Big Ten Network : Football Top Stories

BIG TOP: Live Football coverage 2009

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +0000

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Purdue coach adds to Rich Rodriguez's misery

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:16:00 +0000

ANN ARBOR, Mich.(AP) Michigan's Rich Rodriguez says Purdue coach Danny Hope blamed him for getting one of his players suspended. Rodriguez says Hope introduced him to guard Zach Reckman after the Boilermakers' 38-36 win Saturday and said, "Thanks Coach, we appreciate what you did.'' Reckman was suspended for a game because of a late hit against Northern Illinois in September. Rodriguez said on the same day he would ask the Big Ten to punish non-football acts after seeing a Big Ten player hit an opponent with a forearm on TV. Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton was suspended for punching a Notre Dame player the previous week. Hope issued a statement through school spokesman Tom Schott, saying his conversation with Rodriguez would remain between them.

Juice Williams leaves game against Minnesota

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:49:00 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Illinois quarterback Juice Williams left the game against Minnesota with an apparent left leg injury. Williams was injured in the first quarter on Saturday when he fumbled on a running play. He limped off the field and appeared to be favoring his left leg, but there was no immediate word on the nature of his injury. Freshman Jacob Charest replaced Williams at quarterback on the Illini's next possession. Williams threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland on the team's opening possession before getting hurt. It's been a tough season for the senior, who finally had a good game last week in a victory over Michigan.

Iowa's Stanzi taken to locker room with injury

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:06:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was taken to the locker room after being hit in the end zone in the second quarter of the No. 8 Hawkeyes' game against Northwestern. Stanzi was drilled by Corey Wootton, and his fumble was recovered by Marshall Thomas for a touchdown that brought Northwestern within 10-7. Stanzi was limping as he was helped off the field. He was replaced by redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, whose first pass was intercepted. Stanzi was 4 of 9 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception before leaving the game. He came into the game 17-3 as the starter since taking over the middle of last season.

Ohio State swallows up Clark, Penn State

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:08:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Terrelle Pryor tiptoed his way around the Penn State defense, then smiled and danced all over the Beaver Stadium turf. Quite the happy homecoming Saturday for the dual-threat phenom from western Pennsylvania. Pryor threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first game back in his home state and No. 15 Ohio State reclaimed control of the Big Ten race after beating No. 11 Penn State, 24-7 in a duel of the league's top two defenses. As an added bonus, the Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1) vaulted into a tie for the conference lead with Iowa after Northwestern handed the Hawkeyes its first loss of the season earlier Saturday. After a demoralizing loss at Purdue last month, Ohio State's hopes for a fifth straight league title look much brighter. A showdown with Iowa at the Horseshoe awaits next week. "November is for contenders, we always say that," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It's hard to get too ecstatic right now because you know the Hawkeyes are coming to town." They'll head home to Columbus with a confident Pryor, the native of Jeannette who came up with several clutch plays against the team he turned down as a highly touted high school prospect. On Saturday, Pryor showed Happy Valley why he was such a prize. He finished 8 for 17 passing for 125 yards, and rushed for 50 yards and a 7-yard TD on five carries. "It was huge. They were making a big deal about it and people were doubting us, 'Buckeyes can't do this or this.' A lot of that stuff motivates us, but we knew we could do it," Pryor said. Ray Small burned Penn State (8-2, 4-2) with two long punt returns, and Ohio State's defense held dangerous Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark in check with constant pressure. The Buckeyes scored the game's final 17 points to silence the crowd of 110,033, the fourth-largest in Beaver Stadium history. "We broke down on a kicking play, had a couple tough penalties, we didn't get any field position," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "It was a tough ballgame for us, it really was, against a good football team." Leading by three, Pryor connected with open receiver DeVier Posey in stride down the left sideline for a 62-yard touchdown pass with 1:47 left in the third to extend the lead to 17-7. A pumped Pryor rushed down the field to meet Posey, then skipped back to the sideline in delight. "This was my first time to lead the team and lead the offense and score some touchdowns against another big team," Pryor said. "It felt pretty good to lead the team." After another three-and-out by Penn State offense, Small lit up the Nittany Lions' porous punt coverage unit for a 45-yard return to the Nittany Lions 47 to end the third quarter. Getting good protection, Pryor led the Buckeyes again on a drive with two third-down conversions before rolling right to hit Brandon Saine for a 6-yard TD pass on another third down play to give Ohio State a 17-point cushion. Fittingly, Saine dove into corner of the end zone in front of the sliver of cheering Buckeye fans dressed in scarlet gear that stood out in the sea of blue and white. For the most part, Pryor played mistake-free football, and his offensive line kept the defense away from the most-sacked QB in the Big Ten. "We failed ... Our game plan was to go in and stop him," Penn State defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said. "We didn't do it on a consistent enough basis, so I would say we failed." Pryor's 7-yard TD run in the first quarter was set up by a 41-yard punt return by Small to the Penn State 9. Special teams, especially the punting unit, has been a season-long problem, though the Nittany Lions have been able to overcome those woes against less-talented teams. Not against Ohio State, though. Ross Homan's diving interception of Clark with 9:20 left -- Penn State's first interception in four games -- sent Nittany Lions fans scurrying for the exits. Clark's touchdown plunge from a yard out on fourth down capped a nice second-quarter drive to tie the game at 7. It was the 21st rushing score of his career, breaking the mark for a Penn State quarterback set by his mentor, Michael Robinson. Otherwise, Penn State struggled all day. The Buckeyes smothered Clark's receivers except for Graham Zug (seven catches, 96 yards), and pressured him up front. Cameron Heyward had two sacks and 11 tackles. Clark finished 12 of 28 for 125 yards and the interception. He ran for 20 yards on 11 carries. Evan Royster managed just 36 yards on 13 carries, and a couple dropped passes didn't help the offense, either. "It's just hard to put points on the board when you don't have a consistent rhythm," Clark said.

