Not since '87

Yeah, it's been that long since Indiana has beaten Michigan. Make you feel better PSU fans? Me neither. But it's still nice to know there's a team out there that has a losing streak to the Corn and Blue longer than PSU's. As a little prep before tomorrow's IU/PSU preview, I wanted to talk a little bit about "the stand" in 2004. You can't ignore–yet somehow, Joe Paterno can–the idea that it was a major turning point in PSU's fortune, and set the stage for its 2005 Big Ten title.

If you really take a look at the 2004 game, that goal line stand should have never happened. Two plays earlier, CB Anwar Philips stepped in front of a QB Matt Lovecchio pass along the PSU sideline, but couldn't haul it in for the sure pick-six. On the following play, Lovecchio went right at Philips again, this time completing a post route down to the one-yard line. I'll discuss a bit later the ensuing four straight, disatrous run plays by IU.

So, those two plays prior to the stand meant more to the game's outcome than the stand itself. PSU lead 22-16; a IU field goal would be meaningless. Now, what if Philips didn't bobble the INT? He would have been gone for a TD, which would have increased the PSU lead to 13, essentially ending the game right then and there. But no, the ball fell harmlessly to the ground. What if, then, as IU's receiver hauled in the pass to the one, Philips got a hand in and broke it up? No goal-line stand. What if Philips hadn't tackled that receiver at the one, but let him score? Assuming IU wouldn't miss the PAT, 23-22 lead for IU. Would QB Zack Mills and PSU be able to muster up a FG with less than 1:30 left? Probably not.

Now, let's look at the stand. I used to have this game on tape, (because, as most of you know, I'm a loser and still tape all the games to watch them later, even the losses) but the cassette cracked and it's unusable. However, from what I remember, IU didn't just send runs up the gut all four downs. I think three of them were; there was an option run that PSU covered perfectly, tackling Lovecchio for a one-yard loss. The final play was probably the most impressive of all three for PSU, as IU lined up in the "Maryland I" formation (three backs in the straight I-formation. With two blockers in front of him, RB BenJarvis Green-Ellis was stopped short by about a foot.

The final point I'd like to make on the stand is this: Had IU thrown one freaking pass on any of the four final downs, less time would have been taken off the clock with an incompletion. That's the very least IU could have gotten out of a pass play, never mind a possible TD. PSU ended up running out the clock, thanks to the time-consuming runs IU called.

Let's hope this week doesn't come down to another thriller like 2004. If we're lucky, as PSU fans, we will be able to rest assured by halftime that victory is certain.