total yards since they scored on the first two drives of the game.

13:32 4th Quarter - Penn State 21, Wisconsin 14
Facing a fourth-and-6 at the 41 yard line, Matt McGloin delivered a crisp throw to freshman tight end Jesse James on a crossing pattern.  With nothing but green grass in front of him, James raced in for a go-ahead touchdown.  Zwinak plunged into the end zone for a two-point conversion, handing Penn State a 21-14 advantage.  McGloin has now thrown a touchdown pass in every game during the 2012 season.

FINAL - Penn State 24, Wisconsin 21
The Nittany Lions finished the season in fitting fashion.  Wisconsin scored a touchdown with 18 seconds to play in the game, which sent the teams into overtime.  The Lions had not played an overtime game since 2006 at Minnesota.  Penn State had the ball first, which resulted in a Sam Ficken 37-yard field goal.  Needing a score, Wisconsin did not move the ball on its OT possession.  Enough cannot be said about the way Penn State's defense played in the second half.  Aside from the final touchdown, the Lion defense shut down the Badgers.  Settling for a field goal, Wisconsin's tying field goal attempt in overtime sailed to the left of the left upright, sealing a victory and an 8-4 season for head coach Bill O'Brien during his first season at the helm of the program.  It was the only way Penn State's seniors should have ended their careers in Blue and White.  The class has meant a ton to this football program, and the group deserved to finish the year with a victory.  Saturday's game was physical from start to finish, but the Lions stepped up when they needed to. Individually, Zach Zwinak finished 2012 with 1,000 rushing yards.  Allen Robinson eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards.  And Matt McGloin finished with more than 3,000 passing yards.  The Nittany Lions were not an undefeated team, but the 2012 team will go down in history as a special group.



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- To honor senior linebacker Michael Mauti, Penn State will wear 42 on the left side of its helmets for the Senior Day clash with Wisconsin.  The team first learned of the gesture when it walked into the locker room shortly before 1 p.m. after walking off of the Blue Buses.  It is an incredible gesture for the heart and soul of the Nittany Lion football team in 2012.  Mauti will be on the sidelines Saturday.

- Football is a team game, but no group in the 126-year history of the football program at Penn State deserves more individual recognition than these 31 players: Mark Arcidiacono, Joe Baker, P.J. Byers, Cody Castor, Derek Day, Andre Dupree, Emery Etter, Jacob Fagnano, Mike Farrell, Frank Figueroa, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Fuhrman, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Brian Irvin, Christian Kuntz, Evan Lewis, Pete Massaro, Michael Mauti, Matt McGloin, Shane McGregor, Stephon Morris, J.R. Refice, Matt Stankiewitch, Sean Stanley, James Terry, Jamie Van Fleet, Garrett Venuto, Mike Wallace, Mike Yancich and Michael Zordich.  Those 31 players will run out of the Beaver Stadium tunnel one final time on Saturday.

- Saturday's clash is shaping up to be an intriguing matchup when the Nittany Lions have the football.  Penn State enters the week second the Big Ten with 33.9 points per game in conference matchups.  Wisconsin heads to Beaver Stadium as the Big Ten's No. 2-rated scoring defense by virtue of allowing just 17.4 points per contest in conference games.  Additionally, the Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in total offense during conference games (447.6), while the Badges rank second in total defense at 289.7 yards per game.  Wisconsin's rushing defense ranks ninth nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten (106.64).  For the Nittany Lions to have success on offense they will need to move the chains and establish a running game.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's 2012 seniors continued a tradition of wearing different jersey numbers during the final practice of the season, but that wasn't the only wrinkle at the season's final practice.  Coach O'Brien honored the seniors with a send off as they walked off the practice field for the final time.  Take a look.

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Wisconsin Week Gameday Central

FEATURE: Honoring a Historical Senior Class

VIDEO: Nittany Lions Enjoy Thanksgiving Feast

VIDEO: One-on-One with Matt McGloin and Jordan Hill


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions (7-4, 5-2) will closeout the 2012 season with a Senior Day clash against Leaders Division foe Wisconsin (7-4, 4-3) at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2) in Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Penn State will honor a senior class unlike any other in its history prior to kicking off with the Badgers.  Coach O'Brien is urging fans to be in their seats at 3 p.m. when a special senior ceremony begins to recognize the 31 student-athletes and their families who stuck with the program through some of its most challenging days.  It will be a Senior Day ceremony that fans will not want to miss.  Be in the stadium early.

