Muck;613498; said:So the Big10 has the best out of conference record but is questionable because two of the worst teams in the league had bad losses?
Yeah, Indiana should be Div. 1AA!!
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Yeah, Indiana should be Div. 1AA!!
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OSU opens Big 10 play with big game
Buckeyes set to play at home against the last team to beat them
By JON SPENCER
Gannett News Service
COLUMBUS - Bobbleheads don't wobble as much as Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith did last October at Penn State.
Memories are still fresh of the football - or was that Smith's noggin? - bouncing on the Beaver Stadium turf as he got hammered on a sack, sealing OSU's 17-10 loss.
It was a savage hit, but one Smith believes ultimately brought the Buckeyes to their senses. They haven't lost since.
"I think we came to an agreement and understanding that only we can stop us," Smith said about the 10-game winning streak top-ranked Ohio State carries into today's rematch of defending Big Ten co-champions."I'm kind of cocky in saying it - and hopefully it doesn't shoot me in the foot - but I truly, honestly believe that only we can stop us. This team is going to go as far as we want it to go."
In the 10 games since his two turnovers gift-wrapped that Penn State victory, Smith has completed 68 percent of his passes for just under 250 yards per game. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes and been intercepted just twice. He's gone five-plus games without a pick, spanning 151 attempts.
Fumble-prone in the past, Smith hasn't fumbled once this season. One explanation could be he isn't carrying the ball as much after rushing for 950 yards on 218 attempts the last two seasons. But it probably speaks more to his evolution as a poised and confident leader.
"Maybe in the back of his mind was, if I don't like what I see, I'll run," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "He's not running as much, whether it's the coaches don't want him to or he has more confidence in his ability to read what the defense is doing. No one ever questioned his arm. It was a question of whether he could do the things a big-time quarterback has to do in the passing game."
That question has been answered. Ted Ginn Jr. has caught five touchdown passes, which ranks second in the nation. Anthony Gonzalez has a team-high 17 catches, 16 for first downs. Twelve Buckeyes have caught passes to complement a running attack that is getting nearly 7 yards a crack from Antonio Pittman.
No wonder Paterno gets exasperated when asked if the Nittany Lions will try and pressure Smith more than they did Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in a 41-17 rout by the Irish two weeks ago.
"Yeah, sure - try to catch him," Paterno said. "You put pressure on him and you are running around trying to make sure the other kids aren't running wild on you. We're going to have to play a lot of people because they are going to get tired."
Paterno joked about seeking divine intervention.
"What do you do? You go in there and pray," Paterno said. "You got a good prayer to St. Jude for hopeless causes or something?"
Paterno may find himself sharing a church pew with OSU coach Jim Tressel. Led by multi-taskers Derrick Williams and A.J. Wallace, a freshman, the Lions can unleash frightening speed. Their problem has been getting cannon-armed quarterback Anthony Morelli to make good use of his arsenal.
If a bendable OSU defense again avoids breaking, the Buckeyes should be able to hang onto their No. 1 ranking entering next Saturday's night game at No. 14 Iowa. They've already beaten defending national champion Texas. Now they have a chance to avenge their other 2005 loss.
"We're not looking at it as revenge," center Doug Datish said. "It's another game in the season and if we lose it, everything we've accomplished will be for naught."
OSU opens Big 10 play with big game
Buckeyes set to play at home against the last team to beat them
By JON SPENCER
Gannett News Service
COLUMBUS - Bobbleheads don't wobble as much as Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith did last October at Penn State.
Memories are still fresh of the football - or was that Smith's noggin? - bouncing on the Beaver Stadium turf as he got hammered on a sack, sealing OSU's 17-10 loss.
It was a savage hit, but one Smith believes ultimately brought the Buckeyes to their senses. They haven't lost since.
"I think we came to an agreement and understanding that only we can stop us," Smith said about the 10-game winning streak top-ranked Ohio State carries into today's rematch of defending Big Ten co-champions."I'm kind of cocky in saying it - and hopefully it doesn't shoot me in the foot - but I truly, honestly believe that only we can stop us. This team is going to go as far as we want it to go."
In the 10 games since his two turnovers gift-wrapped that Penn State victory, Smith has completed 68 percent of his passes for just under 250 yards per game. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes and been intercepted just twice. He's gone five-plus games without a pick, spanning 151 attempts.
Fumble-prone in the past, Smith hasn't fumbled once this season. One explanation could be he isn't carrying the ball as much after rushing for 950 yards on 218 attempts the last two seasons. But it probably speaks more to his evolution as a poised and confident leader.
"Maybe in the back of his mind was, if I don't like what I see, I'll run," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "He's not running as much, whether it's the coaches don't want him to or he has more confidence in his ability to read what the defense is doing. No one ever questioned his arm. It was a question of whether he could do the things a big-time quarterback has to do in the passing game."
That question has been answered. Ted Ginn Jr. has caught five touchdown passes, which ranks second in the nation. Anthony Gonzalez has a team-high 17 catches, 16 for first downs. Twelve Buckeyes have caught passes to complement a running attack that is getting nearly 7 yards a crack from Antonio Pittman.
No wonder Paterno gets exasperated when asked if the Nittany Lions will try and pressure Smith more than they did Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in a 41-17 rout by the Irish two weeks ago.
"Yeah, sure - try to catch him," Paterno said. "You put pressure on him and you are running around trying to make sure the other kids aren't running wild on you. We're going to have to play a lot of people because they are going to get tired."
Paterno joked about seeking divine intervention.
"What do you do? You go in there and pray," Paterno said. "You got a good prayer to St. Jude for hopeless causes or something?"
Paterno may find himself sharing a church pew with OSU coach Jim Tressel. Led by multi-taskers Derrick Williams and A.J. Wallace, a freshman, the Lions can unleash frightening speed. Their problem has been getting cannon-armed quarterback Anthony Morelli to make good use of his arsenal.
