TAMPA, Fla. — Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer met at midfield for a postgame handshake and hug, the 84-year-old Penn State coach looking forward to next season, the 46-year-old Florida coach heading toward some time away from the game.
Meyer closed out a highly successful six-year run that included a pair of national championships by leading the Gators back from a second-half deficit to beat JoePa’s Nittany Lions 37-24 in the Outback Bowl on Saturday.
“I’m at full peace because I saw a bunch of smiles in that locker room,” said Meyer, who announced his resignation last month. “Locker rooms really aren’t very much fun when there’s . . . a pain in your stomach and your chest and everything else.”
Omarius Hines and Mike Gillislee ran for touchdowns, Chas Henry kicked three second-half field goals and Ahmad Black sealed the win with an 80-yard interception return for a TD to help Florida (8-5) send out Meyer with a smile of his own.
Meyer said he was stepping away from coaching because of health concerns and to spend more time with his family. As for Paterno, he — and his wife and Penn State officials — spent the week leading up to the game repeatedly shooting down rumors that the Outback Bowl could be his last. Penn State finished 7-6.
“He said, ‘I love you kid,’ ” Meyer said of his quick postgame meeting on the field with Paterno. “He’s the only one who calls me kid. And I love him too.”
Paterno hoped the Nittany Lions’ record 37th bowl trip under him would set a nice tone for next season. The six losses are the most Penn State’s had since going 4-7 in 2004, and the legendary coach is confident the team is headed in the right direction.
“As I told them, keep their heads up. . . . Go home and take it easy for a couple weeks, and then we’ll start thinking about all we’ll get done in spring football,” Paterno said.
Florida 0 14 6 17 — 37
Penn State 7 10 7 0 — 24
First quarter:PSU — Moye 5 pass from McGloin (Wagner kick), 9:08. Second quarter:Fla — Hines 16 run (Henry kick), 12:48. Fla — McCray 27 blocked punt return (Henry kick), 6:48. PSU — Zordich 1 run (Wagner kick), 4:09. PSU — FG Wagner 20, :46. Third quarter:Fla — FG Henry 30, 9:09. PSU — McGloin 2 run (Wagner kick), 4:39. Fla — FG Henry 47, 2:42. Fourth quarter:Fla — Gillislee 1 run (Henry kick), 13:02. Fla — FG Henry 20, 7:32. Fla — Black 80 interception return (Henry kick), :55. A — 60,574. Fla PSU
First downs 17 17
Rushes-yards 45-178 36-139
Passing 101 211
Comp.-att.-int. 14-27-1 17-41-5
Return yards 193 9
Punts-avg. 6-35.2 8-35.5
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-35 5-29
Time of possession 27:11 32:49
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Fla., Reed 24-68, Rainey 6-66, Hines 2-31, Demps 3-20, Gillislee 4-10, Henry 1-4, Burton 2-2, Brantley 1-(minus 4), team 2-(minus 19). Penn St., Royster 20-98, Smith 2-18, Redd 8-13. Zordich 3-5, McGloin 2-3, Suhey 1-2.
PASSING — Florida, Reed 8-13-0-60, Brantley 6-13-1-41, Burton 0-1-0-0. Penn St., McGloin 17-41-5-211.
RECEIVING — Florida, Rainey 3-18, Hines 2-27, Burton 2-22, Thompson 2-22, Hammond 2-6, Demps 2-5, R. Clark 1-1. Penn St., Moye 5-79. Royster 4-51, Brackett 2-28, Brown 2-13, Redd 1-16, Zug 1-15, Zordich 1-7, Suhey 1-2.
