CFI: THE HAPPY VALLEY REPORT: "CAN WE TALK ABOUT WISCONSIN?"

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Following Penn State’s solid 24-7 win over Iowa, the Nittany Lions were poised to shift their focus to Saturday’s showdown with No. 19 Wisconsin. However, at Coach Joe Paterno’s Tuesday press conference, the upcoming game took a back seat to allegations that Penn State players were involved in a fight over the weekend. After a handful of questions about the alleged fight, Paterno wanted to shift the focus back to the play on the field.

“Can we talk about Wisconsin?” asked the agitated coach.

Apparently, Paterno was agitated a couple days before the press conference as well. Reports of an alleged road rage incident involving the Lions’ head coach may further take away from the focus on the upcoming game.

The swirling allegations could not come at a worse time for Penn State. The next three weeks – Wisconsin, at Indiana, and No. 3 Ohio State - are critical to the Lions’ season. Win out and PSU puts itself in back in contention for a big time bowl game. A loss all but assures the Nittany Lions a place in the middle of a weak Big Ten pack.

If Penn State can put the off-the-field issues in the background, they can build off a solid performance against Iowa. The defense held the Hawkeyes to just eight first downs and 194 yards. Not to be outdone, the offense put together 489 yards of balanced offense. Between the off-field issues and a strong performance last week, Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli (233 yards, TD) is temporarily off the hot seat. It also helped that red-shirt senior Rodney Kinlaw ran for a career-high 168 yards and two touchdowns in place of suspended running back Austin Scott.

So, “let’s talk about Wisconsin.”

Kinlaw will get the call again this week, as Scott remains suspended for violating an unspecified team rule. Kinlaw will be up against a Wisconsin defense that has struggled against the run, yielding more than 150 yards per game. The Badgers are equal opportunity offenders as they haven’t been good against the pass either, giving up 216 yards per game in the air.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions defense will face a reeling Wisconsin offense. Badgers’ receiver Luke Swan is out for the season with a career threatening hamstring injury. Running back P.J. Hill (125 ypg, 10 TD) is also banged up, suffering a groin injury during last week’s 31-26 loss to Illinois. That leaves a tall order for Wisconsin going up against the nation’s fifth best defense. Depending on Hill’s status, the Badgers will have to rely heavily on quarterback Tyler Donovan who threw for 392 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini.

It’s homecoming weekend in Happy Valley, and Penn State is 35-6 on homecoming under Paterno. However, Wisconsin is PSU’s first ranked opponent and the Badgers have won five of seven against the Lions and two of their last three at Penn State. Which is tougher to overcome: negative off-the-field allegations or injuries? If the Lions can focus on the play between the lines, they should have enough of an advantage to edge the banged-up Badgers.