On the field, the Nittany Lions enter the final game of the season off of a dominant offensive performance against Indiana last week.  Penn State tallied 546 offensive yards, including a career-high 395 passing yards from senior Matt McGloin and 197 receiving yards from standout sophomore wide receiver Allen Robinson.

The Badgers enter the season finale with a berth in the Big Ten title game already locked up.  However, Wisconsin has lost two of its last three games, including a narrow 21-14 overtime setback to unbeaten Ohio State last week.

Welcome to the gameday preview for the 12th and final contest on the 2012 schedule.


Pregame Reading:
What to Watch For - Penn State
1.  Football is a team game, but no group in the 126-year history of the football program at Penn State deserves more individual recognition than these 31 players: Mark Arcidiacono, Joe Baker, P.J. Byers, Cody Castor, Derek Day, Andre Dupree, Emery Etter, Jacob Fagnano, Mike Farrell, Frank Figueroa, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Fuhrman, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Brian Irvin, Christian Kuntz, Evan Lewis, Pete Massaro, Michael Mauti, Matt McGloin, Shane McGregor, Stephon Morris, J.R. Refice, Matt Stankiewitch, Sean Stanley, James Terry, Jamie Van Fleet, Garrett Venuto, Mike Wallace, Mike Yancich and Michael Zordich.  Those 31 players will run out of the Beaver Stadium tunnel one final time on Saturday.  This group stuck with Penn State during some of its most challenging days.  It will undoubtedly be an emotional pregame ceremony to honor these 31 players, but the seniors have a job to do in the final game on 2012 schedule.  Managing emotions once the game kicks off will be essential on Saturday.

2.  Saturday's clash is shaping up to be an intriguing matchup when the Nittany Lions have the football.  Penn State enters the week second the Big Ten with 33.9 points per game in conference matchups.  Wisconsin heads to Beaver Stadium as the Big Ten's No. 2-rated scoring defense by virtue of allowing just 17.4 points per contest in conference games.  Additionally, the Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in total offense during conference games (447.6), while the Badges rank second in total defense at 289.7 yards per game.  Wisconsin's rushing defense ranks ninth nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten (106.64).  For the Nittany Lions to have success on offense they will need to move the chains and establish a running game.  McGloin's third-down passing will also be key against a very stingy Wisconsin defensive unit that has held five of its last six opponents to 16 points or less.

3.  Stopping Wisconsin's running game is atop the Penn State defensive gameplan.  Wisconsin is 17th in the nation in rushing offense (217.64 yards per game).  Senior tailback Montee Ball spearheads a talented backfield duo for the Wisconsin offense.  Ball and junior James White each average more than 5.0 yards per carry.  Thanks to a tremendous season from Jordan Hill in the middle of the defensive line, Penn State has been very good against the run this season.  The linebacker trio will be without its heart and soul leader, Michael Mauti, but Glenn Carson, Gerald Hodges and Mike Hull will need to collectively step up and play well between the tackles.  Penn State wants to force Wisconsin senior quarterback Curt Phillips into a third-and-long passer.

What to Watch For - Wisconsin
1.  Montee Ball is among the nation's top running backs.  Currently at 78 touchdowns, Ball needs just one score to become the NCAA's career touchdown record.  He has scored 14 times in his last seven games.  Wisconsin's offense runs through Ball, and the Badgers need a strong outing from the senior running back to score a victory before traveling to Indianapolis next week for the Big Ten title game.  Keep an eye on James White's production when Ball is not on the field, as well.  White is averaging 7.0 yards per carry this season.

2.  On the defensive side of the ball, Wisconsin has only yielded five rushes of 10 or more yards during its last four games.  That being said, the Badgers are looking to force Penn State out of its offensive balance by limiting Zach Zwinak's production.  The Nittany Lion offense enters the game with a great deal of confidence, but no Big Ten team has scored more than three touchdowns in a game against Wisconsin's defense in 2012.

3.  With a Big Ten title game berth locked, Wisconsin does not have much on the line Saturday afternoon.  Nonetheless, playing with intensity will be critical for a Badger team coming off a home loss against Ohio State last week.  By no means does Wisconsin want to enter the Big Ten Championship Game with back-to-back losses.  Staying focused and a quick start are essential for Bret Bielema's team.


