1987 Fiesta Bowl #1 Miami vs #2 Penn State No Huddle

1987 Fiesta Bowl Miami Hurricanes vs Penn State Nittany Lions

[@larryshamlin7573]

Miami was talented on both sides of the ball,but Penn St. earned this victory with defense,played very good,bend but don't break.Great game,smash mouth football.

[@daveburns3886]

Wow, it popped up and had to watch.. psu class of ‘84- only bowl game I attended .. went out solo and scalped a ticket.. will never forget it!!!! We are!

[@kevinchandler179]

This defense dominated the Hurricanes!!! Watch as the game goes on, the secondary from my Nittany Lions 🦁 started hitting them so hard, they didn't want to go over the middle in the second half!!! WE ARE

[@kevinchandler179]

Our linebackers were so great and nasty good!!@!

[@edkokosko1759]

Penn State just kept hitting them. Harder and harder. Michael Irvin is still crying

[@jcallen21]

Other than turnovers, Miami dominated this game. Highsmith was averaging 8 yards a carry

[@bulsibacininiko7890]

LMFAO at you butt boy!

[@kevinchadler469]

Other than turnovers??? Ha, you do understand turnovers still count? How stupid are you? We intercepted Testaverde 5 frickin times, do have to say it again? We are

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

Isom and Cobbs laid two of the biggest hits ever. It set the tone, it made the Miami WR look enough that it effected their game despite their statistical performance. BTW Irvin was born cryin and has never stopped...

[@dohcsmr1175]

@@jcallen21 The scary Part??? Miami actually thought they would win this. Also, the defense was devised to stop big plays. And to cut the passing lanes of the Miami offense. Miami was so arrogant they never tried to go away from it. 5 interceptions and 4 fumbles proves the physical beating the Lion defense administered to the Canes.

[@LineMountain]

Wow. I forgot how much Testaverde was rattled. He was seeing ghosts. His receivers played terrible too. Dropped passes by Williams, Michael Irvin, Alonzo Highsmith. That was an NFL offense. Only 10 points. Crazy

[@johnmanning4097]

7 turnovers

[@bradlewis6514]

Line Mountain, they started to drop those passes because of the playing-off and run to hit strategy the Penn State secondary imposed! Once our backfield guys began to pounce, the Miami wideouts felt their presence on every catch attempt

[@marksaldana3051]

Hard-hitting safties back in those days!!

[@Biggdoom344]

Overconfident and too cocky. Plus penn st discovered Testaverde could not read a zone defense.

[@jcallen21]

Miami should have just ran the ball in the second half and leaned on the defense.

[@aaronrider4051]

Penn State's defensive scheme was "bend but don't break," but here they show the relevance of modern "havoc"-geared stats like forcing turnovers. Note that Miami's only touchdown came off of a PSU turnover. The Hurricanes moved the ball almost at will but were totally unable to break through the final barriers of this tempered steel group of PSU upperclassmen - Bob White, Shane Conlan, Tim Johnson, et al.

[@emmeelou9539]

Bob White was my neighbor growing up! Wonderful on and off the field.

[@Corey-r9u]

I remember watching this game with my sister, it felt like the Superbowl! We were in front of the t.v. cheering on Penn State. I love how they said that they will not be showing "MIAMI VICE" & "CRIME STORY"....it brings back good memories.

[@kevinchadler469]

I still laugh as a die hard Nittany Lions fan!!! We intercepted Testaverde 5 frickin times, and the arrogant Hurricanes came off the plane in camouflage and were talking shit all week, and our defense made them look pitiful? People who actually don't know college football like I don't realize that Penn State was undeafed the year before in 85 and ranked number one going into the national title game, and lost to Oklahoma!!! My point is, we had 23 game regular season winning streak!!! We are one of the winningest programs in history, tons of all Americans and we have played in some of the biggest games ever!!! Also, we have tons of undefeated teams who got screwed out national titles and we know it as fans, and that all that really matters!!!! We are

[@jerryscott568]

Penn state 💪🏻

[@demetrickbrown9368]

& still today they still are arrogant kinda like Michigan #WeAre #pennstate

[@puremercury]

​@GR Penn State were better.

[@mavmrb3]

Penn State!

[@mavmrb3]

@gr5382 Are you an African parrot or a South American parrot. Curious minds want to know? ;-)

[@lindencamelback2305]

One of football's all times great games.

[@robertgates3019]

Living in Arizona I received two tickets from my uncle bob who worked for penn state. I lost my voice yelling like crazy the last two min. For the lions to hold on. This was a classic game that will live forever.

[@jc4388]

One of the greatest college games to be at. I love both these coaches, a shame someone had to lose. Then JJ, with his supreme knowledge of college players, goes NFL and has that huge trade and man, if jerry would just have swallowed his pride, he'd have won 5 SB.

[@leemontgomery7914]

Yeah, 1986 Orange Bowl with OU vs Penn St was hard hitting. Penn St returned following year with everybody and was ready; locked and loaded.

