Touchdown Times: Friday, Sep. 28, 2012

Touchdown TIMES A publication of The Daily Illini | Friday, Septmber 28, 2012

New eras collide Beckman, O’Brien meet for both coaches’ conference debut

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Friday, September 28, 2012

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Photo of

THE GAME

Editor’s note: This page is a place to run a photo each week that is relevant in some way to the upcoming game.

The photo could be from last year’s matchup or the Illini’s game from the previous week — whatever. As long as it gets you ready for this week, it’ll be here.

Illinois kicker Derek Dimke watches his game-tying field goal attempt hit off the post as time expires in an NCAA college football game Oct. 29, in State College, Pa. Penn State beat Illinois 10-7.

Despite outplaying the Nittany Lions in the box score, turnovers and kicker Derek Dimke’s missed field goal attempt as time expired doomed the Illini in State College, Pa., giving former head coach Joe Paterno 409 career victories at the time. Follow our football coverage @di_sports and @di_football.

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Illini begin play in wide-open Big Ten

BY CHAD THORNBURG STAFF WRITER

The Big Ten is open for the taking.

Through four weeks of nonconference play, the Big Ten has amassed a 33-13 record, but several teams have stumbled in marquee games against the top opponents in other conferences.

Among the five Big Ten teams that cracked the preseason top 25, only Ohio State has risen in the rankings — from No. 18 to No. 14 — and both Wisconsin and Michigan have fallen out of the polls. The bowl ineligible Buckeyes remain the conference’s lone top-15 team.

The postseason race is even more wide open in the Leaders Division, in which two of the teams, Ohio State and Penn State, are ineligible for the Big Ten Championship, and early favorite Wisconsin, despite its 3-1 record, has struggled in most of its games.

As the Big Ten begins its 117th season, the conference outlook is murky, which bodes well for teams, such as Illinois and Penn State, that stumbled in the nonconference schedule.

“Every game in the Big Ten, just like any other conference, is a big game,” Illinois head coach Tim Beckman said. “This is what you work for. I would assume that everybody in the Big Ten is excited about this week because it’s the time that you have prepared for and the only way you can become a champion is by winning these football games.”

Beckman and the Illini have talked all year about one goal: playing Dec. 1, 2012 — the

date of the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis.

“Every game is, as we say, the Lane to Lucas,” Beckman said. “You’re trying to win every one of your football games and take the steps to get to Lucas Oil (Stadium).”

While the Penn State team that takes the field Saturday at Memorial Stadium isn’t the same team that went 9-4 under Joe Paterno last season, it still poses a formidable challenge for the Illini, who are coming off a 52-24 blowout loss to Louisiana Tech in which they turned the ball over six times.

“We’ve got to take care of the ball, that’s the biggest thing,” co-offensive coordinator Chris Beatty said. “We’re not helping the defense out at all by putting them in a bad position. We’re not giving ourselves a chance to establish any kind of drives, so we just can’t have turnovers like we did.”

Injures have plagued the Illini throughout the season — nine starters have missed time — but several are expected be back for Saturday’s game, including center Graham Pocic and safeties Steve Hull and Supo Sanni.

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is also expected to start after missing two games earlier in the season with an ankle injury and being pulled in favor of sophomore Reilly O’Toole in the first quarter against Louisiana Tech.

“Back in August, you’re not sitting back thinking, ‘OK, Nate’s going to play three quarters out of 12,’” Beatty said. “You’re thinking

DARYL QUITALIG THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois’ Graham Pocic (76) snaps the ball against Western Michigan at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 1. you’re going to have what you did in the spring, what you did in camp, but that’s part of it. Injuries happen to everybody.”

The Nittany Lions, after starting 0-2, have rebounded and are entering Saturday’s game behind the momentum of two victories against Navy and Temple.

“I think they’ve respond well,” Scheelhaase

said. “You can tell they were just trying to find out about themselves a little bit it in the first games. They’re definitely starting to find their swagger, so it’s going to be a tough test for sure.”

