UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Big Ten's instant replay system twice worked to Penn State's advantage in the game Saturday against Northwestern.
A pair of fumbles by tailback Tony Hunt, one in the second quarter and the other in the third, were overturned after being reviewed by technical advisor Jim Augustyn. Both times, Augustyn ruled Hunt's knee was down before the ball came loose.
They were the first overturned calls in a Penn State game this season.
Hunt was happy not to be saddled with the fumbles, but kicked himself for letting the ball slip out in the first place.
"I knew I was down," he said. "But when you leave it in the hands of the referees, it's always a little scary."
Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno became a grudging supporter of instant replay after previous run-ins with officials over controversial calls. Yesterday, the Lions got the calls but still lost the game.
"I'm glad to see that instant replay is working," Paterno said, "but I wish we were playing better."
Unhappy Valley
The announced attendance was 100,353, but there appeared to be fewer bodies than that in the stands. The upper-deck seats in both end zones were sparsely populated and the student section was about two-thirds full.
"People have every right to be upset," Paterno said. "They should be disappointed. I'm disappointed."
One disgruntled Penn State alumnus took out a half-page advertisement calling for Paterno's departure. The ad in the Daily Collegian's gameday tabloid read: "The talent is there. The coaching is an abomination. Time for Joe to go."
A few tailgaters in the lots around Beaver Stadium attached homemade signs that said, "Honk if you think Joe must go" to their cars.
Look, but don't talk
Several key potential recruits were on the sideline yesterday. The most notable was athlete Justin King of Gateway High School. King will make a visit to Southern Cal before announcing his decision on Nov. 15 on ESPNews.
Reporters who attempted to interview King on the sideline during the game were turned away by Penn State officials.
Receiver Lydell Sargeant (Cabrillo High, Lompoe, Calif.) played Friday night, but was expected to fly into State College in time for the game. Sargeant's family is from the Pittsburgh area, and his mother graduated from Pitt.
Blue White Illustrated reported on its Web site that receiver David Harvey (Penn Hills) is keenly interested in Penn State, although he was not in town yesterday. Harvey also is checking out West Virginia, Pitt, USC, UCLA, Michigan and Ohio State.
Wideout Derrick Williams (Eleanor Roosevelt High, Greenbelt, Md.) visited Penn State last weekend. Williams met with Paterno and a few players after they returned from the Ohio State game.
Injury report
Linebacker Tim Shaw (ankle), safety Andy Guman (chest contusion) and wideout Gerald Smith (hamstring) did not dress for the game.
Also missing was inconsistent wideout Terrance Phillips. When asked why Phillips was missing, sports information director Jeff Nelson simply responded, "He's not injured."
Philly vs. the 'Burgh
Bragging rights will be on the line today for many Penn State players when the Steelers play the Philadelphia Eagles. Paul Posluszny (Hopewell) is going to watch the game on TV with one of his fellow linebackers.
"I'm watching the game with Dan Connor," Posluszny said, grinning wickedly. "He's a big Philly guy."
Lineman Tyler Reed (Thomas Jefferson) scrounged up tickets to the game. Reed planned to take with his roommates, Andy Richardson (North Hills) and Philadelphia native Scott Paxson.
Off to the islands
Randy Walker is trying to become the first coach to take Northwestern to three bowl games. Because it scheduled a 12th game against Hawaii, permissible under NCAA rules, Northwestern must win seven games to be bowl-eligible. The Wildcats will play Michigan and Illinois before the finale on the road against Hawaii.
In recent years, several Big Ten teams have played Hawaii. However, a Penn State official said logistical concerns -- Northwestern will leave the Wednesday before its game -- make it unlikely the Nittany Lions would schedule a road game against the Rainbow Warriors.
Nittany notes
Yesterday was Northwestern's first victory in five games at Beaver Stadium. ... Posluszny made 10 tackles, his fourth double-digit game of the season. ... Zack Mills tossed his 39th career TD pass, tying him with Kerry Collins for third in team history. Tony Sacca and Todd Blackledge lead with 41 apiece. ... Hunt's 170 all-purpose yards were the most by a Penn State player since Larry Johnson had 289 against Michigan State in 2002. ... Paxson blocked his fifth kick of the season, batting down a 31-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.