[@mrshameedozier7609]

THIS IS MR SHAMEE DOZIER THE LIGHTSKIN GOD. WE ON THE WAY . ITS LOVERBRAUDBEVY. IM JUST SHOWING LOVE & SUPPORT TO D.J DOZIER NCCA FOOTBALL CHAMPION FROM 1987. D.J DOZIER AKA WILLIAM HENRY “DJ DOZIER” FROM NORFOLK , VIRGINIA. & VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA. THEY NEED TO MAKE A 30FOR30 ABOUT YOU & INTERVIEW YOU & OTHER PLAYERS ON PENN STATE & HOW YOU & PENN STATE BEAT MIAMI UNIVERSITY IN THE LEGENDARY FATIGUE GAME AS THEY SAY 2 UP 2 DOWN V.A. I WANT TO MAKE SURE D.J DOZIER RECEIVES HIS CREDIT. MAKE SURE SOMEBODY TELL HIM I POSTED THIS. GET IN CONTACT WITH HIM & INTERVIEW HIM MYSELF.

[@kevinchadler469]

D.J. was amazing, not just that night, his whole career, one of my favorite Nittany Lion running backs ever!!!@

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

@@kevinchadler469 The 5th year seniors are the finest NIttany Lion recruiting class ever....

[@debbiehenson1096]

Testaverde, 2 career bowl games: 0 TD'S and EIGHT int's! This should have been a warning to the NFL.

[@thfzn3130]

He had a decent career.

[@lindseysummers5351]

​@@thfzn3130 I would say that he ended up having a decent career. He was pitiful when he played for the Buccaneers. He was decent to pretty good in Cleveland, and he started ballin' with the Jets. After that? Meh. Not great but certainly not terrible.

[@thfzn3130]

@@lindseysummers5351 That’s a good assessment. He did play a long time in the league.

[@michaelconnor5378]

@@thfzn3130he threw to the seams. Paterno knew this and his linebackers and safeties played off the seams and waited to fill the seams when he got back in the pocket. Simple as that. Every time Testaverde went back his seams were flooded. In frustration he would throw it knowing there was 2 or 3 Lions in wait, or he would scramble around. Best coaching job ever.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

Not for nothing Vinny had a pretty solid NFL career...interceptions aside Vinny played hard was tough to take down, evaded several sacks and was not far from winning it all.

[@holtridge7337]

I'm not a fan of either team but I wish we could have college football like this again. I think it is ruined beyond repair nowadays unfortunately.

[@aaronrider4051]

Thanks so much for uploading this, and for including that boss NBC intro!!!

[@rmp3648]

Tim Johnson's sack was a vital part in saving this game for PSU 51:57 And Jimmy is sweating bullets here while Joe is calm and cool 52:27

[@edkokosko1759]

That is why Joe Paterno is the best college coach ever! Hands down, the best!

[@jcallen21]

If jimmy would have just swallowed his pride and ran the ball . He would have won back to back national titles.

[@MrBmick79]

Besides protecting child predators he was A okay

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

@@edkokosko1759 Protecting pedophiles is NOT why.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Which would've been negated by a personal foul call in today's game and Miami would've likely scored and won.

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

This was the year the Fiesta Bowl came to prominence because all other Bowls had contracts with conferences. The two top teams were both Independents and could not get into a major bowl. So thr Fiesta Bowl stood up and invited both teams to play each other.

[@neilmccomsey9550]

Shane Conlin played an amazing game.

[@davehanson455]

That penn st defence

[@jcallen21]

Miami's defense was killing it . The problem was ego on the offensive side for Miami.

[@chrisb8655]

Penn State's defense was incredible.

[@jc4388]

@@jcallen21 It was more the hitting. 10:49 was the beginning of a long day for the playmaker.

[@johnwesolowski7393]

Shane Conlan best LB in Penn State history, 1 loss in last 2 seasons at Penn State. John Bruno (RIP) was second best player that day.

[@brianfergus839]

I agree - Bruno’s performance was absolutely stellar.

[@jasoncuthbert4169]

Disagree, Pete Giftotoplos the LB beside Conlon had a hell of game.

[@johnwesolowski7393]

@@jasoncuthbert4169 I never understood why Giftopolis was not drafted into the NFL. But I still say Conlin was the MVP of the final game, especially since he was injured.

[@kevinchandler179]

Conlin also was a frickin beast in the NFL!!! Imagine the Buffalo defense, Conlin, Darryl Talley and Cornelius Bennett, all hall of famers!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled and definitely linebacker U!!!

[@livetotell100]

I remember Miami wearing Army fatigues to that game. When I saw how cocky they were, I knew Penn State would win. We are....Penn State.

[@miskwaad]

Penn State had seen the scheme of Tennesee the year before. Get pressure...blitz from different directions. Testaverde's weakness would show up in the NFL.

[@bradlewis6514]

One major difference with Penn State's game plan though - the vastly underrated Nittany Lions secondary! Tennessee's scheme was generated more by their front seven! Our scheme was predicated on Ray Isom, Duffy Cobbs and Marques Henderson all playing ten yards off Miami's receivers to create momentum when tackling! The impact of those hits began to force fumbles and incompletions, making Miami aware in the back of their minds for the rest of the game! With bump and run, u know who the guy is covering you at the line of scrimmage! Miami's receivers didn't have any idea which Penn St DB was gonna punish them for catching the ball! Thinking they heard footsteps directly influenced their drops

[@miskwaad]

Both games showed a weakness in Testaverde; the inability to play when things got hot. If things were going well and the receives were open, he looked great. The minute a hand was near him or the receivers were covered, he dropped three notches in ability. What I meant was the front action of PS. Like Tennessee they alternated blitzing linebackers for confusion.