No. 24 Wisconsin holds off late Indiana rally

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:06:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Wisconsin followed the same old script to grind down Indiana. John Clay ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, Montee Ball scored two TDs and the Badgers held off the Hoosiers' fourth-quarter rally for a 31-28 victory Saturday. The Badgers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) have now won two straight and still have not lost to an unranked team this season. Indiana's fading bowl hopes took another hit. The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-5) must now win their final two games -- at No. 11 Penn State and home against rival Purdue -- to become eligible. They have lost three straight and six of seven. A year after having three 100-yard runners and 441 yards on the ground in Bloomington, Wisconsin went right back to work. Clay produced all of his numbers in the first half, when the Badgers ran for 196 yards. Clay didn't touch the ball in the second half, working out on a bike on the sideline, despite needing 27 yards to become the Big Ten's first 1,000-yard runner this season. Instead, Ball took over the workload. He finished with 27 carries for 115 yards and his 3-yard TD run with 8:18 to go was the decisive score. Wisconsin finished with 294 yards on the ground -- giving them 735 yards rushing in the last two games against Indiana. Quarterback Scott Tolzien was 11 of 20 for 194 yards with one TD, and Nick Toon caught five passes for 123 yards. But somehow Indiana continued to hang around. After trailing 24-14 at halftime, Terrance Turner caught a 6-yard TD pass to make it 24-21 early in the fourth quarter. It became the first official touchdown of Turner's career after he had one taken away by replay last week at Iowa. Bell answered with his second scoring run Saturday to make it 31-21, and then Indiana closed to 31-28 when Trea Burgess scored on a 2-yard TD run with 4:02 to go. But Indiana kicked deep and never got the ball back. Ben Chappell was 25 of 35 for 323 yards with three TDs and one interception for Indiana. Tandon Doss caught six passes for 92 yards and two TDs, and the Hoosiers lost top running back Darius Willis with what appeared to be a right leg injury early in the second half. Wisconsin played most of the game without starting right tackle John Oglesby after he appeared to hurt his left leg.

Boilers card first Big House win since 1966

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:05:00 +0000

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Joey Elliott did what no Purdue quarterback since Bob Griese had done at Michigan Stadium. He won. Elliott threw for a career-high 367 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, leading Purdue to a 38-36 comeback win over the Wolverines for its first win at the Big House since Griese did it in 1966. "He's an Evansville [Ind.] native, just like myself," Elliott said with a grin. While the Boilermakers were smiling, the Wolverines were crying because their 4-0 start might turn into a 5-7 flop. "Anytime you invest so much time and effort into something, you're bound to cry," Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko said. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez got very emotional after his news conference when retiring athletic director Bill Martin tried to share him some encouraging words. The Boilermakers (4-6, 3-3 Big Ten) trailed 24-10 at halftime. The Wolverines collapsed in the third quarter again, allowing 21 points for the second week in a row. Purdue took the lead for good with on Elliott's 54-yard pass to wide-open receiver Cortez Smith with 5:04 left in the third, one play after surprising Michigan with an onside kick. "We had that play greased up all season long, but never used it," coach Danny Hope said. "You have to wait for the right moment." Michigan (5-5, 1-5) pulled within two points with 2:10 to go on Brandon Minor's third TD, but Tate Forcier was sacked on a 2-point conversion it was forced to attempt because of a missed extra point. Purdue recovered the onside kick, punted and held on to end its 11-game road losing streak that was tied with Utah State for the longest active skid on the road. The Boilermakers, who beat Michigan and Ohio State in the same season since 2000, can rally to a bowl bid from a 1-5 start if they close with wins against Michigan State and at Indiana. "It's huge for our football team," Hope said. The loss might prove to be devastating for Michigan, which is in danger of going two straight seasons without a bowl for the first time since the 1973-74 seasons. "The season is not over," Rodriguez said. It will be finished if the Wolverines don't win at Wisconsin or against Ohio State at home. "We can handle this mentally," Minor insisted. "I don't think none of us need to see Dr. Phil or Oprah." Rodriguez, though, probably could use somebody to talk to about his frustrations. He endured a school-record nine losses last year in his debut season with college football's winningest program. This season started strong, but might end awfully and potentially could be compounded by more problems. The NCAA is investigating the Wolverines to find out if they violated rules regarding practice hours and offseason workouts. Rodriguez is focused on Michigan's many on-the-field challenges, none of which he says can be corrected overnight. "I don't have a magic wand," he said. Rodriguez would need one to fix his defense. In the past three games, the Wolverines have been outscored 75-12 in the second half by Purdue, Illinois and Penn State. "It's embarrassing," Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham said. "But we know we're better than that. We're just trying to prove it." Forcier showed he could win as a freshman in September, but he and the Wolverines are 1-5 since going undefeated in the first month. He threw a TD pass and ran for a score, but fumbled on an option pitch that Purdue recovered early in the second half to sparked its comeback. "It hurts," Forcier said. "I've never lost this many games in my life. It's going to be my job to get this team back to play like it did before."