Gameday Rundown
Kickoff: 3:35 p.m.
TV: BTN - Mark Jones (PBP), Brock Huard (Analyst), Jessica Mendoza (Sideline)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network - Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst), Loren Crispell (Sidelines)
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (106,572) - Natural Grass
Coaches: Bill O'Brien - 7-4, 1st season
Bret Bielema - 67-23 at Wisconsin, 7th season at Wisconsin (Same overall)
The Series: 16th meeting


The Final Word:
It's hard to fathom walking in the shoes of the 31 senior members of the 2012 Penn State football team. The group faced more turbulence in the past 12 months than some people might encounter in a lifetime. But no matter how difficult the situation was, the Nittany Lion seniors found ways to be leaders for the rest of the locker room, the community, the student body, the athletic department and the University.  No group is more deserving of ending their careers with a victory than this one, but it will be a challenging afternoon in Beaver Stadium.  Wisconsin has never lost two-straight games in November under Bret Bielema.  The Senior Day ceremony will be emotional for the Nittany Lions, but the game will be decided in the trenches.  How both teams block the opposing front four will play a big role in determining the outcome.  Be in the stadium at 3 p.m. to honor the seniors and enjoy the final game of the 2012 season on a chilly November day inside Beaver Stadium.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a Thursday morning practice, the Nittany Lion football team, staff members and families enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast on the Penn State campus.

More than 25 staff members at the Pollock Dining Commons helped prepare a white tablecloth buffet dinner for the Nittany Lions on Thanksgiving Day.  Assistant Director of Food Services at Pollock Commons James Hopey said the staff began pre-preparation for the meal on Tuesday.

Thursday's Penn State Football menu included a wide-range of Thanksgiving favorites.  The feast began with appetizers before a full buffet and desserts.  Feeding more than 100 football players and staff members is no small task.  Here are some of the numbers for the Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Football Feast Menu Highlights:

- 72 bottles of sparkling red grape juice
- 20 gallons of apple cider
- 60 pounds of shrimp cocktail
- 180 pounds of turkey
- 60 pounds of ham
- Assortment of Penn State Creamery ice cream
- 20 pumpkin pies
- 3 apple pies
- 2 carrot cakes
- 4 New York cheesecakes
- 6 pumpkin cheesecakes


The Nittany Lions will hold regular meetings and a walkthrough on Friday before taking on Wisconsin in Saturday's Senior Day clash.  Coach O'Brien has urged all fans to be in their seats by 3 p.m. for the special ceremony for the 2012 Senior Class.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - 'Tis the season for giving thanks, and the Penn State Athletics would like to take an opportunity to say thank you to the loyal fans on Thanksgiving.

As you sit down with family and friends to eat your traditional meal while the Lions and Cowboys host their annual Thanksgiving day home games, Penn State Athletics would like to thank you, the fans, for the unrivaled support you give every team on campus.  Penn State's teams would not be the same without the greatest fans in college sports.

Make sure to get out and support the Penn State men's basketball (4:30 p.m.) and women's soccer teams (7 p.m.) on Friday and the football (3:30 p.m.) and women's volleyball (8 p.m.) teams on Saturday in home games during this holiday weekend.

As a token of their appreciation, several members of teams on campus would like to say thank you and Happy Thanksgiving for the support you give them throughout the athletic season.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Thirty-one names will be announced before Saturday's game against Leaders Division rival Wisconsin.

They are 31 names that will forever be etched in Penn State football lore.

Football is a team game, but no group in the 126-year history of the football program at Penn State deserves more individual recognition than these 31 players: Mark Arcidiacono, Joe Baker, P.J. Byers, Cody Castor, Derek Day, Andre Dupree, Emery Etter, Jacob Fagnano, Mike Farrell, Frank Figueroa, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Fuhrman, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Brian Irvin, Christian Kuntz, Evan Lewis, Pete Massaro, Michael Mauti, Matt McGloin, Shane McGregor, Stephon Morris, J.R. Refice, Matt Stankiewitch, Sean Stanley, James Terry, Jamie Van Fleet, Garrett Venuto, Mike Wallace, Mike Yancich and Michael Zordich.

No group of seniors has faced more adversity.

No group was knocked to the mat more than this one.

No group faced taller odds.

But no group stood up with more Penn State pride when the deck was stacked the other way.

It's hard to fathom walking in the shoes of the 31 senior members of the 2012 Penn State football team. The group faced more turbulence in the past 12 months than some people might encounter in a lifetime. But no matter how difficult the situation was, the Nittany Lion seniors found ways to be leaders for the rest of the locker room, the community, the student body, the athletic department and the University.