If a bendable OSU defense again avoids breaking, the Buckeyes should be able to hang onto their No. 1 ranking entering next Saturday's night game at No. 14 Iowa. They've already beaten defending national champion Texas. Now they have a chance to avenge their other 2005 loss.
"We're not looking at it as revenge," center Doug Datish said. "It's another game in the season and if we lose it, everything we've accomplished will be for naught."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
BIG TEN ROUNDUP
Iowa handles Illinois in tuneup for Ohio State
Sunday, September 24, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SETH PERLMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Iowa's Albert Young breaks through the grasp of Illinois? Alan Ball.
No . 14 Iowa 24, Illlinois 7 ?
Drew Tate passed for 190 yards and No. 14 Iowa scored three touchdowns late in the second quarter yesterday en route to a Big Ten victory over Illinois in Champaign, Ill.
Tate completed 17 of 27 passes to lead an offense that gained 344 yards. He was intercepted near the goal line early in the second quarter by Kevin Mitchell, but the Hawkeyes took control after that.
Damian Sims scored on a 1-yard run with just under six minutes left in the half after a short punt gave Iowa (4-0, 1-0) possession at the Illinois 31-yard line. Albert Young added a 6-yard run three minutes later.
Tate then connected with Tony Moeaki for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:47 left in the half after Miguel Merrick intercepted Tim Brasic. That made it 21-0.
Next up for Iowa is No. 1 Ohio State at home.
Young had six catches for 40 yards to go with his team-high 57 yards rushing, and Dominique Douglas had five catches for 64 yards.
Illinois (1-3, 0-1) was unable to move the ball for three quarters and lost its 10 th straight Big Ten game. The Illini finished with 315 yards, 149 coming during the fourth quarter.
Freshman Isiah Williams started at quarterback for Illinois and struggled, going 9 of 32 for 161 yards, three interceptions and one touchdown. It was a steep drop from the previous week, when he relieved Brasic and threw for 227 yards against Syracuse.
Brasic was 3 of 7 for 33 yards ? all in the closing minutes of the second quarter. His first pass went right to Merrick at the Illinois 40, and he spent the second half on the sideline. Pierre Thomas led the Illini with 50 yards rushing.
Iowa threatened early in the second quarter, driving to the Illinois 16. But after an 8-yard sack, Tate was intercepted near the goal line by Mitchell on third-and-15.
Illinois could not take advantage. A 12-yard punt by Kyle Yelton gave Iowa possession on the Illinois 31 and set up the game?s first touchdown.
The Hawkeyes pulled away from there and gave coach Kirk Ferentz his 54 th win at Iowa. That gave him sole possession of second place on the school?s all-time list, ahead of Forest Evashevski and behind Hayden Fry, who won 143 games.
Purdue 27, Minnesota 21 ? Curtis Painter passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns to help Purdue beat Minnesota in West Lafayette, Ind.
Running back Jaycen Taylor gained 110 total yards and scored twice, and Dustin Keller had six catches for 119 yards for the Boilermakers (4-0, 1-0), who will take a seven-game winning streak into the game next week at Notre Dame.
Amir Pinnix led Minnesota (2-2, 0-1) with 173 yards on 28 carries and Bryan Cupito passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams finished with 421 yards.
Connecticut 14, Indiana 7 ?
Danny Lansanah returned an interception for a touchdown and Lou Allen broke a tackle on his 35-yard TD run to help Connecticut beat Indiana in Bloomington, Ind.
The game wasn?t pretty offensively with the teams combining for seven turnovers.
UConn (2-1) was just good enough. It outrushed the Hoosiers 257-0, highlighted by Allen?s TD run and Terry Caulley?s 57-yarder in the first half. Caulley carried 32 times for 155 yards. Meanwhile, Indiana (2-2) struggled again without leading receiver James Hardy, who missed his second straight game because of a suspension. Coach Terry Hoeppner, who had brain surgery Sept. 13, watched from the coach?s box.
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Dispatch
NOTEBOOK
Michigan defense is stingy vs. the run
Monday, September 25, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The numbers that indicate how well a college football team stops the run can be misleading because sacks count against rushing totals, unlike the NFL where sacks impact net passing.
But any way you slice it, Michigan has been tough to run against this season.
The Wolverines held Wisconsin to 12 yards rushing in their 27-13 win Saturday, dropping opponents to an average of just 18.5 yards rushing.
"We?re setting the tone," defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. "The defense controls the scoreboard."
Wisconsin?s P.J. Hill, who entered the game averaging a Big Ten-best 138.3 yards rushing, ran for 23 yards on his first two carries but finished with 54 yards on 20 attempts.
Michigan sacked John Stocco four times, leading to his minus-34 yards rushing, and tackled backup running back Dywon Rowan for a loss of 8 yards on his two carries.
"One of our first goals was to run the football with persistence and power," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "We weren?t able to do that, especially in the second half."
Spartans vow to rebound
Michigan State players insist Notre Dame?s pulse-pounding comeback in a dizzying fourth quarter won?t become the defining moment of their season.
"There?s still a lot of good things that will happen with this football team," quarterback Drew Stanton said after the loss. "There?s no doubt about that."
Even so, the Spartans? 40-37 loss to the No. 12 Irish on Saturday night likely will go down as one of the program?s most frustrating games.
"We have to make better calls and better plays," Michigan State coach John L. Smith said. "We?ll get up tomorrow and go to work."
Michigan State (3-1) opens its Big Ten schedule Saturday, playing host to Illinois. The Spartans must avoid mistakes like the ones they made late against Notre Dame (3-1) if they are to contend for the conference championship.
Smith isn?t the first Spartans coach to watch potentially huge victories turn into frustrating defeats. Every recent Michigan State coach has suffered through seemingly snakebitten moments, including Nick Saban, whose 34-24-1 record from 1995 through 1999 ranks as the program?s best career mark since the early 1970s. Smith?s 21-19 record through 40 games is nearly identical to Saban?s 20-19-1 mark.
Yes , Rutgers
No joke. Rutgers is ranked.
