2007 BIG TEN PREVIEW: PENN ST.

Big Ten Media Day is just three days away and there are still four teams left to break down. After a sluggish start, Penn St. finished 2006 strong and people are talking Rose Bowl.

2006 Record: 9-4 (5-3 Big Ten)
Projected 2007 Finish: 4th
Returning Starters: 14
Head Coach: Joe Paterno
Best Player: LB Dan Connor

5 Reasons for Optimism:
- With CB Justin King and S Anthony Scirrotto, the secondary is loaded
- Williams, Butler & Norwood are the best receiving corps in the conference
- JoPa's left leg has healed nicely and is now only broken in 13 places
- 'Linebacker U' has another Butkus Award favorite in Dan Connor
- Allowed just 14.4 PPG last year, 9th best in the country

5 Reasons for Pessimism:
- Only other team that hasn't beaten Michigan in over a decade: Indiana
- Like D. Jones, Scirrotto's only action might be in the prison shower
- 7th ranked rushing defense in nation loses three starters on D-Line
- Players conserving energy at home games to clean up Beaver Stadium
- Paterno still unable to grasp why there is an "11" in the Big 10 logo

Realety:
Once again the question in State College is, "How long will the Penn St. defense have to carry the offense?" With Levi Brown and Tony Hunt gone, the pressure is on former blue chip recruits Anthony Morelli and Austin Scott to finally step up. And for a guy that was supposed to be ready for the NFL straight out of high school, Derrick Williams could also improve on 40 catches for 440 yards. As far as the kicking game: Kevin Kelly's great as long as he gets three attempts to win the game.


Don't worry: I'm sure this won't haunt you for the rest of your life...