Aside from Alabama, Illinois will be the toughest football team that Penn State has faced so far this season, Nittany Lions Coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday.
‘This team is solid. They have a couple of really good linebackers who can run,’ Paterno said at his weekly press conference. He also praised the Fighting Illini’s ‘big offensive line.’
So far, Alabama has been the only team this season to beat Penn State, which has tallied a 7-1 record.
Last season, though, Illinois trounced the Nittany Lions in a 33-13 game at Beaver Stadium. The teams are scheduled to meet again at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
Paterno said he hopes his team took lessons from last year’s fall to Illinois.
‘Illinois was not the only team that kicked our ass in last year,’ he said. ‘I think we learned from that.’
Among the coach’s other comments Tuesday:
- Wide receiver Derek Moye, recovering from a foot injury, is expected to remain out for this week’s game. He may return to play Nov. 12, Paterno said.
- Paterno, still recovering from arm and hip injuries suffered in an August practice session, said the ongoing fallout from the accident is ‘a pain in the neck.’ Said the coach: ‘I try to do as much walking as I can in practice. But after a while, it gets very, very sore.’
Sometimes he has trouble walking in the last half-hour of practice, Paterno went on. ‘I’m nervous about it. I’d be less than honest’ to suggest otherwise.
In addition, Paterno continued, ‘I don’t want to get run into again,’ as he was in August. And that’s one reason why he has been reluctant to coach games from the sidelines, he said.
‘It’s been a pain in the neck, but what are you going to do?’ Paterno said. ‘I don’t think it’s affected the chance for the football team to get better,’ because the staff has stepped up. ‘I’ve turned over things to the staff at times where I used to get in there and mix it up with the kids a bit — which I hope I’ll get back to.’
Related content
More Latest Penn State News
View all Latest Penn State News
Alleged Dealer in Penn State Frat Cocaine Ring Waives Arraignment, Plans to Plead Not Guilty
One man accused of being a primary dealer in the alleged cocaine trafficking ring that operated out of two Penn State fraternities has waived his formal arraignment and intends to […]
Penn State Fraternity Sues Landlord After Being Locked Out of House
A lawsuit filed on Thursday says members of a Penn State fraternity were left scrambling for a place to live just before the start of the fall semester after they […]
Neighborhood Association Wants Forum With Penn State, Local Officials After Cocaine Ring Bust at Fraternity Houses
Updated 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, with comment from a Penn State spokesperson. The president of a State College neighborhood association this week called for Penn State and borough officials […]
