The ambulance carrying Adam Taliaferro pulled out of Ohio Stadium, leaving behind a stunned group of Penn State players.
Ninety-nine seconds remained in the game against Ohio State, but it almost seemed pointless to continue. The issue was decided as the Buckeyes had the ball and a 32 point-lead.
Instead of mercifully trying to run out the clock, however, Ohio State tacked on another touchdown.
Not even Tony Soprano is that cold-blooded.
The Nittany Lions (1-4, 1-3 Big Ten) play host to the Buckeyes (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) this afternoon. Many Penn State players insist they cannot forget - or forgive - what happened last season in those final 99 seconds.
"We don't want to thrive on getting revenge on people, but that's always going to be in the back of our heads," wideout Eddie Drummond said earlier this week. "There is some anger there that we really want to get them back."
What kind of payback does Drummond have in mind?
"Honestly⢠Just a victory," he said, then paused.
"But if we're ahead and we know we're getting a victory, we're probably going to go with the thing - at least, that's what I would do."
Taliaferro, who suffered a severe spinal injury in the game, holds no grudges. But he understands his teammates' ire.
"A lot of the guys weren't too happy even before I got hurt because (Ohio State) was passing the ball and stuff," Taliaferro said. "So, I wouldn't be surprised if (the Lions) do try to run it up if they have the chance."
Still, some Penn State players dismissed the notion that they were insulted by Ohio State's final touchdown.
"There's not really any bitterness," tailback Eric McCoo said. "It was a decision they made (because) they still had a football game to play.
"Things happened, and it's something that's in a lot of guys' minds. Some guys are going to use that as motivation. But I see it as just a game."
Said quarterback Matt Senneca, "Naturally, our thoughts about Adam come back a little bit stronger this week. But as far as (feeling) ill will toward them, I don't think that's the case at all. They were just playing football, and unfortunate things happened."
Things went awry the moment Taliaferro tackled Buckeyes tailback Jerry Westbrooks. Taliaferro lay still on the ground for nearly 15 minutes, then was rushed to a nearby hospital.
On fourth-and-6, the Nittany Lions defenders lined up in a daze ... and saw backup quarterback Scott McMullen throw for a first down. With under a minute to go, freshman tailback Sam Maldonado scored on a 7-yard run.
"The severity of Adam's injury, it kind of shocked us," Lions cornerback Shawn Mayer said. "You wonder what (the Buckeyes) were thinking, if they knew he was that badly injured.
"They obviously were going to win the game, so they didn't really need to put that last one in. They could've just taken a knee."
Why Ohio State coach John Cooper opted against simply kicking a chip-shot field goal remains a mystery to Penn State's players.
"Maybe they wanted to motivate their players, or influence teams they were going to play later in the season," Drummond said. "There could have been some animosity between the two teams or the coaching staffs."
After the game, Ohio State defensive end Brent Johnson pointed out that traditionally powerful Penn State was stuck in a slump. The Buckeyes, he said, merely took advantage of the situation.
"We did exactly what we came out to do - stick it to them," Johnson said. "When they're down, hey, come and get it. I don't feel sorry for them."
Kicking a team when it is down is one thing. Doing it moments after witnessing a horrific injury is quite another.
"It sticks in the minds of everybody," Penn State linebacker Deryck Toles said. "We see Adam every day, so that's the first thing you think about. And then there is how they ran up the score.
"So, yeah, we've still got a bad taste in our mouths. It's one thing that's driving everybody this week."
There have been some notable changes since that dreary afternoon in Columbus, Ohio.
Taliaferro has made an amazing recovery from his injury, although he never will play football again. He now is a volunteer assistant for the Lions and will be on the sideline this afternoon.
"I've been preparing for it the same way as any other game," Taliaferro said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Cooper was fired in January, a day after Ohio State was routed by South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. School officials indicated he had lost control of the program.
"I don't think it's anything Cooper or his coaching staff did to try to stick it to us in that game," Penn State center Joe Iorio said. "Then again, I might be wrong."