Northwestern sends Iowa to season's first loss

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:03:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic. Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass and Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for another score, and Northwestern dealt a crushing blow to Iowa's national championship hopes with a 17-10 victory Saturday. Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on the play in which Thomas scored the Wildcats' first touchdown. "Anytime you lose your quarterback, that's not good," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been living dangerously all season, making a habit of comebacks and close games. Still, they were good enough to be fourth in the latest BCS standings, hoping that with a slip or two by Florida, Alabama and Texas they could end up in the BCS national championship game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7. Now that their 13-game winning streak -- second longest in the nation -- has been snapped, the Hawkeyes' focus can shift to the other big game in Pasadena. Iowa can still win the Big Ten and land in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1990 season. It was the first win over a top-10 opponent for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) since knocking off No. 6 Ohio State 33-27 in overtime in 2004. It also ended the nation's second-longest winning streak. Ferentz said Stanzi had a "severe" ankle injury. Freshman James Vandenberg was just 9 of 27 for 82 yards and couldn't lead the Hawkeyes to any points after Stanzi left the game. Ferentz said that while preliminary X-rays on Stanzi's ankle were negative, he'll likely be out the next couple of weeks. That's not a good sign for the Hawkeyes heading into next week's game against Ohio State in Columbus. Iowa finishes up at home against Minnesota. "Right now we just have to take the approach that he won't go, and if he does that's a bonus," Ferentz said. Northwestern scored twice off turnovers in the second quarter. Thomas' fumble recovery made it 10-7. Drake Dunsmore caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Persa after another Iowa miscue. Brandon Wegher had 63 yards rushing for Iowa. Stanzi was 4 of 9 for 134 yards with a touchdown, an interception and that costly fumble. Iowa committed four turnovers. "It's hard to win football games against good, competitive teams, and that's basically everybody in our conference, if you're going to turn the ball over," Ferentz said. "If you do that week in, week out, you're not going to win many football games. That's what has allowed us to be successful. We have to get back to that formula." Vandenberg, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, who holds the state high school record for career touchdown passes, had thrown three passes entering the game. His inexperience showed and after the Hawkeyes won four games by three points or fewer this season they finally had a hole too deep to climb out. Northwestern's Stefan Demos hit a 47-yard field goal with 13:29 left to give the Wildcats a 17-10 lead. The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game after taking over with 2:04 left on their own 17, but an incomplete pass on fourth down sent the Northwestern bench erupting in celebration. Stanzi watched from the sideline in a warmup suit with crutches. He was taken to the locker room after being drilled in the end zone by Corey Wootton with 11:46 to go in the second quarter. "Obviously it was a big momentum play. Not only get the sack to cause a fumble but you also get the touchdown," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said of the hit that knocked out Stanzi. "It was greatly important from a momentum standpoint." Vandenberg's first pass was intercepted by Quentin Davie, and Northwestern took advantage. Persa's TD pass to Dunsmore gave the Wildcats their first lead, 14-10. This was a huge win for Northwestern, which just last week got drilled by Penn State 34-13. Starting quarterback Mike Kafka left that game with a hamstring injury, and he and Persa split the snaps before Persa left in the third quarter with an apparent hand injury. Before the injury to Stanzi, it looked like the Hawkeyes might finally have an easy game. They needed three plays for Stanzi to find Marvin McNutt for a 74-yard touchdown catch to make it 7-0, and Murray's 39-yard field goal pushed the lead to 10 midway through the first quarter. But a week after committing six turnovers in a win over Indiana, Iowa turned it over four times in the second quarter against the Wildcats. Northwestern took its 14-10 lead despite gaining just 109 yards of offense in the first half. The Hawkeyes honored former coach Forest Evashevski, who died last week at the age of 91, with a helmet decal and highlights on the scoreboard. Evashevski coached at Iowa from 1952-60, leading the Hawkeyes to three Big Ten titles and two wins in the Rose Bowl. These Hawkeyes still control their Rose Bowl hopes. "There's no time to hang our heads," Vandenberg said. "We're in a race with two other good teams and it's all going to be about getting back to work."

Illini pressure Weber, take down Gophers

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:01:00 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS -- Terry Hawthorne returned an interception for a touchdown and Clay Nurse had four of Illinois' eight sacks to lead the Illini to a 35-32 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Jacob Charest threw for 185 yards and a touchdown after replacing Juice Williams, who left in the first quarter with an injured left ankle. Illinois (3-6, 2-5 Big Ten) led 28-7 at halftime. Jon Hoese scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Minnesota (5-5, 3-4). Gophers linebacker Keanon Cooper blocked a punt that Ben Kuznia scooped up for a score to pull Minnesota within three points with 3 minutes to play. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and the Gophers couldn't overcome a dreadful first half from quarterback Adam Weber. After throwing for 416 yards and five TDs in a breakout game against Michigan State last week, Weber completed 5 of 17 passes for 74 yards with a fumble and the interception returned for a score in the first half against Illinois. He finished 14 of 31 for 221 yards. The blunders, and a furious pass rush, helped Illinois compensate for the loss of Williams. It's been a long and difficult senior season for Williams, who has never been able to recapture the magic that helped him lead the Illini to the Rose Bowl during his sophomore year. He finally had a breakout game last week with 220 total yards in a 31-13 win over Michigan and looked sharp early against Minnesota. He completed all five of his passes, including a 22-yard TD pass to Jeff Cumberland on the opening drive to get the Illini rolling. But he injured his left ankle and fumbled during a run later in the first quarter and watched the rest of the game on crutches from the sideline. Weber probably wishes he could have joined him. The Gophers quarterback also broke out of a season-long slump last week in a win over Michigan State. He followed that with a brutal first half against Illinois, missing several wide-open receivers and taking too many sacks after not getting rid of the ball quickly enough, drawing boos from the home crowd. Weber fumbled on a bad exchange with DeLeon Eskridge in Illinois territory and telegraphed a throw to Hoese near the sidelines in the first quarter. Hawthorne, who chased down Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree and prevented a touchdown last week, read Weber's eyes and stepped in front of the pass. He returned the interception 44 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter. Minnesota cut the lead to 28-25 on Hoese's second score of the game. But Charest threw a 4-yard TD pass to Arrelious Benn on the next possession.