The Scarlet Knights, long a college football laughingstock, moved into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 30 years yesterday.
No. 23 Rutgers (4-0), led by tailback Ray Rice, the fourthleading rusher in the nation, is off to its best start since 1980 after beating Howard 56-7 on Saturday.
"I?m not going to downplay it. It is significant considering where we started," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "It shows we?re making progress in the right direction."
The Scarlet Knights were one of three new teams at the bottom of the new media poll, which was mostly unchanged at the top. The other new teams in the poll were No. 24 Georgia Tech (3-1), which has lost only to Notre Dame in its opener, and No. 25 Missouri (4-0).
NOTEBOOK
Michigan defense is stingy vs. the run
Monday, September 25, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The numbers that indicate how well a college football team stops the run can be misleading because sacks count against rushing totals, unlike the NFL where sacks impact net passing.
But any way you slice it, Michigan has been tough to run against this season.
The Wolverines held Wisconsin to 12 yards rushing in their 27-13 win Saturday, dropping opponents to an average of just 18.5 yards rushing.
"We?re setting the tone," defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. "The defense controls the scoreboard."
Wisconsin?s P.J. Hill, who entered the game averaging a Big Ten-best 138.3 yards rushing, ran for 23 yards on his first two carries but finished with 54 yards on 20 attempts.
Michigan sacked John Stocco four times, leading to his minus-34 yards rushing, and tackled backup running back Dywon Rowan for a loss of 8 yards on his two carries.
"One of our first goals was to run the football with persistence and power," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "We weren?t able to do that, especially in the second half."
Spartans vow to rebound
Michigan State players insist Notre Dame?s pulse-pounding comeback in a dizzying fourth quarter won?t become the defining moment of their season.
"There?s still a lot of good things that will happen with this football team," quarterback Drew Stanton said after the loss. "There?s no doubt about that."
Even so, the Spartans? 40-37 loss to the No. 12 Irish on Saturday night likely will go down as one of the program?s most frustrating games.
"We have to make better calls and better plays," Michigan State coach John L. Smith said. "We?ll get up tomorrow and go to work."
Michigan State (3-1) opens its Big Ten schedule Saturday, playing host to Illinois. The Spartans must avoid mistakes like the ones they made late against Notre Dame (3-1) if they are to contend for the conference championship.
Smith isn?t the first Spartans coach to watch potentially huge victories turn into frustrating defeats. Every recent Michigan State coach has suffered through seemingly snakebitten moments, including Nick Saban, whose 34-24-1 record from 1995 through 1999 ranks as the program?s best career mark since the early 1970s. Smith?s 21-19 record through 40 games is nearly identical to Saban?s 20-19-1 mark.
Yes , Rutgers
No joke. Rutgers is ranked.
The Scarlet Knights, long a college football laughingstock, moved into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 30 years yesterday.
No. 23 Rutgers (4-0), led by tailback Ray Rice, the fourthleading rusher in the nation, is off to its best start since 1980 after beating Howard 56-7 on Saturday.
"I?m not going to downplay it. It is significant considering where we started," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "It shows we?re making progress in the right direction."
The Scarlet Knights were one of three new teams at the bottom of the new media poll, which was mostly unchanged at the top. The other new teams in the poll were No. 24 Georgia Tech (3-1), which has lost only to Notre Dame in its opener, and No. 25 Missouri (4-0).
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EyesofMarch
Freshman
Big Ten News Flash
Ohio State is ruling all sorts of a$$ right now. They are pushing IOWA all over the place. Not that anyone around needed to be reminded.
:osu:
Ohio State is ruling all sorts of a$$ right now. They are pushing IOWA all over the place. Not that anyone around needed to be reminded.
:osu:
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
ILLINOIS 23 MICHIGAN STATE 20
Illini add to Spartans? woes
Illinois posts first victory in Big Ten since 2004
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Tim Martin
ASSOCIATED PRESS
RASHAUN RUCKER DETROIT FREE PRESS A brief brawl resulted after the game when Illinois players tried to plant the school flag at midfield.
EAST LANSING, Mich. ? It had been so long since Illinois had won a Big Ten game that the Illini ran into some problems celebrating their victory.
Illinois players rushed to plant their school flag at midfield of Spartan Stadium after their 23-20 victory yesterday ended a 10-game Big Ten skid that began in 2004. Players from both sides briefly traded pushes and shoves before heading to their respective locker rooms.
Jason Reda?s 39-yard field goal with six seconds remaining lifted Illinois (2-3, 1-1).
Second-year Illinois coach Ron Zook apologized for the midfield incident.
"Once again, it?s part of learning how to win," he said. "We?ll learn how to win and not do those things."
But Zook also savored the victory, perhaps his biggest since joining the Illini ? who entered the game as 26-point underdogs.
"I want them to understand that feeling and get hungry for that feeling and know that we?ve got to work harder to get some more wins," Zook said.
The loss was the second straight for Michigan State (3-2, 0-1), which was still reeling from giving up a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead against Notre Dame last week to lose 40-37.
The homecoming crowd often booed Michigan State coach John L. Smith and his players.
"We didn?t get the kids prepared to play the game," an emotional Smith said. "And if you go out unprepared emotionally and mentally, you?re going to lose and you deserve to lose."
The Illini got a big lift from freshman quarterback Isiah Williams, who made his second career start. He ran for 103 yards on 17 carries and completed 9 of 16 passes for 122 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
Illinois led 20-10 entering the fourth quarter.
The Spartans cut the lead to 20-17 with the help of a video replay that reversed a fumble call and kept a drive alive inside the Illini 20. After reviewing video, officials ruled that quarterback Drew Stanton?s arm had started to move forward and the play was ruled an incomplete pass.
Stanton was hurt on the play and was replaced by backup Brian Hoyer. Jehuu Caulcrick scored on a 1-yard TD plunge to cap the drive with 6:42 left.
Illinois couldn?t move the ball on its next possession and Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson connected on a 27-yard field goal with 2:46 left to tie the score at 20.
