UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State unleashed a secret weapon Saturday night against Nebraska.
Four plays into the Nittany Lions' first drive of the game, backup quarterback Michael Robinson stepped onto the field … as a wideout. On the next play, he lined up as a running back behind quarterback Zack Mills.
Robinson was a decoy on those plays. He didn't touch the ball until midway through the second quarter. On first down at the 19-yard line, Robinson lined up in the slot right, took a handoff on a reverse and ran for 28 yards.
The play could have gone for an even larger gain, but Robinson stumbled as he broke into the clear and veered toward the sideline.
In the third quarter, Robinson scored from 8 yards out on a reverse to boost Penn State to a 19-7 lead with 7:50 remaining. Later in the quarter, Robinson scored an 11-yard touchdown on a draw.
Lions coach Joe Paterno had hinted in recent weeks that he would like to use Robinson and Mills at the same time. The prime-time clash against the eighth-ranked Cornhuskers was the perfect time to spring it.
Robinson, a redshirt freshman, is big (6-foot-3, 231 pounds), powerful and quick. He told Paterno he wants to play quarterback but understands that means his playing time would be limited to spotting Mills, a sophomore.
Rather than waste Robinson's skills as a clipboard-holder, Paterno is wisely getting him on the field in other roles.
THE ROOKIES
Freshman Cal Lowry made his first start last night at strong safety. Sophomore Chris Harrell, who started last week, was the backup.
To counter Nebraska's option attack, the Lions played several newcomers on the defensive line. Freshman Tamba Hali and Lavon Chisley, a redshirt freshman, saw action along the line.
Jeremiah Davis, a redshirt sophomore, started at left defensive end. He did not play in the opener against Central Florida because of a back injury.
Redshirt freshman Ernie Terrell played extensively as the third wideout in place of Gerald Smith.
LONG, STRANGE TRIP
It might be a long time before Nebraska wants to make a return trip to Happy Valley.
The Cornhuskers' charter flight from Lincoln, Neb., to State College was delayed five hours Friday by mechanical problems. The team did not arrive here until nearly 10 p.m. and had to cancel its scheduled walk-through of the locker room and facilities.
After their plane finally touched down at State College Airport, the Huskers boarded buses for a one-hour trip to their team hotel in Altoona. Because of a scheduling mix-up, Nebraska lost its rooms in State College and had to find accommodations elsewhere.
According to Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson, it was the first time in at least a decade a visiting team had not been housed in a State College hotel.
CLASS REUNION
Nearly 50 members of Penn State's 1982 team held a reunion this weekend on campus and were honored on field at halftime. Among the players who attended were Shane Conlan, Kirk Bowman, Gregg Garrity, Massimo Manca, Mike McCloskey, Scott Radecic and Curt Warner.
Warner received the loudest ovation when the players were introduced on the field at halftime. It was his first trip to Beaver Stadium since leaving Penn State for the NFL.
Quarterback Todd Blackledge was unable to attend. He is an analyst for CBS and worked the Georgia-South Carolina game yesterday afternoon.
The '82 team defeated Nebraska, 27-24, and went on to beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to clinch Penn State's first national championship. Nebraska also finished 12-1 that season and was second in the polls.
Bowman, a backup tight end, caught two touchdown passes against the Cornhuskers, including the game-winner with four seconds to play. They were his only receptions that season.
Bowman lives in Colleyville, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. He laughed when someone asked if he still follows the Nittany Lions.
"I was one of the first people to buy a satellite dish system, if that answers your question," he said.
NITTANY NOTES
Attendance was 110,753, a Beaver Stadium record. The old mark of 109,313 was set in the 2001 opener against Miami. … Defensive end Michael Haynes and wideout Bryant Johnson suffered right ankle sprains during the game. Both returned to action.