[@bradlewis6514]

@@miskwaad true to a point but Penn State's DB's were the whole key to the game! Miami's arrogant receivers were put in their rightful place and after the first forced fumble their arms shortened, which in turn led to Testaverde's confusion no matter where he threw! Penn State did not base their game plan around what Tennessee had done and Paterno even answered that very question when asked afterwards in the post game

[@bradlewis6514]

@@miskwaad like I said Miami's receivers got the comfortable impression nobody was playing them man for man and they were eventually taken out of that comfort zone by the punishment Penn State's DB's exacted

[@wglide444]

@@bradlewis6514 Exactly!

[@KT72273]

I remember this game being played on Friday night, January 2, 1987! The begining of the modern concept of playoffs and a true national championship!

[@CoreyT127]

Players looked like completely grown men by 21 back then!

[@fugyaself2133]

Big azz shoulder pads lol

[@wjvlodek8769]

I haven't watched this since live in 1997....what about those D Lineman fro Miami...they were beasts.

[@devinhudson8826]

@Gerardo Kasen man yall two niggas need help 😂😂

[@devinhudson8826]

@Brennan Noe man yall two niggas need help 😂😂

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

@@brianchaney8364 I guess you weren't a big enough clown for her.

[@amypeterson4615]

Dropping all those linebackers in pass coverage confused the ever loving $%^$ out of the Tester. Punishing the receivers also helped. What a scheme. Reminds me of what the NE Patriots did to win their first Super Bowl at the end of the 2001 season. The reason Miami exerted so much pressure on the PSU kicker was because he stood only 10 yards from the line of scrimmage; very unusual, 15 is typical.

[@trout5374]

Charlie Jones was a fantastic announcer - Especially love the last interception when he went silent for about a minute before & during the play - Realized he didn't need to talk - The camera shots provided all of the drama necessary

[@jeffrutt6331]

NBC had some awesome announcers in the 80's. Nothing better than Bob Costas narrating the opening scene. College football, NFL, MLB, and NBA were all covered by an all star announcing team of NBC.

[@daviderickson115]

NBC’s coverage of this game was near-perfect. Legendary Charlie Jones along with Jimmy Cefalo and Bob Griese didn’t do too much and allowed the action on the field take the priority. Just a no-nonsense, business-like feel to this game that had major implications on how bowl games were structured.

[@fredwerza3478]

It's refreshing to see college games from the 80's --- none of the hype you see in today's games where two unranked teams will have primetime coverage like it's the Super Bowl or some shit

[@jude999]

These guys sucked though.

[@BookClubDisaster]

NBC was awesome at MLB, NFL, college football. But why did they keep losing contracts to rivals who weren't as good?

[@vasherized]

Loved that old Fiesta Bowl logo

[@christomassone9373]

Biggest backfield that year in the country. Dozier, Smith, Manoa.PSU #1

[@stephenmoist623]

Best NC game ever !!!!

[@debbiehenson1096]

Penn St linebacker Shane Conlin was best player on field that day.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

#90 for PSU had a great day too.

[@christophermullaley1597]

He usually was.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

Conlan could have turned pro after the amazing 1985 regular season & Orange bowl performance. #31 would have easily been a 1st Rd draft pick in the NFL, but he came back for a fifth season to take care of "Unfinished Business" Into the 4th qtr down by three which looked insurmountable Conlan made what has to be the greatest defensive play in PSU history when he leapt in the air twisting to snag his second interception and subsequent 38 year return that set up the go ahead and winning score in what is without question the finest, most satisfying Penn State Nittany Lion Victory ever....furthermore it was validation of the Grand Experiment, the victory capped off a "Century of Excellence" It was indeed a wonderful time to as a PSU fan. and to think Conlan was the last recruit in the class of 82, a real unknown found by Tom Scrap Bradley. Conlan has even called himself a 'zero star recruit' Personally I have only witnessed one PSU LB since that could hold Conlans jock and that is Paul Posluzny.

[@christophermullaley1597]

@@SmedleyWarIsaRacket Sean Lee

[@christophermullaley1597]

@@Mr.56Goldtop Pete Giftopoulos.

[@rileyjackfansmithandjones8238]

Classic example of Western Pennsylvania Football Teams, Steelers, Pitt Penn State.......always Solid Defense, and Every game is a ticket to the Cardiac Unit.....Somehow always play Great against Superior teams.......no game is ever a rout, and somehow play down against lower opponents and the Outcome is in Doubt . I do love when the Era Canes get BEAT. They wore Camo like they were Fierce.......but Penn State wrote the Check on their Asses.....And Cashed It!

[@debbiehenson1096]

Michael Irvin, besides attempting to murder someone, was also slow as the mummy.

[@kidmack3556]

In my opinion as a long time viewer of pro and college football, the reason that today's players misbehave as they do on and off the field started with this crop of Miami players ('84-'87) I recently read an article in which one of Penn State's players in this game said in an interview essentially the same thing. So I am glad that I am not the only one who saw that this philosophy of Johnson and the school's of letting the players do and say whatever they feel like, as long as they win, has had negative and very far reaching consequences.

[@marajaded2051]

That team with the blue shirts can sure play defense.

[@brianfergus839]

Bruno had a terrific game.

[@axsdeny]

My favorite football game of all time.

[@steveswangler6373]

I forgot how much in love with Miami the announcers were. It is pretty funny listening now. When Shaeffer lead Penn State on the longest scoring drive of the game I believe it was Trippi that said from “goat to hero”. When was he a goat? He hadn’t thrown an interception or gotten so confused by the defense he had to waste a timeout. Meanwhile teataverde had “all the time in the world” but never a word about how he couldn’t find his receivers because they were blanketed by Nittany Lions. And when he did find a receiver they were so intimidated they couldn’t catch the ball.