Williams then engineered a 10-play, 58-yard drive to give Reda a shot at the winning kick.
"We?re the fighting Illini, not the laydown Illini," Williams said. Pierre Thomas had 110 yards on 18 carries for the Illini, whose last Big Ten win before yesterday was Nov. 6, 2004 ? a 26-22 victory over Indiana.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
BIG TEN ROUNDUP
Quinn, Walker carry Irish past Boilermakers
Sunday, October 01, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
</IMG> Penn State receiver Deon Butler, right, beats Northwestern cornerback Sherrick McManis to the ball. Butler set a school record with 216 yards receiving.
No. 12 Notre Dame 35, Purdue 21 ? Brady Quinn threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns and Darius Walker ran for 146 yards to lead Notre Dame over Purdue yesterday in South Bend, Ind.
The Fighting Irish withstood a big day by Curtis Painter and Purdue?s offense. Painter was 23 of 46 for 398 yards and Selwyn Lymon had eight catches for 238 yards ? the second most by a Purdue receiver and the most ever by an Irish opponent.
Rhema McKnight added a career-high 10 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns as the Fighting Irish (4-1), who scored on four of their first five possessions, had a season-high 454 total yards and led 28-7 late in the first half.
Purdue (4-1), which had 490 yards, had several big plays, including an 88-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Lymon late in the first half. But the Irish defense came up with big plays when it had to, including Terrail Lambert forcing Dustin Keller to fumble on the Notre Dame 37 when the Boilermakers were threatening to cut into a 21-7 lead.
Penn State 33, Northwestern 7 ? Deon Butler set a Penn State record with 216 yards receiving yards and Tony Hunt ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns to lead Penn State (3-2, 1-1) over Northwestern (2-3, 0-1) in State College, Pa.
Linebacker Sean Lee had a sack and an interception to thwart back-to-back Northwestern drives in the third quarter, and Penn State took advantage each time by following up with scoring runs by Hunt to break open the game.
The second TD, from 6 yards, was trademark Hunt ? stopped just short of the goal line before trudging forward, with help by a gaggle of teammates, to give the Nittany Lions a 33-7 lead.
Penn State was able to move the ball most of the day behind Hunt and long completions from Anthony Morelli to Butler. The Lions outgained the Wildcats 329-127 by halftime but led just 16-7 after having to settle for field goals early. Penn State broke the game open in the third quarter.
Butler finished with 11 catches and set the Penn State record on his last reception, a 7-yarder late in the fourth quarter. Butler broke O.J. McDuffie?s receiving yards mark of 212, set against Boston College in 1992.
Wisconsin 52, Indiana 17 ? John Stocco threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, and redshirt freshman P.J. Hill ran for 129 yards and three TDs to lead Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1) over Indiana (2-3, 0-1) in Bloomington, Ind.
The Badgers had 390 yards of offense and five TDs in seven first-half possessions. They finished with 539 yards. The Hoosiers hoped the return of coach Terry Hoeppner and receiver James Hardy, its top player, would help end a two-game losing streak. Hoeppner missed the last two weeks after having brain surgery Sept. 13, and Hardy returned after a twogame suspension.
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Big Ten doles out sanctions
October 5, 2006
The Associated Press
Illinois and Michigan State were fined $10,000 apiece and coaches Ron Zook and John L. Smith were reprimanded Wednesday by the Big Ten as the result of a post-game altercation between players from both teams Saturday. Moments after Illinois upset Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., 23-20, Illini players attempted to plant their school flag at midfield of Spartan Stadium. That led to pushing and shoving between several players on each side before order was restored and the teams went to their locker rooms.
Zook of Illinois and Smith of Michigan State were reprimanded for failing to "ensure that their teams conducted themselves in an acceptable fashion," the Big Ten said in a statement.
Zook apologized after the game.
? Click to enlarge image
Michigan State coach John L. Smith (left) and Illinois coach Ron Zook (right) try to separate scuffling players following the Fighting Illini's win last Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
Al Goldis / the associated press
"Once again, it's part of learning how to win," he said. "We'll learn how to win and not do those things." In levying the punishment, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany issued a statement:
"The Big Ten and its member institutions, coaches, student-athletes and fans place a high value on competing fairly and with dignity regardless of the competitive outcome," he said. "The conduct of the players last week in the postgame environment violated our rules and expectations for student-athletes.
Big Ten doles out sanctions
October 5, 2006
The Associated Press
Illinois and Michigan State were fined $10,000 apiece and coaches Ron Zook and John L. Smith were reprimanded Wednesday by the Big Ten as the result of a post-game altercation between players from both teams Saturday. Moments after Illinois upset Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., 23-20, Illini players attempted to plant their school flag at midfield of Spartan Stadium. That led to pushing and shoving between several players on each side before order was restored and the teams went to their locker rooms.
Zook of Illinois and Smith of Michigan State were reprimanded for failing to "ensure that their teams conducted themselves in an acceptable fashion," the Big Ten said in a statement.
Zook apologized after the game.
? Click to enlarge image
Michigan State coach John L. Smith (left) and Illinois coach Ron Zook (right) try to separate scuffling players following the Fighting Illini's win last Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. Al Goldis / the associated press
"Once again, it's part of learning how to win," he said. "We'll learn how to win and not do those things." In levying the punishment, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany issued a statement:
"The Big Ten and its member institutions, coaches, student-athletes and fans place a high value on competing fairly and with dignity regardless of the competitive outcome," he said. "The conduct of the players last week in the postgame environment violated our rules and expectations for student-athletes.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
BIG TEN ROUNDUP
Extra-point failure foils Minnesota
Shank in overtime sets stage for win by Penn State
Sunday, October 08, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
</IMG> Tony Hunt bulls across the goal line for a touchdown in overtime, setting up Kevin Kelly?s winning point-after for Penn State against Minnesota.
Penn State 28, Minnesota 27, OT ?
Kevin Kelly knows what it feels like to be in Jason Giannini?s shoes.
