In a game that gave us peak Gus Johnson, the ending to Saturday’s Big Ten showdown between the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers and Penn State Nittany Lions might have been what finally broke the vociferous Fox Sports announcer.
The Hoosiers came into the game wanting to cement their status as a top dog in the Big Ten, not to mention win in Happy Valley for the first time. Penn State, meanwhile, would have loved the opportunity to play spoiler and provide its disappointing season with some meaning.
Johnson, who has built a reputation for his outsized and exuberant calls, doesn’t always bring his A game. But whatever one thinks of him and broadcasting partner Joel Klatt, they were both up to the task with this back-and-forth affair.
Indiana got off to a hot start, and Gus was hot to go on quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
Johnson was equally fired up when Penn State put points of their own on the board.
The Fernando Mendoza-Charlie Booker connection led to several moments in which Gus seemed to ascend to heaven. Here’s the first one.
And here’s the second.
While the Hoosiers built a solid lead, the Nittany Lions mounted a furious second-half comeback, thanks to huge plays that Gus gave the appropriate treatment.
And when Penn State took the lead with six and a half minutes left, Johnson yelled something, though we’re not entirely sure what.
The Hoosiers had one last chance, down 24-20 with 40 seconds remaining. That’s when Mendoza found Omar Cooper, Jr., in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that has to be seen to be believed. Cooper’s toe-tap held up to review for a game-winning score that would make even Al Michaels erupt in excitement, to say nothing of what it did to Gus.
Indiana held on for the hard-fought victory, and Johnson added one more epic call to his Rolodex of memorable games. It was a statement victory for the Hoosiers and a great reminder that when the moment is right, there’s no one else you want on the call than Gus.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.