INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State scores a lot of points in the second half.
But without stopping the other team at the same time, all those comebacks of the 2016 season would have meant nothing.
It’s the Brent Pry(de) of the Nittany Lion defense that is, in many ways, the untold story of Penn State’s phenomenal second-half success.
That was the case again Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Under Pry’s defensive leadership, Penn State (11-2, 8-1) yielded just three points in the final 40 minutes and 15 seconds against Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2), as the Nittany Lions ran off an amazing 31-3 string to beat the Badgers, 38-31, and win the Big Ten Championship game.
The Badgers scored just once on their final seven drives, on a 23-yard field goal by Andrew Ellicott. With senior linebacker Brandon Bell making 13 tackles and junior safety Marcus Allen adding 11, Penn State shut down the Badgers’ offense.
It was nothing new for Pry and his defensive staff of Sean Spencer, Terry Smith and Tim Banks. Since the third quarter of the Indiana game, the Nittany Lion D has yielded those three points – and only those three points – in the second half. In fact, over the final eight games of the season – beginning with the Maryland game – Penn State has given up just 43 points. That’s 43 points in 16 quarters — a total of 240 minutes.
That’s 5.375 points a half. And a whole lot of defense. Against the likes of Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin. #Incredible
We talked with Pry just minutes after the game, on the field, as the crowd roared and the team celebrated on a makeshift stage. As is his modest and genuine style, the bearded Pry stayed off to the side, hugging coaches and staffers and players, with his wife Amy by his side.
Pry — his eyes squinted but sparkling, his smile wide but weary — was happy staying in the background, even though his oft-miracle works were front and center once again Saturday night in Indy. Here’s a rundown of our conversation, conducted amid confetti and cheers.
What was the difference in the second half vs. Wisconsin?
“Pitt and Michigan made us better. We learned from those games and it showed tonight. Even though we gave up all those points to Pitt, even though we gave up all those points to Michigan, they kept on believing. Then when it was Minnesota, and we have Jimmys and Joes hurt all over the place, and they still found a way to win? Wow. It makes them know we can always win.
“And then come Sunday morning, the last one is over. For me personally, it’s still one game at a time. And I have tried to bring that every single day.”
What sustained you, as a leader of the defense, even when the chips were down?
“You can’t quit. I don’t know how to. Those players…those players…they deserve everything we got. We have a defensive staff that will fight to the finish. Our guys deserve that from us. I don’t know any other way to do it. It doesn’t matter if it’s 40-3. That’s the way I was brought up. You keep them playing. You have to give them a reason that they can still win.”
What was that reason tonight?
“We told them that we’ve overcome this before. We said, ‘We’re better than this. Now go do this, this and this. We’ve been down this road. 28-7? We’re OK, this is how we got them.’”
This journey started six years ago at Vanderbilt, with James Franklin and a lot of you guys. Is this the big pay-off?
“James’ leadership is phenomenal. He stays the course like no one I’ve ever been around. So many coaches can go up and down, and change this and change that. Yet James stays the course.
“That’s what allows these guys to stay focused and keep doing the same thing and keep getting better and keep growing. We have a mature football team from the very roots of the experience. Not experience just from the field, but how you approach this game and how you believe in yourselves and how you play this game. We are very mature in all of those intangibles – which, in my book, that’s how you win. And that’s how you have a great football team. This team is the epitome of that.”
Looking back at the past 12 months, is what has happened even believable?
“It’s kind of surreal. It’s unbelievable. This will take awhile to even hit me.”