Chad can be reached at thornbu1@dailyillini.com and @cthornburg10.

Friday, September 28, 2012

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Friday, September 28, 2012

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Illinois is 1st Big Ten team to face off against Penn State in the post-Paterno era

BY CHAD THORNBURG STAFF WRITER

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WE ARE WHAT’S LEFT GENE J. PUSKAR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

he Penn State team that rolls into town this weekend won’t be the same squad that faced the Illini last season or the year before or even decades prior.

For the fi rst time in nearly 46 years, Joe Paterno won’t be patrolling the sidelines or manning the Penn State coaches box against Illinois.

“I love the history of this game,” Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus said.

“We have to know who we’re playing for — the guys that paved the way and did all the groundwork before us — and obviously Joe Paterno was one of those guys, and he did it for a long time. That program is so storied, and every time you think about it, you really think of that name.”

Last year, one of the most esteemed college football programs in the nation was brought to its knees in wake of charges of child sex abuse against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky amid reports that the school and athletic department attempted to cover the abuse up. He has since has been found guilty on 45 counts of criminal child sex abuse. The NCAA imposed a $60 million fi ne, a four-year bowl ban and a scholarship reduction, in addition to vacating all 112 of Paterno’s victories since 1998.

Paterno was fi red November 2011 and passed away in January. His fi nal game as head coach at Penn State was against Illinois, a 10-7 victory in Happy Valley last season.

“Growing up, you always heard about Joe Paterno,” senior offensive lineman and Pennsylvania native Tyler Sands said.

“But obviously with the things that have happened, new coach there and that’s who we’re preparing for now. It won’t be a surprise or anything. We’re ready for them.”

Junior wide receiver Ryan Lankford’s father, Paul Lankford, played for Paterno at Penn State in the late ’70s and early ’80s before going on to play 10 seasons in the NFL. Ryan Lankford said it’s been difficult for his father to watch his alma mater’s fall from grace.

“It’s such a rich history and then playing for Joe Paterno, he was a great coach, and they had a great staff there and something like this can really change his whole legacy,” Ryan Lankford said.

“Of course, it’s something that you don’t want him to be remembered for, but it’s hard for the people nowadays not to remember something like that, and it was a terrible thing that happened. My dad still stands beside his coach, he still remembers the great years that he had there.”

While the program certainly took a hit over the past year, the Nittany Lions still fi nished last season with a 9-4 record and retained most of its roster. After dropping

its fi rst two games of the season, Penn State enters Saturday’s game coming off two straight wins and is 15-4 against Illinois all-time.

“They’re tough,” Butkus said. “They always seem to have the tough, hard-nosed guys, not to say none of these others teams do, but they have a type of kid that they recruit there, and they’re just fighters.”

While the Illini will be the fi rst team in the conference to get an up-close look at the new era of Penn State football under head coach Bill O’Brien, that won’t be the only storyline circulating Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

As part of the NCAA sanctions, any Penn State players who transferred were eligible to play immediately, and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany didn’t restrict interconference moves.

In July, Illinois made headlines for sending eight coaches to State College, Pa., to meet with players interested in transferring.

While Penn State players have said numerous schools contacted them, Illini coaches were spotted with Illinois gear at an airport in State College, drawing much of the spotlight.

Offensive lineman Ryan Nowicki transferred to Illinois in early August and was the lone Penn State player to transfer to a Big Ten school. Nowicki has not yet been made available to the media.

“I regret that it ended up being this much, and it’s still talked about, but it did give a young man his opportunity to make his decision on what he wanted to do,” Beckman said.

Several Penn State players took issue with other schools recruiting their teammates, and a few were vocal publicly on the issue.

“I guess over there they kind of made it a big deal, but we didn’t think to much of it,” Illinois offensive lineman Tyler Sands said. “When you’re a team, you develop a bond, you think you’re a family, and so you always want to protect that family. That’s just the instinct of a football team — you want to protect one another and stay together.”

