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Indiana may be just the medicine Penn State needs
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Evan Royster and Penn State will have a chance to regroup this week
against Indiana on Senior Day at Beaver Stadium. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
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After losing at home for the second time this season in a bitter fashion, Penn State will be more than ready to pick up a win to feel better about themselves. For this reason you have to feel sympathetic for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Indiana will travel to Happy Valley this week and although they have played well this season and swallowed some tough pills themselves, there is no mistaking that they are walking into a firestorm this week against Penn State. Joe Paterno will be sure to have his team focused on playing better football this week after Ohio State exploited a number of weaknesses on the Nittany Lions.
Historically Indiana has been a recipe for a Saturday win for Penn State. Since joining the Big Ten in 1993 Penn State owns a 12-0 record against Indiana. Penn State has faced Indiana six times after a loss and they have shown the ability to rebound well each time.
In the inaurgual Big Ten season for Penn State the Nittany Lions suffered a road loss at Ohio State, 24-6 and rebounded the following week to hold on for a victory against Indiana 38-31. After losing to Iowa 21-20 in 1996 Penn State rebounded with a 48-26 win against Indiana. Illinois handed Penn State a 33-28 loss in 2001 and Penn State came back the next game to beat Indiana by two touchdowns, 28-14. Northwestern defeated Penn State in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004 and each time Penn State rebounded with wins against Indiana. And last year a week after losing a heart breaker at Iowa, Penn State returned home to demolish Indiana 34-7.
Now in 2009 the question remains whether or not this Penn State team will have the character to come back strong after a defeat. Honestly though, that question has already been answered. After losing to Iowa in a similar fashion just this season, Penn State rallied together and came up with a big win on the road at Illinois. Indiana appears to be a tougher test for the Nittany Lions than the Illini presented but history is clearly on the side of Penn State, who has not lost two games in a row since 2007, and two home games in a row since 2004.
Indiana is playing tough football and has been the victim of some questionable officiating from time to time this season. Two weeks ago against Iowa the Hoosiers had two touchdowns negated due to instant replay. Iowa went on to win the game with a dominant fourth quarter, 42-24, but the two touchdowns may have changed the entire outcome of the game. Against Michigan a controversial call on a turnover as the game was winding down allowed Michigan to win 36-33. Close calls have been nothing new for Indiana, who remains two wins shy of clinching bowl eligibility. The Hoosiers have lost three games by three points or less but have also been blown out by Ohio State and Virginia.
Expect a big game from the Penn State offense, who struggled against Ohio State. Look for the big name players to make some impact on the game immediately for the Nittany Lions, perhaps with Daryll Clark looking for Derek Moye deep early in the game or Evan Royster seeing a few touches for big yards on the first offensive possession.
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For more Penn State coverage head to Nittany White Out.
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