When Penn State took to the field against No. 10 Michigan State Saturday afternoon, it was the final time that their seniors would ever take the field at Beaver Stadium.
Notable seniors included kicker Colin Wagner, lineman Colin Wisniewski and receiver Brett Brackett; however, the 2010 Senior Day marked the last time that the school’s all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster, would step on the field in front of the Penn State faithful.
On 14 carries, Royster compiled 85 yards and scored on 10-yard run with 5:51 left in the game.
But that was all Penn State had to celebrate when the clock expired.
Michigan State won 28-22, earning a share of the Big Ten title with Ohio State and Wisconsin for the first time since 1990.
On Penn State’s senior day, the Michigan State senior class won their 32nd game together, the most in school history.
The Penn State seniors had a chance to give head coach Joe Paterno his 100th win in the Big Ten, extend their winning streak at home against the Spartans to nine games, and win for the 20th time in the past 21 seasons on Senior Day.
Unfortunately, they weren’t able to follow through with those feats, but don’t let that overshadow the success of their senior running back.
We all knew that Penn State didn’t have enough talent to make a run in the Big Ten and compete with the likes of Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State, but that didn’t stop Royster from running into the record books.
Royster broke the school’s record against Big Ten rival Michigan, and has continued to pile on yards in the school’s remaining games. He still has one game left to add to his total, but his opponent has not yet been determined.
His total yardage stands at 3,749 now, and he has a good chance to surpass 3,800 yards by the time Penn State’s bowl game is over.
The man behind Royster, Curt Warner, ran for 3,398 yards between 1979 and 1982. If Royster can notch another 100-yard game in their bowl game, he would place himself about 450 yards ahead of Warner in second-place.
Royster’s next step lies in the NFL.
Penn State running backs haven’t necessarily fared well in the pros. Highly touted Penn State runners included Ki-Jana Carter, D.J. Dozier, Blair Thomas, and Curtis Enis, all of whom became some of the league’s biggest busts.
But then there’s been the few who have found success in the pros. Franco Harris, Larry Johnson, and the aforementioned Curt Warner have all found success in the NFL.
So which group will Royster join?
The Ki-Jana Carter/Blair Thomas biggest bust list? Or will Royster be able to continue his success into the NFL just as Harris, Johnson, and Warner were able to do?
The most overrated Football program for the last 25 years…
Someone please put State College back on the map, it’s shame they have become so average and appear complacent and content with simply being average.. When I was a kid, Penn State was a symbol for excellence not it has become a symbol of mediocrity… what a shame…
Moving to the Big X was the biggest mistake Paterno and the school ever made..