Michigan State thrashes Western Michigan

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:58:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Little-used Ashton Leggett ran for 110 yards and four touchdowns and Kirk Cousins threw for a career-high 353 yards and two scores to lead Michigan State past Western Michigan 49-14 on Saturday in a rare November non-conference matchup for the Spartans. The win kept Michigan State's bowl hopes alive and introduced yet another potential lead running back in Leggett, a sophomore who had one carry and zero yards coming into the game. On his first rush Saturday -- on a third-and-1 less than 90 seconds into the game -- Leggett took one step toward a crowded line, bounced it outside and was gone, sprinting 71 yards down the left sideline for a score. He added short TD runs in the first and second quarters. Sandwiched in between, Cousins connected with Garrett Celek and Keshawn Martin on 13- and 48-yard scoring strikes. At the end of the first half, Michigan State led 35-0, had forced seven Western punts and outgained the Broncos 358-36. The Spartans (5-5) hadn't played a non-conference opponent in November since 1966 against Notre Dame. The win snapped a two-game losing skid and gave Michigan State some potential momentum heading into the season's final two games -- at Purdue next week and home against No. 11 Penn State on Nov. 21. Western (4-6) didn't do itself any favors, getting called three times for roughing the passer in the first quarter and dropping more than a few passes. One bright spot for the Broncos was Brandon West, who set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career kickoff return yardage, passing SMU's Jessie Henderson. The senior opened the second half with an 80-yard touchdown run through a gaping hole in the middle of the Michigan State defensive line. Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson also was a record-setter, becoming the school's all-time leader in extra points made. The Spartans have used a number of running backs this season, using a back-by-committee approach to fill the sizable void left by the departure of Javon Ringer, who moved on to the NFL. Thanks to injuries and dismissals, Leggett and freshman Edwin Baker started out as the featured backs on Saturday, and Leggett took advantage, hitting the century mark by halftime. Leggett added a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to make it 42-14. He was the first Spartan to run for 100 yards in a game since Ringer did it last year. Fellow sophomore QB Keith Nichol took some snaps, but Cousins got the bulk of the work, completing 22 of 25 passes and no interceptions. Nichol threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Dion Sims with about six minutes to play in the game. For Western, it was a forgettable performance from a program accustomed to playing tough against the big boys. The Broncos had beaten a team from a Bowl Championship Series conference in each of the previous three seasons. Senior Tim Hiller, Western's career leader in TD passes and completions, had an off day, going 15 of 37 for a season-low 111 yards. He wasn't intercepted, though, and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Blake Hammond on the first play of the fourth quarter. Michigan State avoided losing at home to a second in-state Mid-American school this season. Central Michigan beat the Spartans 29-27 on Sept. 12.

Front lines could decide PSU-Ohio State

Bernard Fernadez — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Almost everyone agrees that Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Big Ten showdown between No. 11 Penn State (8-1, 4-1) and Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) in Beaver Stadium will be another low-scoring war of attrition, settled in the trenches by straining giants. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are ranked first and second in the conference in virtually every team defensive category, which suggests another round of smash-mouth football. "Whoever's offensive line does the best job of controlling the defense is going to win," Penn State senior left tackle Dennis Landolt said. The opposing view, of course, is that whoever's defensive line does the best job of controlling the offense is going to win. The objective is the same, but the path to that common goal is often altered by perspective. It is axiomatic that offensive linemen and defensive linemen are, well, different. The prevailing image of o-linemen is that of orderly types who knot their ties just so, hang their clothes neatly and are very good at following directions. The best blocking fronts are all about cohesion. D-linemen are rumpled, wild-eyed reactionaries. Oh, sure, there are general scripts they are asked to memorize, but rewrites of the game plan can occur on every snap. "A mental component? I'm not sure," Penn State senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick said when asked what ultimately determines whether a lineman more suited to offense or defense. "As a defensive lineman, you always want to play fast, reckless. If a play goes in the opposite direction or if something happens that you weren't expecting, you have to be able to react and adjust. "On offense, you know the play that's been called. You know the snap count. You see where the defense is lined up. You have to react on offense, but not nearly as much as you do on defense." The 6-5, 306-pound Odrick is a bundle of combustible energy. Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and d-line coach Larry Johnson both call him the best three-technique player in the country. Odrick has played defense since he arrived in Happy Valley in 2006, but part of the reason for Penn State's tradition of success is that the veteran coaching staff is astute at making position changes that bring out the best in every player. Levi Brown was an All-America left tackle at Penn State and the Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 2007, but the 6-5, 328-pounder acknowledged being disappointed when he was told, after redshirting as a freshman in 2002, that he was switching to offense. "Levi wanted to be a defensive tackle, so I can see where he was upset," Odrick said. "But I'm pretty sure he's not upset now." Copyright 2009 Tribune Review Publishing CompanyAll Rights Reserved

Illini's Williams gets high marks from teammates

Mark Tupper — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When we sat down with Juice Williams back in late July, it was with bright eyes and an optimistic smile that he spoke of the Illini football season to come. It was weeks before the start of his senior year. He was coming off a junior season in which he broke the school record for single-season total offense, threw 22 touchdown passes (third most in school history) and had six 250-yard passing games. He'd been named second-team all-Big Ten and pro scouts sized him up as an interesting prospect who could rise up the charts with a productive senior year. His fiancé, Chez Chambers, and young daughter, LaChez, were doing well. It was a good time to be Juice Williams. But athletics is an uncertain road, and the one the Illini football team has followed this fall has been filled with potholes. The team is 1-6 going into Saturday's home game against Michigan. Juice Williams has had an awful season, one in which we've only had one or two glimpses of the confident quarterback we expected to see. Rather than the unquestioned starter, he's now one of two quarterbacks who will run the offense the rest of the way. And there's no guarantee the starter Saturday won't be a redshirt freshman who saw his first collegiate action last week. When this season was first unraveling, Williams continued to be a standup guy who faced the media after defeat and thoughtfully addressed questions about the latest disappointment. That can't be easy and it can't be fun. And lately, it apparently has become intolerable. After the last two losses - at Indiana and at Purdue - Williams did not answer the bell in postgame interview sessions. And the weekly media teleconference the last two Mondays, of which Williams had been a regular participant, was canceled altogether. So I cannot accurately tell you whether those bright eyes have dimmed or that optimistic smile has faded. But I can tell you that his teammates and his coach say he has handled the disappointment like a champion. "I mean this," coach Ron Zook said Tuesday. "If I had a son, I would want my son to be on this team if for no other reason than to see how (Williams) is handling it. It's unbelievable to see how he is handling it. "I had a long talk with Juice yesterday. He wants to win. He's pulling his hair out. It's a confidence issue and you know if you've ever had your confidence shaken in anything. He has to overcome that stuff and as coaches, we have to help him do that. "He has done it before and he can do it again." When Williams is in the game, he lines up behind senior center Eric Block, and on Tuesday Block said you'd never know Williams has been through such a tough season. "Juice is a team player, first and foremost," Block said. "He'll do whatever he can to help the team. He's just that kind of guy, a class act. And he has been since the day he got here. There won't be any griping from Juice." On Saturday, Zook said Williams and Jacob Charest will split time at quarterback. I think everyone would like to see Charest perform well, if only because it would represent a ray of hope for the future. But I'm guessing that nothing would please Zook more than to see Williams have a performance that flashes back to what happened last season when he helped Illinois beat the Wolverines. That's when he passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 121 yards and two more TDs. His 431 yards represented the largest total offense figure ever produced in the history of Michigan Stadium. Seems like an awful long time ago, back when Isiah "Juice" Williams still had a smile we could remember. Mark Tupper covers Illini football for Lee News Services. Contact him at mark.tupper@lee.net Copyright 2009 The Pantagraph