[@steveswangler6373]

Even listen when testeverde threw the ball passed the line of scrimmage trippi can’t even get the call right because he would have to blame vinnie lol

[@jc4388]

Funnier still is that goat is now the acronym for greatest of all time.

[@jonemeigh5588]

Jimmy Cefalo was a Penn State alumnus. He went so far out of his way to appear unbiased that he ended up being Miami's biggest cheerleader on the broadcast team that night.

[@rodneysmith7272]

Testaverde sure liked to stare down his receivers, didn't need ESP to know where the ball is going.

[@rjam1974]

I remember this game vividly as a 7th grader. I'm a Terp fan but I remember how frustrated I was with the amount of missed opportunities on both teams

[@steveswangler6373]

At about the two minute mark this video showed why Penn State won. NBC showed vinnie testa verse for Miami. One player, a good but overrated player who when the stakes were highest he performed lowest. And for Penn State they showed the greatest college football coach ever. Joe Paterno had his TEAM prepared while Jimmy Johnson’s group of great players (not a team) were not prepared and arrogant. For the entire 5 or so week build up of this game I loved reading and hearing so called experts go on about how Miami was going to dominate all the while knowing the Lions were going to win. Paterno’s defense had teataverde so confused and Jimmy Johnson had no answer. Not to mention Miami’s receivers, cocky and mouthy before the game developed a band case of alligator arms and slippery fingers. Michael “push off king” Irvin said after the game that they couldn’t catch because the air was too cool. Didn’t bother the Penn State defenders. It was great to see Penn State earn their second national championship on the field after having it gifted to other teams several years in the late 60’s early 70’s and having it stolen in 1994 and given to a Nebraska team that wouldn’t have stayed in the field against those Lions.

[@DavidDundaff-eg4xn]

You know, the one i feel most for, Michael "Sugarnose" Irvin. So much nose candy before the game, not enuff touches to even bat an eyelash

[@bayknight20]

Penn State's running backs-three future pros.

[@aaronrider4051]

54:08: My grandfather always used to laugh at this part.

[@BKJJAMALEN]

D.J.Dozier played hs football in va beach 10 minutes from my house,also same hs as JR Reid.

[@timwilliams8343]

I don't normally pull for Penn St. but I did in this one, cause the Canes were a little too "Cocky for their own good" !!!

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

sPitt Fan?

[@timwilliams8343]

@@SmedleyWarIsaRacket No Sir..... probably even worse for you....UT (Texas)!

[@debbiehenson1096]

Wasn't Catholics versus convicts or Mormons vs convicts, but always good to see the convicts get whipped.

[@andyraphael]

Gth

[@debbiehenson1096]

@@andyraphael no, I don't care for your ghetto.

[@LizardCane]

Admit it; you like seeing black people lose

[@joelsalamon2524]

Hmm...I don't recall any Miami coaches or players going to jail for diddling children. I guess we forget about those convicts and the head coach that allowed it to happen.

[@mikey7189]

GOOD BEAT EVIL AND AFTER THE GAME THE CONVICTS GOT LOCKED BACK UP IN THEIR CELLS.....LOL

[@josephanderson7237]

The Punter for penn state died of cancer in the early ‘90s. Sad. -1984 PSU Alumnus.

[@frankpalancio8471]

That sandusky defense

[@LizardCane]

Yes forever tainted

[@frankpalancio8471]

I was a Penn st mark back in the 80's. Who wasn't? But after the Sandusky scandal broke, I could not look back fondly at those teams anymore knowing what happened. Nor should anyone else. Sure, after the university hit the reset button, I'm all for the blue and white again.... until the next scandal hits. 😑

[@fredwerza3478]

@@frankpalancio8471 your attitude sucks, bro --- Sandusky was an abomination and an aberration --- you can't let one monster define a university that has stood for moral integrity and class for over 170 years!

[@l21n18]

@@LizardCane no

[@frankpalancio8471]

@Björn Björk being at a catholic church was a lot safer for young boys than the Beaver Stadium Showers

[@garyjones2582]

Normally when you have 5 interceptions u get blown out.. but it was a game until the very last play...

[@kevinchandler179]

As a die hard Nittany Lions 🦁 fan, I agree!!! Miami defense was very good that night as well!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@tony.g20]

Big mistake by Miami, showing up in Army fatigues. Never disrespect your opponent before the game is played. Once 60 minutes have been played 1 team by default will be force to respect the other. THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT A SPORT. Instead Miami decided to turn it into a drama series. Spoiler alert - it ended like a greek tragedy for one, and a good guys win for the other....

[@jcallen21]

Good guys ? Lmao . Maybe on the field ,but not in the showers

[@eugenehosack5294]

@@jcallen21 Another loser. 2 guys from Pitt lol

[@bigred5222]

How was wearing army fatigues disrespecting Penn State?

[@tony.g20]

@@jcallen21 .. how about you do a little research before you prove you don't know what you are talking about. The players had nothing to do with what Sandusky did. The only reason the football program was involved at all was because he brought kids to the locker room when nobody was around. And the one kid who did catch Sandusky reported to the police. If they had done their job maybe they could have saved a few kids from a lifetime of nightmares. Instead they penalize a bunch of PSU players that had ZERO to do with it... punishing PSU football players for this, would be like blaming mens track and field for what that monster did to the girls gymnastics. The NCAA is a joke..

