2000 FBL vs. Penn State -- postgame notes
11/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Completes Home Slate Undefeated
For the first time since the 1997 national championship season and the second time since 1985, the Michigan football team completed the home schedule with a perfect 6-0 record. The Wolverines outscored the opposition by a 198-35 margin at the "Big House" and allowed no more than 11 points in any one home game this season.
Attendance Rankings
With today's announced crowd of 110,803 fans, the Wolverines finished the 2000 football season with a total attendance of 664,930, which is an average of 110,822 per game. The season average is the third largest in Michigan history and the season total of 664,930 is the 11th highest total in Michigan history.
Tight End Combo
Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) connected on six occasions with his tight end combination of Bill Seymour (Granger, Ind./Penn HS) and Bennie Joppru (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka HS). The three receptions by Joppru is a career best, while the touchdown catch by Seymour was his second touchdown catch in as many games. Seymour finished the game with three catches for 27 yards, while Joppru collected three passes for 14 yards.
U-M Wins Fourth Straight Against PSU
Michigan's 33-11 win today over Penn State is Michigan's fourth straight win over the Nittany Lions dating back to the Wolverines' 34-8 win on Nov. 8, 1997. The four straight Michigan wins mark the first time a Joe Paterno-coached Penn State team has been defeated by the same team in four consecutive seasons.
A-Train I
Senior running back Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS) rushed for 171 yards on 35 carries to move into second place on Michigan's career rushing list. Thomas, who now has 4,228 career yards, surpassed Tyrone Wheatley (4,178, 1991-94) and is now just 165 yards shy of Michigan's all-time rushing record of 4,393, held by Jamie Morris (1984-87).
A-Train II
Anthony Thomas has now rushed for 100 or more yards in the eight of 10 contests this season and in 21 games in his career. The 21 games with 100 or more yards rushing by Thomas is a school record, breaking the former mark of 20 set by Tyrone Wheatley.
Diggin' In
Sophomore/freshman linebacker Carl Diggs (Warren, Ohio/Harding HS), making his first career start, more than doubled his career tackles with a share of the team lead on the day, with 11. It pushed his career total to 20 tackles. Diggs had eight solo tackles, including three tackles for loss for five yards, which doubled his career TFL total. Diggs' 11 tackles shared the team lead with senior free safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS).
Henson Tosses First Interception
Junior quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) tossed his first interception of the season today against Penn State and his first in 193 passing attempts (dates back to last year's Michigan State game on Oct. 9, 1999). Henson finished the game 14-of-29 for 212 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Beat Goes On
Michigan junior wide receivers Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henniger HS) and David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Hugenot HS) extended their streaks of consecutive games with a reception to 22 and 23, respectively. Terrell caught three passes for 47 yards, while Walker caught a pair of Drew Henson tosses for 21 yards.
Picked Off
Junior cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) collected a pair of interceptions to move his team-leading total to six on the season. His two picks today mark the second time this season he has had two interceptions in the same game, with the other time coming vs. Wisconsin (Sept. 30). He also had one yard in returns, giving him his first return yard of the season.
First-Quarter Rarity
This is the second time this season that Michigan has not scored in the first quarter of the game (Wisconsin is the other). The Wolverines have outscored the opposition 86-16 during the opening quarter but were outscored 3-0 by the Nittany Lions.
Losing Mark for Penn State
Penn State will have a losing season for just the second time in Joe Parterno's 35 seasons. The other was 1988 when the Nittany Lions were 5-6. That was also the last time they did not go to a bowl game.
Four Straight Losses to U-M
Michigan became the first team to beat a Joe Paterno-coached team in four consecutive seasons. Alabama defeated Joe Paterno four straight games from 1975-82.
First TDs
Penn State quarterback Matt Senneca threw his first career touchdown pass, while his target Bryant Johnson caught his first touchdown of the season.
Boyd Cashes In
Safety James Boyd became the first Penn State defensive back to surpass 100 tackles in a season after registering eight solos and one assist on the day. Boyd is the 13th player in Penn State history to amass more than 100 tackles in a season. Boyd's eight solos led the team, while his nine total tackles were the second most after the 10 tackles registered by outside linebacker Aaron Gatten.
First Start
Penn State sophomore center Joe Iorio made his first start of the season. Today's starting offensive line for Penn State was its eight different unit this season, while Iorio is the fourth different starting center this season.
Stewart Sets Mark
Penn State tight end Tony Stewart broke the Penn State record for catches in a season by a tight end after collecting three catches for 21 yards, giving him 38 on the season. The old record of 36 was set by Troy Drayton in 1992.
McCoo Reaches Century Mark
Junior running back Eric McCoo ran nine times for 102 yards, marking his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. The 45-yard run in the third quarter was Penn State's longest run of the season.
Penn State Collects INTs
Senior defensive end Justin Kurpeikis second interception in two games was the first pick off of Michigan quarterback Drew Henson in 2000. Junior/sophomore defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy also collected a Penn State interception off Henson, which was the first of his career, while senior safety Titcus Pettigrew grabbed the final Penn State pick of the day, which his second of the season.
Turnovers
Penn State's four turnovers is a season high for the Nittany Lions, while senior quarterback Rashard Casey's three interceptions were a career high.