Yes, this one's still big; Though Buckeyes, Lions trail surprising Iowa, there's lots at stake

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Spotlight Game NO. 15 Ohio State at NO. 11 Penn State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 7 The trouble with starting out high is that it's difficult to stay there. At first glance, Ohio State's upset loss at Purdue and Penn State's loss to Iowa (which now holds all the cards in the Big Ten) have taken the edge away from what figured to be the league's Big Game this season. In a sense, though, that raises the ante in this elimination game. And it makes this game more intriguing. Who's going to rise up and erase past flaws to survive and advance? Who's going to face potshots for an underachieving season? Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) needs to show what kind of team it has after looking flustered in its 21-10 loss to Iowa, the only notable opponent on the Nittany Lions' undistinguished schedule. ''The people that might question their validity or whatever are just looking for things to talk about,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said, ''because I think Penn State is for real.'' The trouble is, in their biggest measuring stick, the Nittany Lions, who have let teams like Illinois and Northwestern hang around, looked shaky on the offensive line, at quarterback and on special teams against Iowa. And they know they're running out of chances. ''It's a very big game for us,'' Penn State safety Drew Astorino said. ''We were looking to go undefeated, and Iowa beat us. We still have a good season going, so we're definitely looking for a big win this week.'' For Ohio State (7-2, 4-1), all eyes once again will be on Terrelle Pryor, who must avoid a repeat of the turnover mistakes he made at Purdue and throw the ball well against a quality defense in his first college game back home in Pennsylvania. With a victory, the Buckeyes can take another step toward their fifth straight Big Ten title. They also can go into what now looks like the most decisive conference game of the season, against Iowa in Columbus next week, on a positive note. ''We know how important all these games are,'' Ohio State receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. ''It's come to a point in our season where we have to win out, and we have to play well in November to be a great team.'' The Buckeyes have recent history on their side. They are 23-4 in the last eight Novembers under Tressel, and their 2007 upset loss to Illinois is their only November loss the last four years. ''Coach Tressel puts it as, 'Septembers are for pretenders and Novembers are for contenders,''' linebacker Ross Homan said. ''To be great, you have to be great in November.'' The stat that looms larger at the moment are the two fumbles and two interceptions by Pryor in the Buckeyes' last road game, a shocking 26-18 loss to the struggling Boilermakers. Another question surrounding Ohio State's ballyhooed sophomore quarterback, who's a modest ninth in Big Ten passing, is a multitude of nagging injuries. ''He has ice bags everywhere,'' said Tressel, quickly adding that Pryor will play healthy. ''I would expect him not to be debilitated. Adrenaline is an amazing thing, even when you're feeling sore.'' Another intriguing stat: In its last three wins, Penn State has not had a turnover -- but in the Iowa loss it had four, including three picks by quarterback Daryll Clark and a blocked punt. It should be a challenging day for both offenses. Penn State and Ohio State are fifth and sixth in the nation, respectively, in total defense and run defense, and they are 12th and 14th, respectively, in pass defense. In other words, this showdown probably isn't going to be a shootout. And while there's no question that the loser will not be able to make up the ground it has lost, Joe Paterno cast that aside. ''The consequences of the winning and the losing of it are obvious to everybody, but you can't go at it that way,'' Paterno said. ''I think we just have to say, 'Hey, let's play it. Go out there and have a little fun. Let's not beat ourselves. What happens afterward, happens.''' The line: Penn State by 3?. Gould's pick: Penn State, 16-10. Copyright 2009 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.All Rights Reserved

Final pre-bowl coaches' poll to be open ballot

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:21:00 +0000

WACO, Texas(AP) The final regular-season ballot of every voter in the USA Today college football coaches' poll will remain public. The coaches had considered making those votes confidential. But Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, said Friday it will stay an open ballot. The coaches' poll helps decide which teams play in the BCS national championship game. Ballots in The Associated Press' college football poll are available to the public from the preseason to the final post-bowl vote.