After watching Giannini shank the extra point in overtime that ultimately cost Minnesota the game yesterday in Minneapolis, Kelly went looking for his fellow kicker but couldn?t find him.
"It?s really frustrating when that happens, especially in overtime," Kelly said. "I?ve been in that situation before and I?m feeling for him."
Tony Hunt rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, the last in overtime, and Kelly made his extra point to give Penn State the Big Ten victory.
The Nittany Lions (4-2, 2-1) took advantage of Giannini?s miss and a questionable pass interference call.
Bryan Cupito threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, the last one a 25-yarder to Eric Decker that gave the Gophers (2-4, 0-3) a 27-21 lead in overtime. But Giannini, who missed eight extra-point attempts last season, hit the left upright with his kick.
Giannini was unavailable for comment.
"What do you do to console him?" Gophers coach Glen Mason said. "You expect to make those things. ... But that?s why you kick it, because it?s not automatic."
The Gophers still appeared to be in good shape with Penn State facing a fourth-and-9 from the 24-yard line. But Trumaine Banks was called for pass interference for what appeared to be a clean breakup of Anthony Morelli?s throw to Deon Butler, giving the Lions a first down at the 12.
Derrick Williams rushed 10 yards to the 2, and Hunt capped a workhorse day with a tough run to tie the score. Kelly then drilled the extra point.
"I thought we made the play, the game was over, and I was halfway across the field and saw the flag fly," Mason said of Banks? penalty. "I hope it was a blatant foul on my guy. I hope that."
Morelli threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns despite playing with a dislocated ring finger on his left (non-throwing) hand. The last touchdown throw gave Penn State a 21-14 lead with 5:30 to play.
Penn State still held that lead when Minnesota took the ball at its own 14 with 2:33 to go, but Cupito drove the Gophers 86 yards in 1:31 to tie it.
Hunt carried Penn State for most of the game, and it was fitting that he won it in overtime.
Hunt rushed 31 times and became the first Penn State back to top 100 yards in four straight games since Larry Johnson did it in 2002.
No . 19 Iowa 47, Purdue 17 ?
Drew Tate threw two touchdown passes and Damian Sims ran for two scores in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa (5-1, 2-1) jumped out to an early lead and rolled up 286 yards rushing and a season-high 539 total yards. The Hawkeyes defense, picked apart in a 38-17 loss to Ohio State the previous week, did its best to keep Purdue?s potent offense in check.
Purdue (4-2, 1-1) entered the game with an average of 36.8 points per game and the nation?s fifth-best passing offense. The Boilermakers amassed 456 total yards, but much of that came in the second half when they trailed by as many as 24 points.
The Hawkeyes intercepted Purdue quarterback Chris Painter twice.
Wisconsin 41, Northwestern 9 ?
P.J. Hill rushed for 249 yards, including a long touchdown run on the second play of the game, for Wisconsin (5-1, 2-1) in Madison, Wis.
Hill, a 242-pound redshirt freshman who is drawing early comparisons with former Badgers standout Ron Dayne, took a handoff on the second play from scrimmage, rumbling to the right and accelerating away from the Northwestern secondary for a 60-yard touchdown.
Northwestern (2-4, 0-2) couldn?t stop Hill in the first half. He passed 100 yards with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter ? his fifth 100-yard game this season.
Indiana 34, Illinois 32 ?
Austin Starr kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift Indiana (3-3, 1-1) in Champaign, Ill.
It was the Hoosiers? first Big Ten road win under second-year coach Terry Hoeppner. Illinois (2-4, 1-2) jumped out to a 25-7 lead early in the second quarter behind freshman quarterback Isiah "Juice" Williams, who threw two touchdown passess to Kyle Hudson in the first quarter.
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UW offense makes mark on Big Ten
by Ben Solochek
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Badgers offense was a major concern coming into the 2006 season, but those concerns have officially been put to rest.
If UW head coach Bret Bielema needed any more affirmation of this ? besides watching his team enjoy back-to-back 500-yard games ? it came when running back P.J. Hill became the second Badger to earn the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award in as many weeks, with quarterback John Stocco winning it last week.
Hill shared the honor with Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. Last weekend, Hill carried the ball 35 times and ran for 249 yards ? including a 60-yard run for a touchdown on the second play of the game.
One of the concerns that Bielema addressed at his weekly press conference Monday was Hill?s ability to withstand the physical wear and tear of having a large number of carries week in and week out.
?There are certain things that we have done during the course of the week and made certain adjustments during practice of the things that he goes through or doesn?t go through,? Bielema said. ?Also, we limit the contact that he goes through from our own players during the course of the week. Our players also realize that we are a better team when P.J. is playing.?
Hill split Bielema?s choice for UW offensive MVP of the week with tight end Travis Beckum, who quietly hauled in eight catches for 107 yards, both game highs, against the Wildcats.
?I thought [Travis] made a giant step forward, not only in the passing game, but some of the things that he was able to do in the running game,? Bielema said.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and defensive end Matt Shaughnessy were named the co-defensive most valuable players. According to Bielema, Ikegwuonu has been playing very well the last few weeks and had a very good game against Northwestern, even though he has not put up stellar numbers.
?[He] doesn?t have as many stats as we would like to see, but this is because they are not really coming his way,? Bielema said. ?There are certain things that he is doing [well], not only on defense, but also on special teams.?
Take a number
The Badgers made their debut in the rankings this week. They are now ranked No. 25 in the nation in this week?s Associated Press Poll, receiving 86 votes.
However, Bielema was not flattered by the national recognition. Instead, he said he looks at it as somewhat of a distraction to his players.
?I really appreciate the ranking and everything that comes into it,? Bielema said. ?I knew it would become an issue, not just from the media and the questions that they were going to be asked, but now they are going to walk into the classroom and people are going to make reference to it.?
He emphasized that the players must keep working hard and maintain Bielema?s mentality.
?The reason we are in this situation is the focus that we have had and we have kept the ?1-0? mentality,? Bielema said. ?If we falter off of that, we can lose that same position as fast as we earned it. ?