On some occasions the leadership came through words. On other occasions it was through hard work. And sometimes it was through actions, or a combination of all three.

On July 25, they all had the option to walk out the door and leave for other opportunities. Most of the seniors had offers to do so, and they could have done it with no consequence.

But they didn't.

They pledged their commitment to new Coach Bill O'Brien and they stuck with Penn State despite the unprecedented challenges ahead of the 2012 season following the NCAA's announcement.

Why?

"We have a never-say-die attitude," quarterback Matt McGloin said.

"We're resilient. We are fighters," cornerback Stephon Morris said.

"It's not about how many games you win or lose, it's about us sticking together," linebacker Gerald Hodges said.

"We know it's not going to be easy, but we know what we are made of," running back Michael Zordich declared.

"We are playing for our team, we are playing for our coaches, and we are playing for Penn State," defensive tackle Jordan Hill said.

"We take this as an opportunity to create our own legacy," linebacker Michael Mauti said.

From the day Coach O'Brien met the team in January, he knew the makeup of what he always called a special senior class. That's high praise for a head coach who had never even seen the group practice, let alone play a game.

O'Brien earned the trust of the seniors from the moment they met him inside the squad room at the Lasch Football Building on Jan. 8. And they earned the trust of O'Brien. Together, O'Brien and the seniors became the glue on a team that forged an unbreakable bond in 2012.

"As I have said from day one, this team is led by a fantastic senior class," O'Brien said. "You've heard a lot about Michael Mauti and Jordan Hill and Matt McGloin, but there's about 27 (more) of those guys. Guys that you've probably never heard of, who are fantastic kids who are going to graduate with Penn State degrees and go on to be huge successes in life. And, really, at the end of the day that's what it's all about."

The Nittany Lions started the season 0-2 before rattling off five-straight victories en route to a highly successful winning season in O'Brien's first year at the helm of the program. While the season featured its fair share of highs, including three consecutive Big Ten road victories, the results on the field pale in comparison to what the senior class has done for the present and future of the Penn State football program.

In the words of Coach O'Brien, the true measure of a man is how he handles adversity.

Never once did any member of the senior class complain about the situation the team was in. The group brought effort, intensity, passion and unmatched work ethic to the practice field every single day from Aug. 6 through Nov. 23. It wasn't always perfect, but the group loved to practice.

"These kids absolutely love to practice," O'Brien said. "They come to work every day ready to give maximum effort, and they want to work hard."

O'Brien deserves immense recognition for how he and the coaching staff faced the challenges head on and guided the team through the 2012 season. But the seniors kept the locker room closer than likely any Penn State locker room in the program's history.

"When you look at what these guys have been through, they've played for a lot more than a bowl game," O'Brien said.

Regardless of what life challenges these 31 seniors will face, they will be prepared for it. In the most difficult times, each individual handled himself with dignity, class and honor.

"In the future, when life throws adversity after you, you know that you can handle it because of the things you went through when you played college football here," McGloin said.

It was written that before the team even played a snap in 2012, the Nittany Lions were going to be winners. Now that the season is 11 games and 12 weeks old, that statement could not be more true. The members of this team stuck together, worked hard and forged a bond as one collective group through the most difficult time the program has ever seen.

"Even though this is not an undefeated team, this is a very special team of kids," O'Brien said.

One-by-one, all 31 student-athletes will run out of the South Tunnel to receive a Beaver Stadium curtain call for the hard work and dedication they have given to the program for four and in some cases five years.

Eight of the 2012 seniors earned their degrees before the season began, including defensive end Pete Massaro, a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Nine more will graduate in December, while others are on schedule to receive their degrees in the spring.

"We have a resilient bunch of players and like I've said every single week, it's led by a fantastic senior class, a bunch of guys that have a passion for playing football for Penn State, for going to school here at Penn State," O'Brien said.

Stand up, cheer and pay your respects to a truly historic Penn State football senior class as it puts on the Penn State Blue and White uniform one final time in Beaver Stadium.

"There have been some great teams in this program's history -- the 1982 and 1986 National Championship teams, the 1994 undefeated team -- on the field," O'Brien said. "But no team has gone through more than this team. That's why this senior class will go down as one of the greatest in Penn State history."


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com talks with senior quarterback Matt McGloin and senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill during Wisconsin week.


Matt McGloin

 
Jordan Hill

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