After Saturday’s loss to Illinois, there’s even worse news than being 0-2 in Big Ten Conference competition.
The laundry list of Nittany Lion defenders with injuries received a few more additions.
Before the game against the Fighting Illini, there were nine key defensive players sidelined with injuries, including linebackers Bani Gbadyu, Mike Mauti and Gerald Hodges and defensive end Jack Crawford.
Gbadyu is having knee trouble, Mauti is out with a high ankle sprain and Crawford is out with a sprained right foot. Hodges is still most likely a week away from any competitive play as he recovers from a small fracture in his leg.
All this before game-time against Illinois.
It was more of the same story right from the kickoff at Beaver Stadium.
On Illinois’s first play from scrimmage, Penn State defensive end Eric Latimore dropped due to a hand injury, and following closely behind Latimore were safeties Nick Suckay, who left the game with a pectoral injury, and Andrew Dailey, who sustained a stinger.
Still more Nittany Lions went down when Jordan Hill suffered an ankle injury and Pete Massaro left the game with some cramps.
With all the injuries before and during the game leaving the Nittany Lion defense vulnerable, Illinois was able to compile 437 yards, and an astounding 289 yards came from the running game.
The injured players will be re-evaluated this week and the next, and we will know more about who will be ready for the important matchup at Minnesota on Oct. 23.
It is a blessing the Nittany Lions have a bye week this week, and the players will certainly look forward to having at least some rest as they recover from a 3-3 regular season so far.
Penn State’s chances of making a bowl game are slowly becoming slim, and now the Nittany Lions are looking at the Insight Bowl for the 2010 season, or no bowl game at all, which would mean Joe Paterno would have to wait for his 400th career win.
After the worst homecoming loss for Joe Pa since the 37-17 defeat to Ohio State in 2007, Penn State football fans can reflect on the season thus far and breathe a sigh of relief that bye weeks exist in college football.
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