Behind the Mic

Penn State Gameday

Posted by: Brian Barnhart

Saturday, October 3, 2009 9:46 AM

It is cloudy and cool in Champaign this morning.  Hopefully the rain will hold off and if  the showers do come...they will be light. 

Talking to Nittany Lion play-by-play voice Steve Jones....he says the PSU fans are not sure what to think yet of this year's team.  They beat some teams (Akron, Syracuse,Temple) they were supposed to (and always) beat. Then they got off to a fast start against Iowa...but after grabbing a 10-0 lead.. they had a punt blocked and returned for touchdown..gave up a safety and lost 21-10.  They also lost receivers Deion Butler, Derrick Williams and Calvin Norwood to the NFL.  The Lions also have been re-shuffling their offensive line this year.

Still...the PSU defense is solid.  They have two of the better defensive tackles in the Big Ten...and the defense has only allowed 3 offensive touchdowns in 4 games.  . And while Sean Lee is doubtful at linebacker today with an injury...Navarro Bowman  has picked up the slack with 13 tackles against Iowa last weekend.

Darryl Clark is back at quarterback and tailback Evan Royster had a big game last year against the Illini in State College.  They both could be factors today at Memorial Stadium.

Illini fans are nervous about the game today with Penn State..They have watched the Illini offense sputter its way to an average of 4.5 points per game in two games against BCS conference schools (Mizzou/Ohio State).  And the defense has allowed too many passing yards (Missour) and rushing yards (Ohio State).  Still the season is very young and with a sellout crowd  on hand today....all wearing orange....the Illini should get an emotional lift and have a chance to get things turned around.  The question is .....will they be able to do so?  We will know in a few hours..

If the Illini can pull of the upset....momentum...and the schedule (MSU-home...at Indiana/Purdue) might propel them to a successful season and soothe some of the "angst" that is floating around Champaign this morning.

Our local pre-game show starts at 1 pm with Steve Kelly's Illini Gameday.  Kickoff is 2:30...talk to you then!

 

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