Dispatch from the Outback Bowl: A fitting end

Photo: Geoff Rushton The cheerleaders got everyone motivated for the game after fans faced an early wake-up call following last night's New Year's Eve festivities.

Tampa, Fla. -- It rained so frequently for Penn State home games during the 2006 season, what was coming at the Outback Bowl when the Lions were tabbed to wear their home blues should have come as no surprise. After a beautiful weekend here, fans awoke Monday to cloudy skies and light rain. Certainly not a disaster of a downpour, but a bit of a damper.

Many fans were already on their way to Raymond James Stadium before 8 a.m. though, in spite of the clouds and the early hour -- made all that much tougher by the many New Year's Eve celebrations across Tampa on Sunday night. But fans were excited nonetheless for the Nittany Lions final game of the season against Tennessee. For photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2007_01_01_football/index.html online.

At the Penn State Alumni Association pregame party, which was under cover, Penn Staters woke up to breakfast, the Penn State cheerleaders, Nittany Lion and Blue Band. Around 10 a.m. the stands started to fill with fans from both sides.

The early start certainly didn't hamper the Nittany Lion faithful in voicing their support. Following a pregame spectacle featuring a fighter jet flyover, Army paratroopers and the National Anthem sung by Charlie Daniels, the fans were immediately into it.

And so were the players. Underdogs coming into the game, Penn State shut down the high-powered Volunteer passing game led by quarterback Erik Ainge and wide receiver Robert Meachem. Meanwhile, Nittany Lion quarterback Anthony Morelli played a solid game, and senior Tony Hunt bulldozed 158 yards on the ground, But once again it was the defense that was the difference-maker. With the game tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter, cornerback Tony Davis picked up a fumble and returned it 88 yards for the score and a 17-10 lead. A late field goal by Kevin Kelly would provide the final margin of victory for the Lions at 20-10.

When it was all over, the fans who had been so loud and proud throughout the contest cheered on departing seniors such as Hunt and linebacker Paul Posluszny, who received the loudest ovations throughout the game. For bruisers such as Posluszny and Hunt, it was a fitting, hardnosed final victory.