Penn State Wins in Triple Overtime

MIAMI — Given that the two head coaches have stuck around far longer than anyone expected, it was fitting the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden FedEx Orange Bowl went into triple OT — a first for a BCS game."It's past my bedtime," Paterno said after his Penn State team finally wrapped up a 26-23 victory against Florida State just before 1 a.m. today.Penn State secured its No. 3 ranking and completed an 11-1 season when Kevin Kelly drilled home a 29-yard field goal after failing on two other attempts that could have won the game.Florida State had the ball first in triple overtime but came away scoreless when Gary Cismesia's 38-yard field goal try struck the right upright."It means a lot," said Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, who finished 21-for-39 passing for 253 yards and one touchdown. "Coach Paterno has gone through a lot of criticism. ... I can't believe people wanted him to leave. We definitely finished it like we wanted to finish it."Both teams missed field goals on their first overtime possessions, then they exchanged short touchdown plunges to force the third overtime. In regulation, both teams also failed to convert key opportunities. Florida State botched a point-after attempt and yielded a fourth-quarter safety when quarterback Drew Weatherford was called for intentional grounding in the end zone.Penn State, up 16-13 in the fourth quarter, was in a first-and-goal situation at the 4-yard line when a fumbled snap by Robinson was recovered by Florida State's Neefy Moffett. That launched the game-tying Florida State drive that ended with Cismesia's 48-yard field goal with 4:08 left.On Penn State's final possession, Kelly was wide left on a 30-yard field goal attempt.There was a dinosaur aspect to the game that matched 79-year-old Paterno and 76-year-old Bowden — with 20 punts and an endless battle for field position.Florida State's first five possessions ended with punts, and on its sixth Weatherford was intercepted. Then Willie Reid woke up the Seminoles with an 87-yard punt return that set an Orange Bowl record and helped him win MVP honors.