[@tony.g20]

@@bigred5222 . It wasn't just the army fatigues, you can do the research. Frankly I didn't care what they wore but when you do it, you might want to back it up on the field. Instead the greatest college team ever assembled got beat. 7 Turnovers, almost triple the yards and first downs. Miami only TD was on a John Shaffer fumble deep in PSU territory. Miami had 21 players drafted that played in this game. Maybe if they had done less talking before the game they wouldn't have to answer questions about it all these years later. I'm not sure what point you were trying to make. The fatigues were just a small part of the story..showing up in tshirts is one thing, showing up in Army Fatigues only to go out and lose wasn't a good idea.

[@el84Bill]

Miami Vice and Crime story will live rather than recorded this evening

[@josephvanhorn5347]

If they played Miami 10 times they’d probably win just once but who cares? Penn State was outgained 445 yards to 162. Shaffer was 5-16 for 53 yards. Testeverde threw for 285 yards but PSU picked him off 5 times. His final interception of the night was an atrocious decision. He threw that one into a sea of dark blue and white. This was the 6th time Joe Paterno had a season with no losses or ties but the first one to win the national championship. He would of course eventually tie Bear Bryant with his 7th and final perfect season in 1994 and was screwed out of another national championship. The most egregious snub of them all. This was the 3rd time in 5 years that PSU played for the championship and the second time they won it. The 1980’s were an odd but fruitful time for Penn State. After defeating Georgia for the title in the Sugar bowl on New Year’s Day of 1983 PSU would finish out of the polls in ‘83 and ‘84. That was the first time since 1965-‘66 they weren’t ranked at the end of back to back seasons. They then went on to finish in the AP top 20 in 15 of the next 16 years, 13 times in the top 10 before two mediocre seasons following their championship victory. Then they had an undefeated regular season in 1985 leading up to the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. They lost that game but came back determined to finish the job in 1986 and they did exactly that. Then they had a couple more meh seasons that ended out of the polls and a third decent one ranked 15th to finish the decade. Meanwhile, Miami was off the charts from 1983-1992. 1, 18, 9, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, and 3. That’s where the Hurricanes finished each of those 10 seasons. They won 4 national championships and played for 2 more. They sent A LOT of players to the NFL and a coach who went on to win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years. Vinny Testeverde would go on to make a couple Pro Bowls. Jerome Brown would do that plus be named first team all-pro twice before being tragically killed in a car crash after his 4th season. Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin would just become Super Bowl champions and be inducted into the hall of fame. The U was ridiculous back then. Penn State wasn’t supposed to win against Miami and they probably shouldn’t have but they did and it capped off their only national championship to come in a perfect season.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

Actually i have heard this so many times and my take is knowing what we know from the first game is that if they play this game nine more times PSU wins every single game. I mean who is gonna start at QB Shellshockeverde? What? The WR are gonna grow out of their alligator arms? Actually the Hurricane QB and WR were turned into chicks...pussies...sissies with brutal hard hits and gang tackling. That is a PSU hallmark especially with the 85/86 teams. Yards mean nothing, it comes down to points, as a Nittany Lion fan I witnessed dozens and dozens and dozens of games like this where Joepa's defense led the way while getting out-gained but allowing few points...this is in fact a Penn State Strategy under Joe and the 87 Fiesta Bowl is a testament and validation of such strategy. People seem to forget just how heavy this roster was with 4th and 5th year players. Not sure a college football team could be more experienced than this 1986 PSU squad. It is why they won.

[@jcallen21]

@@SmedleyWarIsaRacket guess you missed the part where Highsmith was averaging 8 yards a carry

[@kidmack3556]

Fat a** Sapp wasn't on this team yet. He was on the team in '94/'95 that wore themselves out and out of all that hot air by the 4th Qtr. because of all the trash talking and dancing gyrating between plays, and consequently lost to the crowned National Champ Osborne's Frazier/Frost/Phillips' Huskers. He was also on the team that lost to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl with Ray "I got a knife" Lewis.

[@michaelconnor5378]

@@SmedleyWarIsaRacketwhat is really puzzling is how did JoePa not land fine Italian lad Testaverde in recruiting??

[@kevinchandler179]

If, if, if!!! If my aunt had balls she would be my uncle!!! My Nittany Lions 🦁 dominated this arrogant and overconfident team!!! Also, it definitely wasn't a fluke, because my Nittany Lions were undefeated in 85, and went into the national title game number one, and lost to Oklahoma, came back next year undefeated again and dominated, best defensive performance in the national title game ever!!!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@marajaded2051]

I posted this link on Irvin's Twitter.

[@fishfinder6427]

I saw this game live. We Are!

[@atlbuck]

If miami would have just kept giving it to highsmith...they might have won. He was a beast.

[@kevinchandler179]

Good point, but as a die hard Nittany Lions 🦁 fan, no our linebackers were just so damn elite that we would have snuck them up dared Vinnie to beat us, and obviously that night he couldn't!!! Plus, our secondary was so damn physical and hit the Miami receivers so damn hard, they were honestly scared 😱 to go over the middle in the second half!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@e2go]

Anyone with half a brain can see PSU was easily the better team. They made way more mistakes, kicked the ball around on O and still beat Miami’s ass so badly on defense that they forced seven turnovers. What a defensive scheme. Vinnie didn’t know what end was up by the end of the night. Watching PSU’s ridiculed underrated DB’s and tough linebackers smack the hell out of Miami all night long and confuse Testaverde is a thing of beauty. Miami is lucky it was this close.

