Phil C
11-07-2006, 10:16 AM
We earned it (unlike some other teams like Notre Dame in 1946 who won by opinion polls) on the field of play.
In 1963 we twice had to play the top ranked teams. We were No. 2 when we played No. 1 Oklahoma and won 28 to 7. Then in the Cotton Bowl we were No. 1 and played No. 2 Navy (many experts thought Navy was going to win big) and won 28 to 6 thus resulting in the critics that there was no doubt who the MNC was.
In 1969 we had to win it against Arkansas in the big shootout in Arkansas 15 to 14 and then justify it by beating Notre Dame (fired up for it's first bowl game in 45 years) 21 to 17. It would have been great if Penn State had played in the Cotton Bowl that year and they were first choice but they decided to go have fun in the sun at the Orange Bowl so that was their fault.
In 1970 they did lose in the Cotton Bowl to ND but they still earned an MNC based on their season which they had to win with everyone keying on them but they fought back and won all their regular season games including a great last minute victory over UCLA.
Everyone is familiar with 2005 so no comment here. We won with Vince Young who people say we can't win it again without Vince. Of course those same people before the 2005 season said we couldn't win it with Vince because he couldn't throw. :)
In 1963 we twice had to play the top ranked teams. We were No. 2 when we played No. 1 Oklahoma and won 28 to 7. Then in the Cotton Bowl we were No. 1 and played No. 2 Navy (many experts thought Navy was going to win big) and won 28 to 6 thus resulting in the critics that there was no doubt who the MNC was.
In 1969 we had to win it against Arkansas in the big shootout in Arkansas 15 to 14 and then justify it by beating Notre Dame (fired up for it's first bowl game in 45 years) 21 to 17. It would have been great if Penn State had played in the Cotton Bowl that year and they were first choice but they decided to go have fun in the sun at the Orange Bowl so that was their fault.
In 1970 they did lose in the Cotton Bowl to ND but they still earned an MNC based on their season which they had to win with everyone keying on them but they fought back and won all their regular season games including a great last minute victory over UCLA.
Everyone is familiar with 2005 so no comment here. We won with Vince Young who people say we can't win it again without Vince. Of course those same people before the 2005 season said we couldn't win it with Vince because he couldn't throw. :)