Penn State players might be using the incident as bulletin-board material and motivation for Saturday’s game, but Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said that only gets you so far.

“That can amp you up during the week, but at the end of the day, it’s about executing. It’s about getting on the field,” Scheelhaase said. “I think after the first hit, the first series, I doubt we’ll be on the field, and they’ll be talking crap about what went on in July. I’m pretty sure they’ll be concerned about what’s going on on the field, as will we.”

Chad can be reached at thornbu1@dailyillini.com and @ cthornburg10.

Friday, September 28, 2012

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Nittany Lions have offensive edge

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With Allen Robinson leading the way with 404 receiving yards and five touchdowns, the Nittany Lions have the clear edge in the passing game.

Both units have been inconsistent this season, and the rushing offense shows.

Given that each team’s front sevens are strong, Penn State and Illinois will equally struggle to run the ball and protect the quarterbacks.

Akeem Spence and Michael Buchanan are overdue for a big game, and a weak rushing attack such as Penn State’s is the perfect opportunity to get things going again. They should also be able to get good pressure on McGloin and knock him off his rhythm.

LINEBACKERS

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They are slightly more proven than Illinois’ secondary and also haven’t been exploited nearly as much.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

SPECIAL TEAMS

Neither special teams unit is particularly impressive, but Justin DuVernois at least averages more than 40 yards per punt, and Nick Immekus and Taylor Zalewski have gone a combined three-for-four in field goals.

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Tim Beckman’s prestigious list of former coaches is impressive, but he never coached in the NFL or quarterback Tom Brady.

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Illinois and Penn State rank 10th and last in the Big Ten in rushing yards, respectively.

Throw in the injuries and neither team has much over the other.

Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges are two of a few linebackers who are on Jonathan Brown’s level. Problem is, Brown doesn’t have a partner of their caliber.

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QUARTERBACK

Matt McGloin has thrived under new head coach Bill O’Brien, already throwing more touchdowns than he did all of last season.

X-FACTOR

Dan is a senior in Media. He can be reached at welin1@ dailyillini.com. Follow him on Twitter @WELINandDEALIN.

If Scheelhaase and the offense can establish themselves, particularly in the passing game, and score some points, it should be enough for the defense to give Illinois a chance to win.

Penn State will win if the running game can get going — to allow the passing attack the opportunity move the ball down the field — and mitigate the pressure the Illinois defensive line will create.

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Friday, September 28, 2012

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DAN WELIN

FOOTBALL COLUMNIST

PORTRAIT BY DARYL QUITALIG THE DAILY ILLINI

Hammond (13-7)

Collier (10-10)

Kirshman (13-7)

Thornburg (10-10)

Welin (11-9)

24-20

24-14

20-13

24-13

24-10

Penn State at Illinois 17-16

No. 25 Baylor at No. 9 West Virginia

No. 14 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State

56-41

42-38

28-21

27-38

28-14

28-17

21-20

31-17

21-18

14-13

34-21

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31-30

30-21

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20-14

35-20

33-13

27-17

30-27

30-28

No. 12 Texas at Oklahoma State 38-30

Wisconsin at No. 22 Nebraska 23-14

Friday, September 28, 2012

Ignore the scandals for Illinois’ conference opener

Illini Drive

THREE AND OUT

DAN WELIN

Illini Drive goes “three and out� every Monday on WPGU. Here are the highlights.

NATIONAL QUESTION — Who’s more for real, the Fighting Irish or the Seminoles?

Jamal Collier — Well, I was not on the Florida State bandwagon ...

but I’ll take Florida State now. The big thing now is that they’ve always been a top-10 or -15 team in the ACC, which is awful, too.

The problem with them is, can they contend with the SEC? You know from what I’ve seen, they can. E.J. Manuel looks pretty good and the defense is really good.