[@bradlewis6514]

Penn State's secondary had the Miami receivers eating out of their hands! Smartest coverage scheme ever, play off instead of bump and run at the line of scrimmage! Momentum of impact was evident once Ray Isom blasted Irvin on that first forced fumble! After that, Miami's self absorbed wideouts began to hear and feel footsteps closing on them every time

[@bradlewis6514]

I remember exactly where I was that night! It was the week before my 15th birthday and I've been a Penn State fan since 1979-80! One of my best friends for life from my days at summer lacrosse camp from '84-'86 is a die-hard Hurricane fan and I never let him forget that game because he razzed me from the minute the matchup was official about how Miami was gonna whip Penn State's ass! He didn't have nary a word to say to me after Miami lost!

[@90srule96]

No. It was a good college team, but that offense was pathetic. The defense was great, and that’s why they went 23-1 over two years. But Oklahoma kicked their ass the year before in the OB, and exposed the weak Penn St. offense. It was weird, Oklahoma handled Penn State, PSU beat Miami, and the Canes had Oklahoma’s number.

[@jcallen21]

Lmao , crack is whack

[@dougalmacrobbie1918]

@@jcallen21 quimby jeremy a beer fart in a whirlwind

[@stevedalbor1001]

The Miami players referenced Pearl Harbor at a pregame dinner. The game turned out to be MIDWAY for Miami. They were sunk,

[@lucasmann2308]

thanks for this

[@knutthompson7879]

On paper, Miami wins by 4 touchdowns. Their skill and speed is off the charts. They were bigger and go sideline to sideline so quickly. But ... Penn St just never folded and never let Miami get away with a mistake. You aren't going to win many games with 7 turnovers. Great, hard earned victory for the Lions.

[@fredwerza3478]

JoePa was a genius --- he knew he couldnt win the game with the arm of Shaffer so he had to do it with the mighty D and they came up BIG

[@jc4388]

If they're not getting hit in the mouth every time they catch the ball that is.

[@puremercury]

Penn State was a fantastic team. Miami may have had more talent, but this result was not unexpected.

[@jessman8597]

The most overlooked part of the game was how PSU dominated special teams play. Miami was always backed up deep.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

The reality is, if they played this game 10 times, Miami would've won 8 or 9 times. But Penn State won the only one that mattered. I remember watching this on a Friday night as an eight year old rooting for Penn State...22 million people watching the national championship. On a Friday night. Amazing.

[@dohcsmr1175]

Absolute B.S. This is the same ignorance spewed for 30 some years. Testeverdi could not read a defense in college or the pro’s. Penn State was bigger and stronger. Michael Irvin stated he was never hit as hard in college than that game against Penn State. Miami was undisciplined and penalty prone. Alligator arm disease prevalent. Fumbles, interceptions and stupid calls. Miami got punched in the mouth and folded it’s tail. Thugs do not like to get punched back.

[@dennybrennan7832]

@@dohcsmr1175I remember watching this game as a kid and thinking what a miracle it was that Penn state won .Watching the game again now I realize it was an even bigger miracle then I thought back then..Testerverde Throwing 5 picks in the only way Penn State ever wins this game.Its a blowout if they run this game back Ten times every time.Im a life long penn state fan so I'm glad it turned out the way it did..I slept great that night .It was a magical night in central pa.

[@debbiehenson1096]

If your going to cry come and water my lawn. The convicts got whipped.

[@debbiehenson1096]

Honestly, Penn St wins game probably 7 out of 10x. They had the better athletes and better QB.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I don't know how they won half of the games they did! Their QB sucked! He's the worst QB that Paterno ever had!!

[@chicken_953]

I remember I couldn't watch the end. I was to tired from wrestling practice, and had to practice the next morning.

[@johnlittle2755]

Great school Penn state handle mouth Miami great

[@danmullaney8094]

I'll say this, you'll never see a harder hitting today in either College or Professional football! The players on both sides to serious hit after serious hit and not once did any of them cry foul.

[@andysears8989]

Miami got what they deserved

[@marajaded2051]

The only thing that TD Miami scored off of the turnover did was piss off the Penn ST D.

[@umad4389]

What an intro by Bob Costas

[@fugyaself2133]

9:58 is that #47 gettin str8 bullied by 5' 7" Duffy Cobbs ? 😄😄😄😄😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@wjvlodek8769]

YES..

[@edkokosko1759]

You better believe it!!

[@rmp3648]

Duffy rocked him all game.

[@ryansheard8092]

I just skip to the end and watch the interception and smile watching the ass clowns from UM cry. Seeing those fools broken is, at this point, as wonderful as seeing PSU win. Despise every person that has ever chosen to link themselves to that evil program.

[@unclejj13er75]

Turns out Sandusky was the most evil man in the stadium. But who knew? Maybe the victims.

[@lambo58]

Who in the world was he throwing that last pass to?

[@boomer631]

announcers were pro miami and got their game handed to them...

[@captaingalaxy8009]

Yea, andvCefalo, that goon, and a PSU grad and All-American, no less. But the best part, that coke-snorting Irvin was practically a non-factor, and just like Vinny the year before, he stunk on ice with 5 int's, kudos to our linebacker crew. Rrrooooaaarrr!!! We are!!!!