No rest for the weary
The question arose of the Badgers not having a bye week this season. Wisconsin has hit the halfway point of a grueling 12-game stretch in consecutive weeks. This could have a big impact not only on the health of the players, but also keeping the ?1-0? mentality that Bielema has been pushing on his players and his coaches.
?What we try to do is understand where we are with our players,? Bielema said. ?Some guys, no matter what you do to them during the course of the game, they?re always going to come back on Sunday, and especially giving them Monday off, are going to come back on Tuesday for a strong practice.?
Bielema didn?t say either way definitively whether he would prefer to have a bye week or would he rather just keep on moving through the season.
?I have nothing to compare it to as a head coach,? Bielema said. ?As an assistant coach, you always look forward to those off-weeks because you look forward for your players to have a chance to get healthy.?
Hubbard, O-line updates
One of the major health issues that Bielema addressed was the injury that Paul Hubbard sustained last weekend. Hubbard has been a large contributor to the young receiving core. He has had 19 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
?Sunday?s practice, we didn?t practice him,? Bielema said of Hubbard, who appeared to be knocked out with a concussion Saturday. ?But we expect him to go out there [Tuesday] and be able to bounce back.?
One of the concerns that some have had was how good the offensive line would be. The O-line lost four starters from last year, which created some skepticism among critics and fans.
However, Bielema feels that they have made a lot of progress, not only from last spring, but this year as well.
?This was probably the best performance this past weekend in overall pass protection from first quarter to fourth quarter,? Bielema said. ?I can?t say enough positive things.?
UW offense makes mark on Big Ten
by Ben Solochek
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Badgers offense was a major concern coming into the 2006 season, but those concerns have officially been put to rest.
If UW head coach Bret Bielema needed any more affirmation of this ? besides watching his team enjoy back-to-back 500-yard games ? it came when running back P.J. Hill became the second Badger to earn the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award in as many weeks, with quarterback John Stocco winning it last week.
Hill shared the honor with Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. Last weekend, Hill carried the ball 35 times and ran for 249 yards ? including a 60-yard run for a touchdown on the second play of the game.
One of the concerns that Bielema addressed at his weekly press conference Monday was Hill?s ability to withstand the physical wear and tear of having a large number of carries week in and week out.
?There are certain things that we have done during the course of the week and made certain adjustments during practice of the things that he goes through or doesn?t go through,? Bielema said. ?Also, we limit the contact that he goes through from our own players during the course of the week. Our players also realize that we are a better team when P.J. is playing.?
Hill split Bielema?s choice for UW offensive MVP of the week with tight end Travis Beckum, who quietly hauled in eight catches for 107 yards, both game highs, against the Wildcats.
?I thought [Travis] made a giant step forward, not only in the passing game, but some of the things that he was able to do in the running game,? Bielema said.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and defensive end Matt Shaughnessy were named the co-defensive most valuable players. According to Bielema, Ikegwuonu has been playing very well the last few weeks and had a very good game against Northwestern, even though he has not put up stellar numbers.
?[He] doesn?t have as many stats as we would like to see, but this is because they are not really coming his way,? Bielema said. ?There are certain things that he is doing [well], not only on defense, but also on special teams.?
Take a number
The Badgers made their debut in the rankings this week. They are now ranked No. 25 in the nation in this week?s Associated Press Poll, receiving 86 votes.
However, Bielema was not flattered by the national recognition. Instead, he said he looks at it as somewhat of a distraction to his players.
?I really appreciate the ranking and everything that comes into it,? Bielema said. ?I knew it would become an issue, not just from the media and the questions that they were going to be asked, but now they are going to walk into the classroom and people are going to make reference to it.?
He emphasized that the players must keep working hard and maintain Bielema?s mentality.
?The reason we are in this situation is the focus that we have had and we have kept the ?1-0? mentality,? Bielema said. ?If we falter off of that, we can lose that same position as fast as we earned it. ?
No rest for the weary
The question arose of the Badgers not having a bye week this season. Wisconsin has hit the halfway point of a grueling 12-game stretch in consecutive weeks. This could have a big impact not only on the health of the players, but also keeping the ?1-0? mentality that Bielema has been pushing on his players and his coaches.
?What we try to do is understand where we are with our players,? Bielema said. ?Some guys, no matter what you do to them during the course of the game, they?re always going to come back on Sunday, and especially giving them Monday off, are going to come back on Tuesday for a strong practice.?
Bielema didn?t say either way definitively whether he would prefer to have a bye week or would he rather just keep on moving through the season.
?I have nothing to compare it to as a head coach,? Bielema said. ?As an assistant coach, you always look forward to those off-weeks because you look forward for your players to have a chance to get healthy.?
Hubbard, O-line updates
One of the major health issues that Bielema addressed was the injury that Paul Hubbard sustained last weekend. Hubbard has been a large contributor to the young receiving core. He has had 19 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
?Sunday?s practice, we didn?t practice him,? Bielema said of Hubbard, who appeared to be knocked out with a concussion Saturday. ?But we expect him to go out there [Tuesday] and be able to bounce back.?
One of the concerns that some have had was how good the offensive line would be. The O-line lost four starters from last year, which created some skepticism among critics and fans.
However, Bielema feels that they have made a lot of progress, not only from last spring, but this year as well.
?This was probably the best performance this past weekend in overall pass protection from first quarter to fourth quarter,? Bielema said. ?I can?t say enough positive things.?
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Needed: Full disclosure on injuries
October 11, 2006
BY NEIL HAYES Staff Reporter
For members of such a detail-oriented profession, Big Ten coaches sure are vague when it comes to injuries. They are not alone. Unlike the NFL, there is no universal policy regarding the reporting of injuries in college football, which means the information -- or lack of information -- is up to the whim of individual institutions and/or coaches. That's why, when it comes to a running back's knee injury or a quarterback's shoulder problem, ambiguity rules.
''I just don't have anything to tell you,'' Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Saturday when asked about an apparent injury to star receiver Mario Manningham during a 31-13 victory over Michigan State.
