CTZTAT \r I I T.l l\ I |XI DD 'P , \7T'P\l7 1 AVJ L/IVII rKe VlcW 20 I Friday, Nov. 12,2010 Lions out to prove newfound confidence By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The Alabama loss seems like an eternity ago, and the Penn State football players would prob ably like to keep it that way. The inexperienced Nittany Lions entered Tuscaloosa, Ala. almost nine weeks ago with a freshman quarterback, three new linebackers and lesser known faces taking over the pro gram. Fast forward 62 days later to Friday, Penn State suffered two more demoralizing losses to lowa and Illinois but rattled off three-straight victories after the bye week in Big Ten play. Penn State has progressed those past three games, but the Lions haven’t yet contended against a top-10 team on the road. The Lions are out to declare a newfound prominence at 3:30 p.m., Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. “We’re not there yet,” Joe Paterno said. “We’re getting to be where we’re a pretty good foot ball team. Pretty good. We have a long ways to go before we can go around thinking we’re better than pretty good.” There are theories for the bet- Daily Collegian Predictions ROADBLOCK ter play. Redshirt sophomore Mike Mauti said the linebackers are playing better because they gained more experience. At the season’s start, the linebackers were simply trying to attain expe rience and step into starting posi tions. Redshirt sophomore quarter back Matt McGloin didn’t think there was team cohesion earlier in the year. The season took on a new look when McGloin replaced Rob Bolden as the quarterback at Minnesota. In the win, Bolden suffered a concussion, sidelining him the next week against Michigan. McGloin didn’t earn the start ing spot until this past Tliesday after he replaced an under achieving Bolden in the Northwestern win. He adds a dif ferent, fiery dimension to the team. “They just feel like there’s con fidence in there,” McGloin said. “I just bring a little something different to the table, and guys like that.” Ohio State is a whole different breed than the Lions’ three pre vious opponents. The Buckeyes haven’t lost a Big Ten home game since Oct. 25, 2008 against Andrew J. Cassavell Score: Ohio State 27, PSU 10 What’s good: Mauti continues dominance. What’s bad: McGloin grounded. What to look for: How will Silas Redd fare against a top defense? If you go Time: 3:30 p.m., Saturday Place: Ohio Stadium TV: ABC Penn State, boast the Big Ten’s best scoring offense and lost only one game a 13-point road loss to Wisconsin, the seventh-ranked team in the BCS. The quality of the Lions last three opponents gradually pro gressed. Minnesota hasn’t won a conference game yet, while both Michigan and Northwestern post 6-3 records, though neither has beaten a ranked team. Going into Ohio State, the jump in quality of opponent is drastic. “Hopefully a ballgame like this coming up, we’re going to play against a team that’s as well organized, as well disciplined as this club with the kind of talent it has it will be a good experi ence for us,” Paterno said. “Whether we can play with them or not, that’s debatable.” Penn State’s last road win against a ranked team came in the 2008 contest against No. 9 Audrey Snyder Score: Ohio State 34, PSU 16 What’s good: Lions get first passing TD in Columbus under Paterno. What’s bad: Defense torched by Pryor. What to look for: Another Jim Tressel sweater vest. HPiivt r # <■ •»- üßrjkaidl Photo illustration by Ashley Buck/Collegian Ohio State, but the Lions were No. 3 at the time. In the Paterno era, an unranked Penn State team has beaten a top-10 oppo nent on the road only once. The game occurred on Sept. 7, 1985, when the Lions defeated No. 7 Maryland in a down-to-the wire, season-opening thriller. Penn State went to the Orange Bowl that season but lost the national-championship game to Oklahoma. Former Penn State linebacker Trey Bauer recalled the Maryland game being his first as a Penn State starter. He had a game-clinching fumble recovery and two interceptions in that con test. Bauer remembers Paterno calling out the team publicly after the 1984 season. The Lions lost their last two games against Notre Dame and Pittsburgh by a combined 57 points and opted not to play in a bowl game. “We had decided that we didn’t want to play," Bauer said. “And then, all of a sudden, it’s like you have all these question marks. Well, what kind of team is this going to be? So there was a lot of pent-up frustration on a lot of people’s parts.” The 2010 Lions face those same questions after three straight wins and a new quarter back taking over. Like Penn State going into Ohio State, Bauer said no one thought the Lions could beat Maryland in 1985. The biggest question mark for the current Lions may be sus taining play for four quarters on defense. A slow first half plagued the Lions last week and in their road games against ranked oppo nents, Alabama and lowa. “We can't expect things to hap pen," senior linebacker Chris Colasanti said. “We have to make things happen." Sitting back and waiting for tackles were areas of concern in the Alabama loss, in which Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson gained 144 yards. The Lions face another dominant rushing attack made up of Terrelle Pryor and Dan Herron on Saturday. “It will help us in the future," Paterno said. “It’s going to be tough to stay with these guys.” To e-mail reporter: bjmsl46@psu.edu Brendan Monahan Score: PSU 23, Ohio State 21 What’s good: Sudden spark of turnovers cause touchdowns. What’s bad: My prediction, if the running game fails. What to look for: David beats Goliath in colossal upset. !«» #■ ' m •V.r.-r The Daily Collegian
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