October 18th: The Day Marked Off On Every Penn Stater’s Calendar

They would love to smell roses as the New Year rolls in.  They would love to feel the Miami Beach sand in between their toes.  They would love to watch the crystal football shine in the light while their beloved 81-year-old coach raises it into the night. But if you ask any Penn Stater which day they have marked off in their calendar, they won’t tell you January 1.  They won’t say January 8 th either. Nope, it’s October 18, 2008 — the day the Nittany Lions face Michigan at Beaver Stadium. Title dreams are always there, they never go away — but beating Michigan has become the must have of must haves for those who bleed blue and white. The Nittany Lions haven’t defeated Michigan since 1996 — November 16, 1996 to be exact.  It’s pushing 12 years now, and since that day, hearing Michigan’s fight song has been extra painful to the majority of the Penn State faithful – kind of like nails on a chalkboard played at max ... (link)