Carr went on to say he didn't have all the information, so he didn't want to comment. On Tuesday, he announced that Manningham had undergone arthroscopic surgery and would miss the Wolverines' game this week against Penn State.
What's wrong with acknowledging after the game that Manningham hurt his knee? Why not tell reporters -- and thereby fans, alumni and boosters -- that the full extent of the injury wouldn't be known until Manningham underwent tests?
Whatever happened to honesty?
Coaches hope to gain a competitive disadvantage. That's one reason why they obscure the facts. Others cite privacy laws or the notion that releasing accurate injury information benefits gamblers more than the public at large.
The gambling issue looms largest of all. The NCAA abhors the idea of gamblers wagering on college sports so much that it once considered banning newspapers that publish point spreads from the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Long ago the NFL took the opposite approach to a similar concern. Instead of limiting information about injuries, it insisted on full disclosure, mandating that teams submit detailed injury reports throughout the week. Teams that don't comply or submit inaccurate information are fined.
That way, the league doesn't have to worry about gamblers attempting to contact players or league employees in an attempt to gain inside information.
''To serve the public interest and to eliminate inside 'information' that could be improperly exploited,'' is how NFL spokesman Steve Alic explained a league policy that has been in place since the 1960s.
Coaches and universities often site the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was passed in 1996 and is meant to protect an individual's medical privacy, for their lack of full disclosure. It's an important piece of legislation. Nothing is more private than someone's medical records.
What coaches and universities don't tell you is that most athletes sign a waiver allowing schools to release such information. They also often fail to mention that nobody seems to know for sure whether the HIPAA even applies to college athletics.
College football players compete in front of thousands, often with millions more watching on TV. Some coaches say injuries are nobody's business. Sorry, but you can't reap all the advantages of media coverage without inheriting some disadvantages. Injuries are legitimate news.
Besides, what's a greater violation of a player's privacy -- an honest assessment of his physical status, or some hard-charging reporter or curious gambler following a player around campus in an attempt to confirm reports that he's using crutches?
We're not talking about revealing the results of a blood test or a potentially embarrassing medical condition. We just want to know about the ankle the star linebacker turned during the third quarter. Is it sprained or broken? Approximately how many games does the medical staff expect him to miss?
Coaches always are looking for an edge and have been known to conceal injuries for that purpose. A standardized injury report would level the playing field. They might not be able to use an injury to their advantage, but they don't have to worry about an opposing coach doing it, either.
''In the NFL, you have 32 teams governed by one body,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ''If you talk about 32 teams, it's probably easier to monitor than however many we have in college football. I'm not sure how you would set that up or structure it.
''They already have enough bureaucratic problems at the NCAA and enough red tape. I don't know if we need to add to that.''
There's no reason for the NCAA to get involved. This should be done on a conference level. Require coaches to submit an injury report to the conference office, which will review the information and ensure that member schools are in compliance.
''Quite frankly, at the college level, if a player has a slight injury, as a coach you feel compelled to protect him,'' Purdue's Joe Tiller said. ''So the less information is often times the best information.''
Finally, a decent point. Nobody wants to see a player targeted because of an injury. But has college football sunk that low? If a coach does suspect that a player is being targeted, he should submit game film to his conference office for review, and appropriate measures should be taken.
If that is a legitimate concern -- and perhaps it is -- than why don't we hear more about it happening in the NFL?
Look, nobody wants college football to become a miniature, sanitized version of the NFL. What sets college football apart from the pros is what makes it great. But all the half-truths and out-and-out deception surrounding injuries shouldn't be what college football is about, either.
JOE PA IN MAIZE AND BLUE?
Joe Paterno acknowledged Tuesday that he once considered leaving Penn State to coach at Michigan. Paterno's Nittany Lions host the fourth-ranked Wolverines in the Big Ten's marquee game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
"If I was ever going to leave Penn State for another college, it probably would've been Michigan," Paterno said.
Paterno, who has been head coach at Penn State for 41 years, said he was offered the Michigan job by longtime athletic director Donald Canham in 1968 and took a day to mull over the idea.
"I called him up the next day and said, 'I appreciate it, but there are so many things I want to get done at Penn State and I know you're going to get a good coach,'" Paterno recalled.
Michigan hired somebody named Bo Schembechler instead.
"When they look back now, they say, 'Thank God Paterno turned it down,'" Paterno said.
DISCOURAGING WORDS
St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan was selling class rings when he met Michigan State coach John L. Smith, who was then the coach at Idaho. Linehan had been a standout quarterback for the Vandals and wanted to get into coaching. Smith tried to discourage him before finally hiring him as a receivers coach in 1989. Seventeen years later, Linehan has the Rams off to a surprising 4-1 start and is an NFL Coach of the Year candidate.
"I painted him the worst picture possible," Smith said. "I told him, 'You better have a supportive wife because you won't be coming home in the evening. She's going to raise the family, and you're going to starve for a while.'"
HEISMAN WORTHY
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said if Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe keeps up his rushing pace and the Huskies win the Mid-American Conference, Wolfe will be a worthy Heisman Trophy candidate. Wolfe rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns Sunday night in a 28-25 win over Miami of Ohio and leads the nation in rushing (223.8 yards per game), all-purpose yards (250.8 per game) and scoring (14.3 points per game).
"When they talk about the definition of the Heisman Trophy winner, they talk about a person who makes the most profound impact on their team, and the evolution has gone to a person who makes a team an outstanding team," Tressel said. "Garrett Wolfe, if he can lead them to a MAC championship, deserves consideration."
Wolfe had 285 combined rushing and receiving yards in Ohio State's earlier 35-12 win over NIU. earlier this season.
Needed: Full disclosure on injuries
October 11, 2006
BY NEIL HAYES Staff Reporter
For members of such a detail-oriented profession, Big Ten coaches sure are vague when it comes to injuries. They are not alone. Unlike the NFL, there is no universal policy regarding the reporting of injuries in college football, which means the information -- or lack of information -- is up to the whim of individual institutions and/or coaches. That's why, when it comes to a running back's knee injury or a quarterback's shoulder problem, ambiguity rules.