Ohio State heads into Happy Valley

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:39:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Welcome home, Terrelle Pryor. No. 15 Ohio State and its talented dual-threat quarterback visit No. 11 Penn State in a high-stakes Big Ten game. For Pryor, it will be his first game at Beaver Stadium since the western Pennsylvania native spurned Penn State last year to end one of the most publicized recruiting races in recent memory. Nittany Lions fans haven't forgotten, and Pryor knows it. "It's going to be a crazy atmosphere, but that's what we come here for,'' said Pryor, a sophomore. "We're going (in) as a team, so if I get spit on, they spit on the whole team and stuff like that.'' As if the annual grudge match between the Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) and Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1) needed any subplots. Both teams could use a signature win to solidify their credentials for a BCS bowl berth. The game also will break their tie for second place in the conference, putting the victor in better position for at least a share of the Big Ten crown should unbeaten Iowa falter down the stretch. "We definitely feel like we have something to prove. There's a whole bunch of talk that we haven't played anybody yet,'' Penn State receiver Derek Moye said. The Nittany Lions have won five straight by lopsided margins, though they lost their toughest game this season when they fell to the Hawkeyes in late September. A loss could put the Buckeyes in more late-season trouble. Their goal to win at least a share of their fifth consecutive Big Ten title is already in jeopardy, and they host Iowa next week. But there's not a Buckeye that's looking beyond the Nittany Lions, a team that leads the Big Ten in total offense (429 yards per game) and total defense (84 yards). "It starts up front, very physical, very strong, aggressive style, not unlike ours,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. That sounds a lot like something his Penn State counterpart, Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, would say. Games between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes usually hinge on field position and big defensive plays, whether in Happy Valley or the Horseshoe. Tressel, like Paterno, often likes to play things close to his sweater vest. Their styles pay off given that the two big-name coaches have 616 victories between them - Paterno the leader among major college coaches with 391, Tressel with 225. In fact, Saturday's game will be the first time two FBS coaches with a combined 600 or more wins will have met in the regular season, according to Penn State's sports information department. The other time it happened was in the 2006 Orange Bowl, when Penn State and Paterno beat Florida State and Bobby Bowden, who is five behind Paterno on the career victory chart. But Paterno doesn't like to talk about his career stats, or to compare himself to Tressel or any of his other colleagues, for that matter. "No, I'm not going to compare myself, heck,'' Paterno said when a reporter broached the topic this week. "I'll compare your writing with somebody else's writing if you want me to do that, or something like that, but that's not - no.'' He's had more immediate concerns on his mind, like containing Pryor. If there's any defense that's up to the challenge, it's a Penn State unit that is the stingiest in the nation in allowing just 9.3 points per game. The Nittany Lions' defense leads the league in sacks, while the athletic linebacking trio of Navorro Bowman, Josh Hull and Sean Lee is one of the best in the country. Mobile Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka lit up the Penn State defense early last week before getting hurt, though the Nittany Lions have done a good job this season in containing other running quarterbacks such as Illinois' Juice Williams and Michigan's Tate Forcier. While Ohio State's defense (11.7 points and 260 yards per game) can go toe-to-toe with the Nittany Lions, the offense has struggled at times, with much of the blame pinned on an inconsistent Pryor. Pryor started out slow ``but the last two games he's been very, very overpowering, really. He's running well, he's throwing the ball well deep,'' Paterno said. Pryor would love to do the same against the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium, especially after his fourth-quarter fumble last year set up Penn State's go-ahead score in a 13-6 loss in Columbus. Penn State fans are ready to pounce on Pryor's every move. Many blue-and-white backers still recall that during recruiting, Pryor called the Penn State campus in rural central Pennsylvania too ``countryside'' for his taste. "I came here to Ohio State to play in this type of game. I have my teammates with me, all 70 guys,'' Pryor said. "We'll feed off of that, whether it's our fans or their fans. It's going to be exciting, electric.''

Revsine's Numbers: Go inside the stats

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Revsine writes: "The craziest thing to come out of last week from a numerical point-of-view was the seemingly out of nowhere reawakening of the dormant offenses at Illinois and Minnesota, who, in an interesting coincidence, go head to head this weekend." Read much more ...

Hoosiers hope Wisconsin game spurs bowl push

MICHAEL MAROT — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.(AP) At Indiana, it comes down to this. Forget the blown leads, the narrow loss at Michigan, even the questionable calls. The Hoosiers can still become bowl-eligible with two wins in their last three games, starting Saturday with No. 24 Wisconsin. "We do realize it's still there, we still have an opportunity,'' defensive end Jammie Kirlew said. "As a senior, we feel we've put this team in the right direction, but going to a bowl game would be the icing.'' The Hoosiers (4-5, 1-4 Big Ten) are running out of chances. Two weeks ago, Indiana turned a 25-point first-half lead at Northwestern into a 29-28 loss. Last week at No. 7 Iowa, the Hoosiers again had a double-digit lead in the first half and again after three quarters but gave up four fourth-quarter touchdowns and went home with a 42-24 loss. Winning either would have been a boon to Indiana's bowl hopes. Instead, the Hoosiers face a daunting three-game stretch. First up, the newly ranked Badgers (6-2, 3-2) who haven't lost to an unranked foe all season. Then Indiana heads to No. 11 Penn State, a team it is 0-12 against all-time. On Nov. 21, they're back home against rival Purdue, which has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series including last year's 52-point sendoff for Purdue coach Joe Tiller. That leaves Indiana with no margin for error. "I don't feel any pressure because we'll be the underdog like we are every game,'' receiver Mitchell Evans said. "I think the pressure is on them.'' The reality is that Wisconsin is already bowl-eligible and after snapping a two-game losing streak with a shutout of Purdue last week, the Badgers can focus on improving their postseason resume by adding to the lopsidedness of this series. Wisconsin has won four straight over Indiana, including an embarrassing 55-20 blowout in Bloomington last year. The Badgers ran for 441 yards and had three 100-yard runners that day, the third straight game in this series Wisconsin won 30 points or more. Badgers coach Bret Bielema thinks those results will provide even more motivation for the Hoosiers this week. "I know what we're going to see on Saturday because we've had a little bit of success on them the last couple years,'' Bielema said. "I know they're going to come in, or when we go over there, they're going to be very hungry to play us.'' The Hoosiers have a pretty good idea what they'll get from Wisconsin, too - a hefty dose of power football. A year ago, 248-pound running back John Clay burned the Hoosiers for 112 yards and one touchdown. This year, Clay leads the Big Ten with 104.9 yards rushing per game and ranks among the national leaders with 10 TDs rushing. With Indiana allowing more than 145 yards per game and 15 touchdowns on the ground, there's little reason for the Badgers to change plans. Yet if Indiana overcompensates against the run, the Badgers may take advantage of the Hoosiers' banged-up secondary. Adrian Burks will replace Indiana's top cornerback, Ray Fisher, in the starting lineup after Fisher had knee surgery this week. The other cornerback, Donnell Jones, is expected to play with a brace on his injured elbow for the second straight week, and safety Nick Polk, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, is listed as questionable. It wouldn't surprise Lynch, who this week reflected on how the Badgers beat them through the air in 2006. "They can get you in a lot of different ways,'' Lynch said. "The first thing you think about is their power running game. This is the one (team) that really lines up and runs power football. They've always had big backs, but they can really get you with the pass, too.'' Or in the second half. Indiana's late struggles have again resurfaced. Northwestern and Iowa outscored Indiana 47-3 in the second half the past two weeks, and now the Hoosiers get a Wisconsin team that outscored them 31-0 in the final two quarters last year. None of that is a good omen for the Hoosiers. Then again, only one thing matters in Bloomington. "There's pressure every game but we really feel it as a senior class because we want this (a bowl bid),'' Kirlew said. "We want it to happen so much. If we bring that intensity for four quarters, I think we'll be more than ready.''

