Greatest Penn State Upsets #2 - 1981 Pitt
by BSD on Sep 8, 2010 3:30 PM EDT
in Penn State History
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PrintAt one point in the 1981 season Penn State was ranked #1 and Pitt was ranked #2. But State suffered losses to Miami and Alabama to fall out of the top ten. Pitt kept winning, but their schedule wasn't nearly as difficult as Penn State's.
Nittany Lion linebacker Chet Parlavecchio couldn't resist taunting their hated rival before the game saying, "Pitt's number one. They played that tough schedule - Rutgers, Temple, and Thiel. Now they're going to be in a real football game"
Pitt head coach Jackie Sherrill shot back at Parlavecchio saying the linebacker didn't have the class to get into Pitt, and the two men almost came to blows over the verbal jabbing when Sherrill grabbed Parlavecchio by the arm on the sideline to voice his displeasure with what he felt was a late hit out of bounds.
The Panthers were led by future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Energized by their home crowd, the Panthers charged down the field and took a quick 14-0 lead sending the Penn State bench into shock. Pitt players danced and high fived on the sidelines as they began looking forward to meeting Georgia in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. Marino had his team driving for a third touchdown and a commanding 21-0 lead when the first quarter came to an end, but something happened during the intermission that brought the Nittany Lions to life.
Now, I could spend the next few minutes telling you all about it, but I'm lazy. So just watch this...
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That. Was. Awesome.
/found Pitt to be completely irrelevant and didn’t even know that Penn State had a rivalry with them until I started coming to BSD (I am 25-years-old). It is through this site that I developed a hatred for all-things Pitt.
Similar
I moved to Pittsburgh after college (and am now 24) and had no idea what I was getting into.
"He's a beast. But so am I. So let the beasting begin."
You really have to go deep into their territory to get bugged though
I can only remember a few instances, I think one was at the Spice Cafe in Oakland, where a Pitt fan had anything more than an eyeroll for me.
Me too...me too!
The interrubes might just keep the hate alive.
"I have my Joe Paterno autograph already, but I don’t know that I’d begrudge anybody else from getting theirs no matter their age. That’s kind of like meeting Winston Churchill." jesse. @ BSD
I think so
Even when I was a student at PSU, I didn’t even have the faintest clue about our shared history. I honestly just assumed they were a crappy MAC team or something.
by Bob Sacamano on Sep 8, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+49 just for assuming Pitt was a crappy MAC team
Can Abbrederis shoot the long three and effectively distribute the ball to his big men?
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 8, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you mean, "assume?"
They ARE a crappy MAC team.
by Tailgate Shogun on Sep 8, 2010 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ditto.
I mean, I don’t really hate Pitt— I assume BSD will train me to hate properly through some sort of BSDiva training course— so it just sort of caught me by surprise. One day I’ll have to read up on the history of this thing, it’s a pretty interesting example of how rivalries begin to die off.
Nah,
if you don’t have genuine hate, no need to force it.
this BSDiva use to be a Pitt fan.
i had a very good doctor and he has since cured me of that illness
"They say in Happy Valley that if God wasn’t a Penn State fan, why is the sky blue and white?" Fortt said. "Who am I to argue with God?"
I'm assuming more cowbell was involved
"I did my walk of shame this morning and everyone was so much nicer," she said. "People were inviting me to parties at 9 a.m."
This makes me smile every time I see it
I need to save this somewhere so when I have a bad day I can watch it and feel better.
Upsets are one thing
What we did to Pitt that day was historic. I’m not sure they have ever recovered, because in over 25 years they haven’t had another season as good as that one.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
It seems that was their best team ever.
Penn State had teams worlds better than the 81 team. Love it.
Trust in Robo
Look at that schedule:
Cinn
Nebraska
Temple
BC
Cuse
WVU
Miami
NC State
Bama
ND
Man, even the worst teams on that list have pretty good programs.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
And WVU and BC were no powerhouses
We beat WVU 25 years straight in the 60/70/80 til Major Harris arrived. They finally beat us in ’84 and again in ’88. The overall record with WVU was 48-9-2.