[@conorcane1211]

Captain Galaxy it was Completely Testaverdes fault and PSUs offense was crushed on all cylinders while Miami lost simply due to Him. I’d rather a coke snorting WR and a Pedo Defending Head Coach

[@eugenehosack5294]

@@conorcane1211 Typical loser. You must be a Pitt alum. lol

[@conorcane1211]

@@eugenehosack5294 no but funny Marino reference 😂

[@thefrase7884]

Classic example of the saying “if team A and team B plays 100 times team A wins 99”. PSU was team B in this game

[@doctor.dickface]

Ifs and buts. Candy and nuts.

[@doesnotexist305]

You have to wonder what was in Testaverde’s head that night.

[@BookClubDisaster]

Remember watching this game and thinking it was good guys vs. bad guys. Turns out the good guys had a pedophile as their defensive coordinator. Oops.

[@guyherring6235]

Penn St. 14 Convicts 10 Lol 😆

[@jcallen21]

You mean pedos 14

[@debbiehenson1096]

Penn St. Had the better athletes. Clearly out played these thugs.

[@Biggdoom344]

What draft did you watch. Half of Miami’s starters played in the NFL. Penn st had 163 yards total. Miami had over 400. But jimmy Johnson let his ego..we are going to win our way get the best of him. All Miami had to do was run and check down to the RBs because penn st was playing so far off. Penn st was playing a 3-6-2. All Miami had to do was go heavy. But they didn’t lol. Worse choke job in college football history.

[@jcallen21]

Lmao , Miami dominated the game, just were to stubborn change to the run.

[@hammertime9132]

Great tackling by Penn St. Ever time the is hit by 2,3,4,or 5 Nittany Lions .

[@marcusgarrett4695]

Not better athletes, but clearly a better game plan. Effort and flawless game planning execution will always prevail over talent that refuses to adjust. A masterpieces and clearly better approach by Penn St than Miami.

[@jeffrutt6331]

@@Biggdoom344 yes, but Penn State would of adjusted if they ran like that. Miami certainly was a little more athletic, but Penn State was much grittier and well coached. They played error free disciplined football. Bill Belichick system football with blue collar hard hitting steel boys.

[@marajaded2051]

I'm pretty sure that Holding... @12:28

[@SImSZN]

Testaverde was color blind no wonder

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Jimmy Cefalo: Penn State hasn't fumbled in their last 3 ga- FUMBLE! And Miami has recovered! Thanks Jimmy, next time just keep your mouth shut!., OK!

[@terrancemoore1776]

Why you think in the Pro's Vinny didn't play for Jimmy?????????

[@brad6420]

The U with a bowl game choke 2 years in a row. At least they didn't get blown out like they did vs Tennessee.

[@LizardCane]

They won it all the next year

[@jpturner9452]

Testaverde was a turnover machine, it transferred to the NFL.

[@billyjean9484]

Miami could have simply run every down and won. Pen State played nickel / pass. Miami kept throwing and had 7 turnovers.

[@jamesanderson6476]

Those IQ Miami thugs just kept getting penalties.

[@mcneildelancy4536]

This game was Reflection ofTestaverde NFL career Sorry QB

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Penn State hasn't fumbled in their last 3 gam .... FUMBLE!

[@devinhudson8826]

Lol I was looking like 😳 wtf

[@davidc.992]

Penn St. wore their practice uniforms.

[@holtridge7337]

Miami had over 400 yards of offense and still lost.

[@kevinchandler179]

As a die hard Nittany Lions 🦁 fan, I think you failed to realize,that yards don't mean shit, when we intercepted Testaverde 5 times, and recovered 2 fumbles!!! That would be 7 turnovers!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled

[@holtridge7337]

@@kevinchandler179 That's insane. Penn States offense only had 8 first downs if I remember correctly. Their defense definitely won that game.

[@kevinchandler179]

@@holtridge7337 I agree with you, that is why I was talking about our dominant defense, did I ever say a word about our offense??? Lol WE ARE

[@johnl5350]

Where is Jimmy's hat? Its dangerous out there.

[@kidmack3556]

He has hat, it comes out of a flit can.

[@johnmanning4097]

How the Hell did Miami lose this ball game with all that NFL talent ....Jimmie Johnson did not have his team ready 7 turnovers and they almost still could have won the game

[@buckstraw925]

They did come in totally cocky. They also met the exact coach and team that you didn't use that approach against back in those days. Paterno was the very best of all time and getting a team ready to win a game via tough disciplined in the trenches football and taking away the best player from the other team. Jimmy was outcoached but let's not take anything away from Penn State. There was plenty of talent in blue as well.

[@edkokosko1759]

Because they were uneducated criminals

[@DontDrinkthatstuff]

@@buckstraw925 Miami lost that game. Penn State was just there.

[@buckstraw925]

@@DontDrinkthatstuff Sometimes the turtle wins and yeah the rabbit also lost.

[@CoopDaddy305]

It wasn't Jimmy fault blame that goofy ass Testaverde for throwing 5 interceptions

[@LineMountain]

‘86 PSU had a pee wee offense. Shaffer the QB was JV level talent. Amazing they won considering they had 3 turnovers.

[@mattkrafft5899]

Try 6. I was actually at this game. Testaverde had no clue what the Nits threw at him. Joe PA. Completely out classed Johnson. Bottom line. Also. One Big problem Testaverde had. His recievers had alligator arns.

[@LineMountain]

Matt Krafft I meant PSU. I think they had 3 turnovers.