No. 8 Iowa not looking past Northwestern

LUKE MEREDITH — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Much of the buzz surrounding No. 8 Iowa has been about its resume, and whether the Hawkeyes can truly be considered national title contenders when they keep sneaking past everyone. Throw in a showdown with No. 15 Ohio State in Columbus next week that could determine the Big Ten title and Saturday's home date with Northwestern (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) has all the makings of the classic trap game. Let's be honest, though. Every week's a trap game for Iowa. The Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) have survived them all so far, despite key injuries and fourth-quarter deficits in four of the nine games. ``I think we're getting great leadership,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ``I think the team overall gets it. I'm not taking anything for granted. But I think they understand we're going to be up against it week in and week out.'' This weekend should be no different, even if the Wildcats' hopes for an upset rest on the tender left hamstring of quarterback Mike Kafka. Kafka tweaked the hamstring last week against No. 11 Penn State with the Wildcats ahead 10-3. Sophomore backup Dan Persa led Northwestern to just a field goal after that as the Nittany Lions rolled to a 34-13 win. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said he expects Kafka to play, though Persa was listed as the co-starter on a depth chart released this week. Few players in the Big Ten are as important to their team as Kafka is to Northwestern. He leads all Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yardage, completions, completion percentage and total offense, and he leads the Wildcats in rushing with 248 yards and six touchdowns. Despite Kafka's heroics, Northwestern ranks just 74th in the nation with 25.7 points per game and will face a stout Iowa defense Saturday. Iowa allowed Indiana to score just 10 points following six Hawkeyes turnovers in last week's 42-24 win. The Hawkeyes have also forced 26 turnovers this season, including 18 interceptions. ``Iowa is one of those teams you can set your watch by what they're going to do from a schematic standpoint,'' Fitzgerald said. ``They do what they do very well.'' The Hawkeyes offense has been all over the map this season, which in many ways is related to the performance of quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi had one of the worst quarters an Iowa signal caller has ever had last week, throwing four picks in the third as Indiana jumped ahead 24-14 and seemed poised to end the Hawkeyes dream season. But with the unwavering support of Ferentz, Stanzi bounced back with two quick TD throws and Iowa scored 28 points in the fourth quarter - more than they had scored in all but two games up to that point. The Hawkeyes, who have scored exactly as many points as Northwestern this season, have battled through injuries all season. They are down to their last proven running back, true freshman Brandon Wegher - though he responded with a career-best 118 yards rushing and three TDs last week. ``I think Brandon's pretty comfortable and has been,'' Ferentz said. ``You have to be patient. I think that's offense in general. You have to have patience and a lot of people don't.'' Anyone who believes that Iowa will simply cruise past Northwestern at home clearly hasn't seen the Hawkeyes play this season or doesn't know the series' recent history. Northwestern has won three of the last four in the series, stopping Iowa four times inside the Wildcats 10-yard line late in a 22-17 win in Iowa City in 2008. ``We're doing a good job of focusing on who we've got the next week,'' said Iowa wide receiver Trey Stross. ``Close games definitely make you a little nervous.''

Odrick at center of Penn State-Ohio State

Bernard Fernadez — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

THEY ARE ALL big and powerful. You don't cut it as a lineman in a major college program unless you meet certain requirements in terms of size and strength. But XXXL physical dimensions are about the only tie that binds offensive linemen to their rowdier defensive counterparts. A mental divide separates those who play on one side of the ball or the other, a divide created by a player's natural proclivities or a coach's assessment of his nature. Almost everyone agrees that Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Big Ten showdown between No. 11 Penn State (8-1, 4-1) and No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) in Beaver Stadium will be another low-scoring war of attrition, settled in the trenches by straining giants. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are ranked first and second in the conference in virtually every team defensive category, which suggests another round of smash-mouth football. First group to hammer a crack in the other side's Wall of Jericho triumphs. "It's almost always a situation that comes down to whoever's offensive line does the best job of controlling the defense is going to win," judged Penn State senior left tackle Dennis Landolt, of South Jersey's Holy Cross High. That's one way of looking at it. The opposing view, of course, is that whoever's defensive line does the best job of controlling the offense is going to win. The objective is the same, but the path to that common goal is often altered by perspective. It is axiomatic that offensive linemen and defensive linemen are, well, different. The prevailing image of o-linemen is that of orderly types who knot their ties just so, hang their clothes neatly and are very good at following directions. The best blocking fronts are all about cohesion. D-linemen are rumpled, wild-eyed reactionaries. Oh, sure, there are general scripts they are asked to memorize, but rewrites of the game plan can occur on every snap. "A mental component? I'm not sure," Penn State senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick said when asked what ultimately determines whether a lineman is more suited to offense or defense. "As a defensive lineman, you always have to have the mind-set that you want to play fast, you want to play reckless. It's all about reaction and being able to go full speed. If a play goes in the opposite direction or if something happens that you weren't expecting, you have to be able to react and adjust. "On offense, you know the play that's been called. You know the snap count. You see where the defense is lined up. You have to react on offense, but not nearly as much as you do on defense." The 6-5, 306-pound Odrick is a bundle of combustible energy. Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and d-line coach Larry Johnson both call him the best three-technique player in the country, but that defines the scope of his duties too narrowly. Odrick is the subject of more game-planning by opposing coaches than any other Penn State defensive player; he has to fight through double-teams on almost every play, as guys in different-colored jerseys come at him from myriad directions. The price Odrick pays for all that attention is that he frequently gives up his body so that a teammate can fill a hole and make the stop. But every now and then, his power and quickness enable him to defeat the combo blocks, resulting in a sack or a tackle for loss. And those occasions are the most satisfying of all . . . fun, even. Odrick has played defense since he arrived in Happy Valley in 2006, but part of the reason for Penn State's tradition of success is that the veteran coaching staff is so astute at making position changes that bring out the best in every player. Levi Brown was an All-America left tackle at Penn State and the Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 2007, but the 6-5, 328-pounder acknowledged being disappointed when he was told, after redshirting as a freshman in 2002, that he was switching to offense. "I loved playing defense," Brown said before his senior season with the Nits. "On defense, you just go get whoever has the ball. You can take off the wrong way, but as long as you get in on the play, everything's OK. "Offense is different. There are more rules for offensive linemen. You can't hold. On defense, you can pull, you can hold, throw guys on the ground if you want. On offense, you have to be more controlled. You have to keep things more on the inside." Reminded of Brown's initial reluctance to switch, Odrick said he understood. "Levi wanted to be a defensive tackle, so I can see where he was upset," Odrick said. "But I'm pretty sure he's not upset now." * Copyright 2009 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLCAll Rights Reserved

