Nebraska vs. Penn State: Timeline of Events from Joe Paterno's First Game Away

Today is going to be a very interesting day for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In addition to being the first game after news of the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke, it is the first time since 1949 in which Joe Paterno has not been with the team. 

The whole situation is a mess and as the days pass things seem to be getting worse. There have been security measures taken to prevent an incident in the stands and chaos has taken over Happy Valley for the last five days.

Interim head coach Tom Bradley has to keep his focus on the field and manage 116 players who have had to try and prepare for a football game all week in light of the scandal that led to their coach getting fired and assistant coach Mike McQueary getting put on administrative leave. 

We will have a complete timeline of the events leading up to, during and after today's game. It is going to be a very unique scene at Beaver Stadium, to say the least.

Bomb Threat at Beaver Stadium

In a terrifying moment, a bomb threat was called into Penn State late Friday night. 

According to Penn State Live, Police searched the stadium and found nothing. They are working with the FBI to find out who called in the threat, but everything is fine at the stadium for the game. 

The anger that people feel about this situation is justified, but there is no excuse for doing something like this. Hoax or not, it isn't funny and whoever called it in should be ashamed and embarrassed for their actions. 

Subdued Tailgating Outside of Beaver Stadium

One of the great parts of a college football game is the tailgating that takes place outside the stadium hours before the game begins. 

That was not the case at Penn State on Saturday. The atmosphere was very quiet and laid back. There was a much more reflective and introspective feel to it. The fans still had a good time, but it was nothing like what you normally see leading up to such a big game. 

Penn State Players and Fans Arrive at Beaver Stadium

At around 10:15 a.m. EST, the Penn State bus arrived at Beaver Stadium. They walked off the bus and into a swarm of cheers from thousands of fans that were gathered around the entrance.

Interim head coach Tom Bradley took the time to shake hands with some of the fans and thanked them for their love and support leading up to the game. 

The people of Happy Valley have never lost faith in the program, even if they have done some stupid things this week—like starting riots—and it showed once again Saturday morning. 

Tom Bradley Speaks Publicly to ESPN's Tom Rinaldi

Interim head coach Tom Bradley has been thrown to the wolves by the Penn State decision makers, but he is doing his best to make sure that the integrity and character that has defined this program for so long stays intact while he is leading the way. 

Bradley spoke to ESPN's Tom Rinaldi after entering the stadium. He was asked what his message will be to the players who have had to try and maintain focus on football during this whole fiasco. 

Bradley said that he wants the players to just "have fun" and enjoy the game because "they've earned it." He is absolutely right. This game was supposed to be a celebration of their season. It is the final game that the seniors will play at Beaver Stadium. 

The players need this game probably more than we can imagine. 

Tom Bradley Shakes Hands with Employees Inside Stadium

After talking with Tom Rinaldi, Bradley went around the stadium and began shaking hands with the employees and some fans that were already inside the stadium. 

Bradley never wanted to be given the head coaching job like this, so the support from everyone—players, assistant coaches, security guards, etc.—has to mean a lot to him.

He has been thrown to the wolves, starting with his first press conference on Thursday, and he is doing the best that he can under such difficult circumstances. 

Penn State Players Take the Field

For the first time in 61 years, the Penn State Nittany Lions took the field without Joe Paterno on the sidelines. 

The players were calm and appeared excited to actually be getting ready to play football. They stood in a huddle in the middle of the field and, led by senior Michael Zordich, began jumping around and getting amped up for kickoff. 

The anticipation for kickoff has to be off the charts for every single player on the team, and it won't be long now.

Seniors Get Introduced

After four years of success on the field, and one of the most tumultuous weeks that many of them will ever have to be a part of, the Penn State senior players were introduced to the 100,000-plus fans in attendance at Beaver Stadium. 

There was a different feel to the players stepping onto the field. It was very laid back and did not feel like there was as much electricity in the air as there normally is, which is understandable. 

Players and Fans Sing the Penn State Alma Mater

After the seniors were introduced, everyone in attendance observed a moment of silence for the alleged victims in the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The other players took the field arm in arm and brought the crowd to its feet once again

Following that moment, they began singing the Penn State Alma Mater, which has been the official school song since 1901. 

Penn State and Nebraska Gather at Mid-Field for Prayer

In an emotional moment for everyone in the stadium, moments before the kick-off, all the players and coaches for both teams met at mid-field for a prayer. 

The prayer lasted for about one minute and you could tell that this moment meant a lot to both Penn State and Nebraska. This game means a lot for Big Ten positioning, but it is nothing in the grand scheme of things. 