[@davedutka2006]

@@LineMountain are you an iiot? We made Skinny Vinny look like crap! If our offense was as you say, pee wee, the heracanes(no typo), played like little brownie scouts. How many pints did Skinny Vinny toss? And fumbles? Total, 6 7to's! Haha. What pussies!

[@debbiehenson1096]

Funny this no good team won a national title. Whipped the convicts.

[@GlitchyMorpheus]

To think that monster Sandusky and his protector Paterno both won a title. What a shame

[@jude999]

Paterno reported the allegations and his superiors did nothing.

[@rurexdane5089]

Not only is this whole Penn State cover up scandal complete bullshit but Jerry Sandusky deserves a new trial. The whole thing just stinks to high heaven. From 2008-2011 the cops had one accuser with a weak story and not enough evidence to pursue Sandusky. Then all of a sudden in November 2011 after a grand jury leak and an explosion of coverage in the news media PSU rushes to judgment, fires Joe Paterno and president Spanier and announces hundreds of millions in settlement money then all the accusers come forward with the incentive of getting filthy rich. Jerry Sandusky did not get a fair trial in a country where everyone should have that right.

[@jamescolborn5325]

PSU 2023 again

[@Biggdoom344]

Played v both teams in the season. Miami was easily 14 points better. They throttled the OU team that beat penn st the year before…which led to them not taking penn st seriously. If they played ten times, Miami probably wins eight. This was one of the two lol. Jimmy Johnson would learn from his arrogance in the NFL. His Cowboys were always ready. The year before he chirped all PRE game week v Tennessee in the sugar bowl about how if Miami wins they should be the national champion because they beat Oklahoma. Tennessee beat the piss out of them.

[@SammyChapman-b8k]

Irvin was the biggest coward I have ever seen.

[@tycotoys]

Look at #62 for Miami Crying like a little baby, sucking his thumb and pooping his diaper.

[@KevinBurciaga]

I'm sorry but UM went 11-0 and then committed 7 turnovers in one game? Sounds suspicious to me.

[@kevinchandler179]

Suspicious, that my Nittany Lions 🦁 defense was elite, they were all fuckin season!!!! WE ARE 🏈 Unrivaled, they aren't

[@andrewwilson374]

I’m as big of a Penn State fan as they come but they had no business winning this game. I know the defense was great but Miami beat themselves. But still…. #weare

[@johnmanning4097]

Miami turned the ball over 7 times and only lost by 4 Points they were the far better team they should have killed Penn State.. . .. their arrogance and overconfidence stop them from winning this game

[@bennyrobinson1935]

Penn St. did fuck face

[@johnmanning4097]

Robinson Pleezz I am a Oklahoma fan and we Kicked Penn States ASS the year before for the National championship 25-10 in the 1986 Orange bowl.... .. seven turnovers by Miami and y'all still almost lost lol

[@johnmanning4097]

@End-Gamer EXACTLY

[@captaingalaxy8009]

Get fucked Johnny-boy. Were you a coke-snorting thug as well?? Let me tell you, turd, the best thing to come out of Miami was an empty friggibg bus, so suck on that, cretin. We are!!!! We are!!!! Rrrroarrrrr!!!!!!!!

[@captaingalaxy8009]

@End-Gamer get fucked

[@SammyChapman-b8k]

Miami with Johnson sucks big time. Watch Johnson betray Miami and go to Dallas. He betrayed every team he coached for.

[@90srule96]

I still think Testaverde threw that game. Watch those 5 picks. Looks really suspense to me. The child rapist gets all the credit for a great defensive scheme, but Testaverde was getting paid off by somebody to toss the game.

[@wjvlodek8769]

I think Vinny took this too easy..watching him again..he was so big and strong. Im a Penn Stater...but I have often wondered if Miami stuck with the running game (Highsmith and Bratton) if they would have won. After watching again, 20+ years later...no they wouldn't have. Vinny, I think, took this game too easy and Jimmy didn't prepare him for it. Isom put the smack down on those big receivers and tight ends. Im not knocking John Schaffer..but if Nit Wits had even an average quarterback...what would they have done with that team (Thompson, Casey, Morelli, Wally, etc.).

[@bradlewis6514]

Had nothing to do with Testaverde throwing the game or Sandicky's game plan! Its all about the players and the scheme changed immediately once the game started! Everyone assumed Penn State's defense would enact the same plan Tennessee had thrown at Testaverde and they did a complete 180 from that! The players' plan (not Sandicky) was the DB's deciding to play off the Miami receivers at the line of scrimmage letting them get acclimated, which led to running 10 yards and exacting punishment for catching or dropping the ball! Once that wearing on Miami's receivers took a toll, it affected Testaverde's focus because his receivers' confidence wained! Those five picks (all but one) by Penn State's linebackers was a direct result of Miami's receivers arms shortening due to the contact from Penn State's secondary

[@bradlewis6514]

@@wjvlodek8769 no pun intended, but Thompson and Casey weren't exactly fan confidence builders by any means! Their declining production as the '99 season progressed eventually cost us a shot at playing for the national championship! And their inconsistent play was inexcusable considering the weapons we had on offense

[@bradlewis6514]

@@wjvlodek8769 I'm a die-hard Penn Stater myself going back to '79-'80 when I was in grade school, so I vividly remember everything since!

[@bradlewis6514]

@@wjvlodek8769 and yeah Shaffer was average, but not when it came to the win column! He was 67-1 as a starter for Cincinnati Moeller and Penn State!