Pryor, Clark took different paths to QB jobs

GENARO C. ARMAS — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.(AP) Lost in the hoopla over Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's trip home to Pennsylvania this weekend is the story of how Penn State found its own signal-caller in the Buckeyes' backyard. Cool in the pocket and confident in the locker room, Youngstown, Ohio-native Daryll Clark has turned into a star with the No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten). Pryor's visit Saturday to Beaver Stadium will be his first since signing with No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) more than 18 months ago to end a heated recruiting race. Still, things have turned out just fine in Happy Valley. "I've tried to say time and time again ... I think Daryll Clark has been an outstanding performer for us,'' Penn State coach Joe Paterno said this week before adding his signature phrase reserved for his favorite Nittany Lions. "Daryll Clark is one heck of a football player.'' Penn State is 19-3 since Clark took over as the starter in 2008. Clark's 37 career touchdown passes are four shy of tying the school record, and his 20 rushing touchdowns ties him with mentor Michael Robinson for most TDs on the ground by a Nittany Lions QB. And to think, just two years ago, hardcore Penn State fans were giddy about pursuing Pryor, the quarterback phenom out of Jeannette, Pa. What was not to love about Pryor? A 6-foot-6 phenom from a western Pennsylvania region known as the Cradle of Quarterbacks for producing the likes of Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath, Pryor was the only player in state high school history to rush for more than 4,000 yards and throw for more than 4,000 in a career. In contrast, Clark was a mid-level recruit upon graduating from Ursuline High in Youngstown in 2004. "Clark was a completely under-the-radar kind of guy,'' said Mark Brennan, the editor of FightonState.com, which covers Penn State recruiting. ``People knew about him, but he was not the kind of five-star, all-everything prospect that Pryor was.'' After spending a year in prep school to brush up on grades, Clark joined the Nittany Lions in 2006, the first of two seasons backing up Anthony Morelli - himself a highly touted QB from western Pennsylvania. The Pryor recruiting sweepstakes followed the next year. Clark helped out trying to lure a prospect who could potentially leapfrog him on the depth chart. "That was kind of a difficult time for him. ... He felt a little uncomfortable,'' Clark's father, Daryll Clark, Sr., said in a phone interview. "But he handled it well. He played his part.'' The ending is well-known now in Big Ten circles. Pryor couldn't make a choice by the February 2008 date that opened the formal signing period, and took about another month before deciding on Ohio State over Penn State, Michigan and Oregon. But that still didn't clear the way for Clark in Happy Valley. Also on the Penn State roster at the time was highly touted sophomore Pat Devlin, who had set the Pennsylvania career prep passing record with 8,162 yards at Downingtown East. Clark finally secured the starting job after outplaying Devlin in 2008 preseason camp. Clark may not have the explosive running ability that Robinson had, but he is the more polished passer with the ability to scramble out of trouble and bowl over defenders if needed. "Offensively they have the blessing of having a very veteran quarterback who you've seen grow as each year's gone,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. There have been some knocks on Clark, as expected with the high-profile job of Penn State starting quarterback. Most notably, some critics or columnists will point out that Clark has faltered in some big games. Arguably his two worst performances of his career have come in losses to Iowa in September and last season. He threw two picks in the final three minutes of the Rose Bowl loss last season against Southern California as Penn State tried to rally from a back from a 24-point deficit. Clark was mostly ineffective before being knocked out in the third quarter of last season's win at Ohio State because of a concussion. Devlin ran for the go-ahead touchdown in relief. Recruiting-wise though, Clark's emergence and Devlin's transfer last year seems to have made it easier for Penn State to land dual-threat prospects, said Mike Farrell, an analyst with Rivals.com. Touted freshman Kevin Newsome is now Clark's backup, and Penn State has verbal commitments from two prized recruits in next year's class. Depending on how those prospects pan out, ``losing Pryor might not hurt them at all,'' Farrell said. Instead of tutoring Pryor as a teammate, Clark will be facing him Saturday. Pryor, a sophomore, would like nothing better than to atone for his fourth-quarter fumble last season against the Nittany Lions that set up Devlin's score. A good outing could placate critics who blame Pryor for Ohio State's struggles, as well as silence Penn State fans expected to shower him with taunts. "I'm sure they're going to be giving me a lot of stuff, saying a lot of things, but I won't hear any of it,'' Pryor said last weekend after a 45-0 rout of New Mexico State. Clark, a senior, would like to play well in his last game against his home-state rivals, and get his team back to the BCS. His proud father will be in the stands to root him on. "People in this area, us being from Ohio, a lot of people that know us and our family, they want the Buckeyes to win,'' Clark's father said, 'but they want Daryll to do well.''