Many Michigan and Penn State fans remember the 2005 game in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With one second remaining and a perfect season on the line for Penn State, Michigan’s Chad Henne was able to connect in the back of the end zone with Mario Manningham, giving the Wolverines a 27-25 victory, diminishing PSU’s undefeated season and hopes for a National Championship.
Bob Flounders reports that in Joe Posnanski’s biography of Joe Paterno, which will be released next week, there is a quote from Paterno following this heartbreaking loss.
“Following PSU’s controversial 27-25 last-second loss at Michigan in 2005, the Lions’ only blemish on an 11-1 season, Paterno was furious that officials put a few seconds back on the clock, possibly allowing Wolverines QB Chad Henne enough time to throw the game-winning TD pass on the final play. According to Posnanski, Paterno told friends he was considering pulling the Lions out of the Big Ten as a result.”
Paterno was furious after the loss and obviously blamed it on bad officiating, although from reviewing the video of the final seconds, the clock was correct on the play.
We’ll have to wait until we read the book to see how Paterno’s threat of leaving the Big 10 unfolded, because obviously Penn State stayed.
[HT: Freep] [Image: Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News]