Now there is nothing left for these two teams but the game itself. 

Fans Pack the House Despite Turmoil

Despite all the talk of security concerns, including the bomb threat that was called into the stadium last night, Nittany Nation and some Nebraska fans have filled up Beaver Stadium. 

The atmosphere inside the stadium is starting to feel like a normal game, even though everyone in the stands knows that this is far from normal. 

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center Taking Donations at Game

In addition to the "Blue Out" that has taken over Beaver Stadium today, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center has set up a donation booth. 

Fans are encouraged to give whatever they can to the organization, which is designed to provide "information about sexual violence through collaboration, prevention and resources."

Nebraska's Offense Breaks Through in Second Quarter

In a battle between two teams with offenses that leave a lot to be desired, it was Nebraska that put together the first sustained drive resulting in points. 

Led by Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead, the Cornhuskers got down to the 22-yard line before settling for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead with just under 11 minutes left in the second quarter. 

Penn State had a chance in the first quarter, but the kicker pushed the ball to the right and there was no score after 15 minutes of play. 

Protestors Spotted at Beaver Stadium

In a scene that wasn't shown on television, at least not that I saw, the protesters were out at Happy Valley on Saturday. 

Mark Viera posted this on his twitter page this afternoon. There are so many issues with that kind of sign that I am not going to get into because this is not the proper forum. I will just say that if they truly believe that, then I feel sorry for them. 

Students and Fans Gather Around JoePa's House Early Saturday

Joe Paterno's house is still the epicenter of Happy Valley. On Saturday morning, just hours before kick-off, students and fans gathered around the former Penn State coach's house to show their support and devotion. 

This is nothing new as these  demonstrations have been going on for the last four days. It is a little troubling to see considering the knowledge that Paterno is alleged to have known in this case, but I guess these people will always believe in him no matter what. 

To me, the support for Paterno is misguided but nothing that is said is going to change the way that these people feel. 

A Message from Penn State's Interim President

In light of the scandal that has rocked Penn State, interim president Rodney Erickson taped a recorded message that has been airing during the Nittany Lions' game against Nebraska. 

Erickson wants everyone to know that he is outraged just like everyone else, but the university wants to do all that it can to earn back the respect from around the country that it has lost in light of this whole situation. 

The video makes me a little uncomfortable. I understand that he wants to build the university back up, but it would just have been better if he didn't end with "We are Penn State." That makes the whole thing sound like an advertisement for the school, which is not what the scandal is about. 

Penn State Fans Fading Late in Game

After a lackluster first half that saw them do nothing on offense, the Penn State fans have been largely silent in the second half. The team did drive down the field to score a touchdown and cut the deficit to 10 points at 17-7. 

As Nate Bauer of Blue and White Illustrated tweeted, the fans have gotten so quiet that the players are begging them to make some noise just to get some life back into the game. 

Considering that offense is not this team's strong suit, the odds of them being able to get back in the game with less than 15 minutes to play seems far-fetched. 

Penn State's Second Half Comeback Falls Short

After being down 17-0 in the third quarter, Penn State battled back to cut the lead to 17-14 in the fourth quarter. They got the ball back in their own territory with less than a minute to play, but they could not break through and they wound up losing by three. 

After the clock ticked down to zero and the final pass fell incomplete, the fans in attendance gave the Nittany Lions a standing ovation for a valiant effort under difficult circumstances. 

Even with the loss, it had to feel good for the players to be out there doing what they love after everything that has happened around them this week. 

Jay Paterno Gets Emotional After the Game

After the game was over, ESPN's Tom Rinaldi talked to Joe Paterno's son Jay and asked him about everything that had happened this week. 

Paterno kept his cool throughout most of the interview, but when he talked about his father he got very emotional. 

"Dad, I wish you were here," Paterno said. "We love you." 

And with that, Paterno walked off the field, perhaps for the final time, rubbing his eyes. 

"I Felt Today That Just Maybe the Healing Process Started to Begin"

Penn State did Tom Bradley a disservice earlier in the week when he was thrown into the media and became the first person associated with the program to make a public statement of any kind, and the results were mixed to say the least. 

But after an emotionally trying day at Beaver Stadium, Paterno did a very good job talking to the media and conveying the message that the university needs to be sending out at this time. 

Jeff Rabjohns, who covers recruiting in Indiana, tweeted this out to social media strategist Kathleen Hessert during Bradley's press conference after the game:

"Tom Bradley is so poised. Incredible job."

The fact is Bradley did his job as well as can be expected, and he said that the healing has begun at Penn State.