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In slowing Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, Penn
State coach Joe Paterno performed a little magic in the
heart of voodoo country. His "Magic Defense"—as
in "Now you see it, now you don't"—threw so many
different looks at the Bulldogs that Walker's
longest run measured a mere 12 yards. Walker finished with
107 yards on 28 carries—a good day, but not a great one.
While the Nittany Lions' defense was shutting down Georgia,
the offense was attacking a Bulldogs secondary that had
picked off 35 passes
and allowed just 6 touchdowns during the season. Todd
Blackledge's passing set up two Curt Warner touchdown runs
and a pair of field goals to make it 20-10 at the half, and
the Lions held on to give Paterno his first—and most
magical—national
title.
'63 USC-Wisconsin | '64 Texas-Navy | '69 Ohio St.-USC
'72 Nebraska-Alabama | '79 Alabama-Penn St. | '83 Penn St.-Georgia
'87 Penn St.-Miami | '88 Miami-Oklahoma | '93 Alabama-Miami
'94 FSU-Nebraska | '96 Nebraska-Florida
Flashback | One vs. Two
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