Words and Light

The last time I shot Navy football, I was pretty frustrated. Not because the Midshipmen defeated the Missouri Tigers in the Texas Bowl, but because their triple-option offense utterly confused me and had me falling for more than a few fake plays.

The 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 victory that got him the title of the winningest Division I football coach. And all that was stripped when the NCAA vacated all the Nittany Lions’ wins since 1998.

Which made yesterday’s victory over Navy Penn State’s first victory since 1997 — and Bill O’Brien’s first win as head coach.

A lot has happened since the first time I stepped inside Beaver Stadium. But, as I walked onto the sidelines yesterday, all I could think about was how not to fall for more fake plays in the Midshipmen’s offense.

I think I did reasonably okay. You can check out all the (action) photos on YDR’s website, but here’re a few of my favorites:

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Two military jets perform a fly-over from the south end of Beaver Stadium for military appreciation day as the Blue Band finished playing the national anthem on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. Penn State won its first 2012 game, 34-17, against Navy at Beaver Stadium.

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State’s Mike Hull rushes for a 74-yard touchdown after a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012.

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Penn State head football coach Bill O’Brien greets quarterback Matt McGloin after a Penn State touchdown in the first half on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012.

On an unrelated note: Armed with editor Brad’s iPad, I was able to tweet out a few photos — from my DSLRs — during the game. The signal was pretty shaky at times, but it was a neat exercise in being actually digital-first. Editor Eileen had reassured me before the game that tweeting wasn’t my priority and, if it felt overwhelming, that I could just put it aside. But I had a lot of fun with it (at least, when the signal worked), didn’t let it get in my way and got some good feedback from Twitter as well as fellow photographers on the sidelines.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.