I wasn’t supposed to cover Penn State’s final home game.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Surrounded by members of the media, Penn State tight end senior Andrew Szczerba prepares to rise after kneeling on the field after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska in the Nittany Lions' first game in 46 seasons without former head coach Joe Paterno at the helm at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.
But things fall apart, and I was sent to State College on Friday night to cover the PSU Hope candlelight vigil and to stay through Saturday to cover the last home game of the season.
Which was also senior day.
Which was also the first game without Joe Paterno since 1950.
Any game is a potentially emotional rollercoaster, and for four hours, the mood in Beaver Stadium fluctuated between contemplation, resilience, hope and sorrow.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Blue Band drum major Ian Kenney, right, takes a moment to himself before the game.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State sophomore Allen Sheffield and juniors Carolyn Lasky and Troy Weller cheer before the players took the field.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. The ball rolls off of Nebraska fullback Tyler Legate's arm after Nebraska I-back Rex Burkhead had a fumble in the fourth quarter.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State corner back and senior Chaz Powell leaves the field after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska.
© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State senior and Blue Band silk member Kaitlyn Otto wipes tears from her face as the Blue Band prepares for its final home performance for the season after Penn State lost 17-14 to Nebraska. "I'm sorry; I'm a senior," Otto said to a photographer with an apologetic smile as her fellow silk members gathered to console her before their performance.
Be sure to check out more photos that Jason and I made yesterday before, during and after the game.
Words and Light 
Nice off-moments.
[…] When the paper sent Lauren and me to State College two Fridays ago, it wasn’t just to cover the candlelight vigil and the season’s last home game/first game without Joe Paterno. […]
[…] last time I shot Penn State football was the first game without Joe Paterno. The second-to-last time I shoot Penn State football was Joe Paterno’s last game — a […]