If memory serves me correctly, BC was not much of a national power before Flutie arrived. We always had trouble with Flutie but I think we only lost once to him. ’81 was his freshman year, so they were still not nationally significant in ’81.
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
And even though we lost to Miami,
they had yet to arrive. This period was the naissance of the program they were building.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
That's the major reason...
that we had several undefeated teams and no national championships. Eastern Football got no respect. And, arguably the voters were correct. Other than the Lions, nobody back then consistently won, year-in, year-out. Teams had their little stretches, like Pitt in the late 70’s, early 80’s. Syracuse had their ups and downs .But come-on. In those days Rutgers, Temple, BC, WVU, even count Maryland, Army, Navy; they never scared anybody nationally. Pitt and Cuse were probably the closest to Penn State in those days.
Now go back to the 50’s and 60’s and Army, Navy, Pitt and Cuse could play with Penn State every year. (Course back then, we always played Pitt in Pitt Stadium)
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
Prior to "da U"
Miami at one point deemphasized athletics (except possibly men’s tennis and their 135 or so win streak). They wanted to become the “Harvard of the South”.
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
Some would say that was their arrival
Kelly and Miami took off on their run and, maybe irony, maybe coincidence, the last of the western PA legacy of outstanding QBs. (Do you want QB14 or Prior?)
Kelly wanted to play for Paterno:
“I had gone to his football camps when I was a (high school) junior and senior,” Kelly said. “I had done everything I could to let him and his coaches know I could play quarterback. Pitt or Penn State, that’s all I dreamed about when I was a little boy. I wanted to play for one of them, but I really wanted to play for Joe Paterno.”
Paterno said he could play linebacker since he already had commitments from Hostettler and Blackledge, Pit had vacuum cleaner nose and there was no room for Kelly. I saw this game on ESPN Classic about a year ago and Kelly’s face lit up when they interviewed him as he talked about showing Paterno the mistake he had made.
And guess who the coach was that recruited Kelly to Miami, Lou Saban. Although Lou’s obituary says Nick may be his second cousin but “the families weren’t exactly sure.” So take that for what it’s worth
by Frank O'Brien on Sep 8, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Nick is from West Virginia, after all!
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
I imagine
For Pitt fans my age, their 13-9 victory over WVU in 07 (?) will hold this kind of meaning to them
"He's a beast. But so am I. So let the beasting begin."
That is the pimpest of coats JoePa is wearing.
by AreWeGoodThisYear? on Sep 8, 2010 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I was at the game
with my father…one of my favorite memories ever.
"Life's hard, but it's a lot harder if you're stupid." John Wayne
Following one of the links
there is another article outlining the fall of the Eastern 8. And at the very end of the article it mentions Penn State possibly joining the Big Ten, pretty awesome reading!
"That's why you don't play! 'Cuz you're no good!" -Joe Paterno
Good find!
I went and found it too… it’s always interesting to learn a little bit more about the history of Penn State
http://unemployedsportsreporters.wordpress.com
I can't wait for #1 tomorrow!!!!!!!!!
Greatest game in the history of college football!
WE ARE.......PENN STATE!
Yeah about that
I’m running a bit behind schedule. It may be Friday until it’s done. Next week I might do an honorable mentions if I get time.
by BSD on Sep 8, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
A little hint please...
will we be hearing a quote from John Bruno?
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 8, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I put 86 Alabama ahead of 93 Tennessee every time.
by ReadingRambler on Sep 8, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I know
I’m regretting putting that Citrus Bowl at #5. If I could go back I would put it around 8 or 9.
I'd crack that Parlavecchio
Nearly got some bull scrote on him during that sideline tussle, but I think that would be anachronistic.
Until our defense proves otherwise, it should be presumed they will be excellent.
I read somewhere that Parlevecchios
late hit was intentional. He wanted to fire up the team and get in Pitts head. It worked, they were never the same after the hit.
Black shoes, basic blues, no names, all game.