BIG TEN QUESTION — We talk about how we’re not drinking Illinois’ Kool-Aid. Whose Kool-Aid are we drinking more: Boiler Up or the Wildcats?

Thomas Bruch — This is a sad question .... I saw Purdue play, and I know I’m basing this off the Notre Dame trend. They were the only team that gave them a game, and it was in South Bend (Ind.). I like how they played, They shoved it down their throats, (with) that defense. And just barely missing winning the game in South Bend. I guess Purdue has been winning. I’ll take Purdue.

ILLINI QUESTION — What is the biggest flaw in Illinois’ defense?

Max Tane — The front seven, they got to get a rush. They got

to blitz, get pressure on the quarterback. Just Jonathan Brown, (Mason) Monheim, Houston Bates. Get them going .... Without that front rush, you’re pretty much leaving that secondary out to dry, and that’s what it’s been like so far.

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Football columnist

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he buzz surrounding this week’s Penn State versus Illinois game revolves around the decision by Illinois’ coaching staff to recruit the Nittany Lions’ players.

As a result, offensive lineman Ryan Nowicki chose to transfer to Illinois, and his reasoning doesn’t really matter.

Maybe he didn’t want to be involved in that post-scandal era, saw it as an opportunity to get more playing time elsewhere or just wanted a fresh start.

Tim Beckman saw it as an opportunity to better his team, and that’s what he did. Besides, Nowicki won’t even be playing in this game, so his transferring has no effect on the outcome of this season’s matchup.

What really matters is that this week marks the conference opener for two Big Ten teams that are looking to start on a high note.

Penn State and Illinois each finished their nonconference slates with 2-2 records — along with their fair share of injuries, which has not made those records any easier to interpret.

Injury reports so far this week point to each team getting some of its injured back, as running backs Bill Belton and

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Michael Zordich, along with defensive end Sean Stanley, are expected to be back for the Nittany Lions.

For Illinois, quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase will start for the second straight week after missing two games with an ankle injury, and offensive lineman Graham Pocic is expected to return after sitting out the last two games, also with an ankle injury.

Defensive backs Supo Sanni and Steve Hull, who have played very little this year, are also expected to return for the Illini, who have a secondary in need of help. As mentioned, the two team’s records are the same, but Illinois and Penn State are on very different trends.

Penn State dropped close games to Ohio, a potential BCS buster, and Virginia to start the season, while defeating Navy and Temple the last two weeks. In its 17-16 loss at Virginia, kicker Sam Ficken missed four field goals attempts that could very well have the Nittany Lions sitting at 3-1.

The Illini, on the other hand, dominated Western Michigan and FCS opponent Charleston Southern, but they were blown out by Arizona State and Louisiana Tech (another potential BCS buster). With the scandal, out went Joe Paterno and Penn State’s identity, which had been instilled in college football fans everywhere.

The new man strolling the Penn State sideline, Bill O’Brien, has NFL experi-

ence, and quarterback Matt McGloin is proof of that.

Through the first four games, McGloin has 1,006 yards passing, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

That’s 202 more yards and four fewer interceptions than all three Illinois quarterbacks combined this season.

Given that Illinois is 10th and Penn State is last in the Big Ten in rushing yards, quarterback play could prove to be the deciding factor, and McGloin’s experience so far this season gives him the leg up over whichever concoction of quarterbacks the Illini trot out this week.

A Big Ten opponent will be a welcomed sight to an Illinois front seven that has been run ragged by up-tempo offenses during nonconference play, but the Illinois offense hasn’t shown enough firepower to prove it can support its defense.

What happened during the offseason between the child sex abuse scandal and the Illini’s recruiting efforts, these two teams have a lot of bulletin-board material to get themselves fired up to play.

Just don’t think that’s the reason either team wants to win.

A victory to start conference play is enough in itself.

Dan is a senior in Media. He can be reached at welin1@dailyillini.com. Follow him on Twitter @WELINandDEALIN.