What if?

What if what actually happened had not happened?

2011 vs. Illinois—The number “409” has real meaning to a ton of Penn State fans… This is the game that gave it meaning… But it almost didn’t work out as hoped… And no one knew that the Paterno-era hourglass was about to run out… What if the defense hadn’t demanded a change in quarterbacks? What if the star receiver was unable to come back from injury for one final possession? What if Matt McGloin could not piece together an 80-yard scoring drive in the final 3 minutes? What if the Illini kick holder had turned the laces out in the final seconds?

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, at Beaver Stadium, #21 Penn State hosts Illinois in front of an announced crowd of 97,828 fans… It’s a game at the crossroads of the known and the unknown for the Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno…

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The Recruiting Guest Field Pass (seen at bottom) was the very last of the Paterno-era… What became of the recruit associated with this pass? The Penn State to which he had been attracted would effectively be gone in a matter of 11 days…