Couple of things that stood out to me
1) Kickers being able to use the little kicking tees/mats for PAT’s (and I am sure FG’s as well)
2) Fumbling forward on offense for a TD.
but then again I am an official so=P
We have little tranquility but tons of tranquilizers.
Before the Holy Roller, you could DO point 2) in the NFL.
Can Abbrederis shoot the long three and effectively distribute the ball to his big men?
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 8, 2010 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
BEST EVAR!
Spot your rival 14 at home, with 3 quarters to go before they play for the national damn championship.
Sure. Okay.
THEN DROP 48 UNANSWERED POINTS ON THEM TO ABSOLUTELY RUIN THEIR LIVES!!!!!!!!
So, so, so, so, so good.
What's really amusing
is the way some of the Pitt players were celebrating and hugging on the sideline after their second TD. They were carrying on as though they already had the game wrapped up. Made the final outcome so much sweeter.
And so we land, only to find
We never left the ground...
best game ever
i’m of the older generation and this has always been my most memorable game. i despise pitt now as well as then. to watch us fall behind 14-0 to pitt as the number 1 team, then come back like that was fantastic!! i must say, i always remembered that final to be 55-14, but i’ll take 48-14.
That game was better than sex...
I remember being home for Thanksgiving my freshman year and visiting my girlfriend while watching the game. She felt bad for me when it was 14-0 and was feeling a little frisky. I continued to watch the game thinking that if it got any worse I’d turn it off and take her up on her offering. Needless to say as the game progressed sex became the furthest thing from my mind. That game was LITERALLY BETTER THAN SEX. You mention 48-14 and every older Penn Stater (and most Pittiots) knows exactly what you are referring to. Orgasmic.
by Llama Sports on Sep 8, 2010 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Surely you were able to properly celebrate after the game!
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
Bad girlfriend,
if she’s thinking of sex during one of the most important games ever! She should realize that aside from a quicky at halftime, there is no sex during football games! LOL!
For the glory
Blackledge to Jackson
with the Big Z and Frank Broyles on the call — those were good times. This contest was a national game every year — one which took a backseat to no other rivalry. Alas, it shall never again be so.
Note that the father of Pitt’s present QB is fairly prominent in the post game cacophony out on the field.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
They did
They all looked very tall and lanky.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 9, 2010 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
To top it off, the following year Pitt wanted payback
We were the higher ranked team and it was in our house and it was cold, damp and windy. I was sitting in the south endzone in the Fr/Soph section, the wind was beating in our faces, same as Marino’s. It seemed like he spent the entire game backed up at that goal line.
Pitt Football has never been a contender since.
Who's Mario???????
Paragraph #4:
“Mario had his team driving for a third touchdown and a commanding 21-0 lead when the first quarter came to an end … .”
Who the frack is Mario??? Is that the video game guy with the big ’stache?
Think there was a spelling "fail"
Figure it out!
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi
Any legacy players from that game?
I was wondering if any of those players had sons who are/were good prospects/players.
whats awesome to me
is the sheer blow-outy-ness of this game. it wasnt just an upset, but a beatdown. In their house. Fantastic.
The only game that could possibly top this would be 63-14…in Columbus.
by ReadingRambler on Sep 9, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Great memories
Remember watching this game with my pops and being very upset (as most 6 year olds would be about the slow start)….what a great comeback! Awesome clip…..so good in fact….I just purchased the 81 program from an online vendor.
I also remember my father being very pissed that year that East Allen Twsp. had trick-or-treat the same night as the Penn State-Miami game. It’s amazing how you can track your life by Penn State football memories!
I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?
I was 2 years old when this game was played. My mom was in the hospital having given birth to my brother days before. I was home with my dad. Being the crazy State fan that he is, Dad was screaming through the entire first half. I sat on the floor in front of him seemingly oblivious, but when they broke for halftime, I walked over to him and said, “It’ll be ok, Dad.” And sure enough, it was. g Just the first of MANY bonding moments I’ve had with my dad over Penn State football. :D
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