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Bittersweet finale Despite losses, Paterno considers PSU seniors special
Posted: Sunday December 26, 1999 01:33 PM
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Whether his team finishes 10-3 or 9-4, Joe Paterno will consider this group special, these Penn State seniors. In fact, Paterno has said this so much, people took to calling the Class of 2000 his last shot at a third national championship. It may not be: Paterno doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon -- his estimated year of retirement ranges from 2002 to 2009, when he would be 82. But whether or not he considered them his last, best chance at glory, Paterno sounds truly sad to see these seniors go without what they came here for: a national title. "It's frustrating to see kids give you that much effort, kids you like so much, kids that you really hope would be able to end up on a little higher note," he said this month. "Sometimes that's the way it is. Sometimes that's what happens to people. And sometimes you don't have any control over it." The Nittany Lions started 9-0 and, after three close calls, seemed to be charmed in 1999. Then they lost their last three regular-season games, by one point to Minnesota, by four to Michigan and by a touchdown to Michigan State. Even though their final game is Tuesday -- not Jan. 1 or later, for the first time since 1990 -- against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl instead of the Sugar or the Rose, the seniors say they are taking this game seriously. They don't want their last memories to be their colossal collapse. They don't want to be the first Paterno-led team to lose four straight games. "We have so many seniors, and we don't want to go out with that taste in our mouths -- for the next 30 or 40 years," Derek Fox said. "We're definitely going all out for this game." Leaving after the bowl game is some of the most talent Penn State has ever seen on one team: Courtney Brown, who could go early in the NFL draft; Brandon Short, a finalist for the Butkus Award and the team's captain and conscience; David Macklin, who had a down season in 1999 but is highly regarded. Receiver Chafie Fields probably won the attention of NFL scouts early on this season. Then there's Butkus winner LaVar Arrington, who is expected to bolt early for the NFL, where he is sure to be chosen in the top five of the draft. He says he remains on the fence. Paterno recruited these players for their talent, but he says he's gotten more than good football players in the deal. He's talking about the fan favorites, and some guys who never really won the fans over, most notably Kevin Thompson, the beleaguered 1998-99 quarterback. "They're such good people," Paterno said. "They're really good people, people with personality, they've done everything you could want as a group. "Take a kid like Kevin Thompson who's stuck in there with all the criticism and everything else, remained a strong leader. Brandon Short, who gave up an opportunity to leave to come back in order to do some things. Mo Daniels who played really, really hurt against Michigan State because we needed him in there."
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