''I just don't have anything to tell you,'' Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Saturday when asked about an apparent injury to star receiver Mario Manningham during a 31-13 victory over Michigan State.
Carr went on to say he didn't have all the information, so he didn't want to comment. On Tuesday, he announced that Manningham had undergone arthroscopic surgery and would miss the Wolverines' game this week against Penn State.
What's wrong with acknowledging after the game that Manningham hurt his knee? Why not tell reporters -- and thereby fans, alumni and boosters -- that the full extent of the injury wouldn't be known until Manningham underwent tests?
Whatever happened to honesty?
Coaches hope to gain a competitive disadvantage. That's one reason why they obscure the facts. Others cite privacy laws or the notion that releasing accurate injury information benefits gamblers more than the public at large.
The gambling issue looms largest of all. The NCAA abhors the idea of gamblers wagering on college sports so much that it once considered banning newspapers that publish point spreads from the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Long ago the NFL took the opposite approach to a similar concern. Instead of limiting information about injuries, it insisted on full disclosure, mandating that teams submit detailed injury reports throughout the week. Teams that don't comply or submit inaccurate information are fined.
That way, the league doesn't have to worry about gamblers attempting to contact players or league employees in an attempt to gain inside information.
''To serve the public interest and to eliminate inside 'information' that could be improperly exploited,'' is how NFL spokesman Steve Alic explained a league policy that has been in place since the 1960s.
Coaches and universities often site the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was passed in 1996 and is meant to protect an individual's medical privacy, for their lack of full disclosure. It's an important piece of legislation. Nothing is more private than someone's medical records.
What coaches and universities don't tell you is that most athletes sign a waiver allowing schools to release such information. They also often fail to mention that nobody seems to know for sure whether the HIPAA even applies to college athletics.
College football players compete in front of thousands, often with millions more watching on TV. Some coaches say injuries are nobody's business. Sorry, but you can't reap all the advantages of media coverage without inheriting some disadvantages. Injuries are legitimate news.
Besides, what's a greater violation of a player's privacy -- an honest assessment of his physical status, or some hard-charging reporter or curious gambler following a player around campus in an attempt to confirm reports that he's using crutches?
We're not talking about revealing the results of a blood test or a potentially embarrassing medical condition. We just want to know about the ankle the star linebacker turned during the third quarter. Is it sprained or broken? Approximately how many games does the medical staff expect him to miss?
Coaches always are looking for an edge and have been known to conceal injuries for that purpose. A standardized injury report would level the playing field. They might not be able to use an injury to their advantage, but they don't have to worry about an opposing coach doing it, either.
''In the NFL, you have 32 teams governed by one body,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ''If you talk about 32 teams, it's probably easier to monitor than however many we have in college football. I'm not sure how you would set that up or structure it.
''They already have enough bureaucratic problems at the NCAA and enough red tape. I don't know if we need to add to that.''
There's no reason for the NCAA to get involved. This should be done on a conference level. Require coaches to submit an injury report to the conference office, which will review the information and ensure that member schools are in compliance.
''Quite frankly, at the college level, if a player has a slight injury, as a coach you feel compelled to protect him,'' Purdue's Joe Tiller said. ''So the less information is often times the best information.''
Finally, a decent point. Nobody wants to see a player targeted because of an injury. But has college football sunk that low? If a coach does suspect that a player is being targeted, he should submit game film to his conference office for review, and appropriate measures should be taken.
If that is a legitimate concern -- and perhaps it is -- than why don't we hear more about it happening in the NFL?
Look, nobody wants college football to become a miniature, sanitized version of the NFL. What sets college football apart from the pros is what makes it great. But all the half-truths and out-and-out deception surrounding injuries shouldn't be what college football is about, either.
JOE PA IN MAIZE AND BLUE?
Joe Paterno acknowledged Tuesday that he once considered leaving Penn State to coach at Michigan. Paterno's Nittany Lions host the fourth-ranked Wolverines in the Big Ten's marquee game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
"If I was ever going to leave Penn State for another college, it probably would've been Michigan," Paterno said.
Paterno, who has been head coach at Penn State for 41 years, said he was offered the Michigan job by longtime athletic director Donald Canham in 1968 and took a day to mull over the idea.
"I called him up the next day and said, 'I appreciate it, but there are so many things I want to get done at Penn State and I know you're going to get a good coach,'" Paterno recalled.
Michigan hired somebody named Bo Schembechler instead.
"When they look back now, they say, 'Thank God Paterno turned it down,'" Paterno said.
DISCOURAGING WORDS
St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan was selling class rings when he met Michigan State coach John L. Smith, who was then the coach at Idaho. Linehan had been a standout quarterback for the Vandals and wanted to get into coaching. Smith tried to discourage him before finally hiring him as a receivers coach in 1989. Seventeen years later, Linehan has the Rams off to a surprising 4-1 start and is an NFL Coach of the Year candidate.
"I painted him the worst picture possible," Smith said. "I told him, 'You better have a supportive wife because you won't be coming home in the evening. She's going to raise the family, and you're going to starve for a while.'"
HEISMAN WORTHY
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said if Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe keeps up his rushing pace and the Huskies win the Mid-American Conference, Wolfe will be a worthy Heisman Trophy candidate. Wolfe rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns Sunday night in a 28-25 win over Miami of Ohio and leads the nation in rushing (223.8 yards per game), all-purpose yards (250.8 per game) and scoring (14.3 points per game).
"When they talk about the definition of the Heisman Trophy winner, they talk about a person who makes the most profound impact on their team, and the evolution has gone to a person who makes a team an outstanding team," Tressel said. "Garrett Wolfe, if he can lead them to a MAC championship, deserves consideration."
Wolfe had 285 combined rushing and receiving yards in Ohio State's earlier 35-12 win over NIU. earlier this season.
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