It was an unexpected sight, if there ever was one.

Sophomore linebacker Paul Posluszny, a warrior by all accounts, was sitting on the Penn State bench Saturday, in the middle of a defensive series against Purdue. As he struggled to catch his breath, it was clear that he was a bit choked up.

It then became obvious that the injury -- diagnosed as a stinger -- that removed him from the game in the third quarter was causing an excruciating pain.

Posluszny was much improved as of yesterday, and the injury will not keep him out of the Iowa matchup on Oct. 23. But, on the sideline Saturday, he was having trouble holding up his head or moving his right arm, which warranted a sling and an overnight visit to Mount Nittany Medical Center, according to his mother, Jackie.

"There was a numbness, and he didn't have the ability to move his right arm because the nerves were aggravated," Jackie Posluszny said. "He had to physically move it with his left arm."

Trainers surrounded Posluszny, and, for a lengthy period, he didn't remove his helmet, entertaining plans of returning.

"He had every intention of going back in," Jackie said. "But as he stayed on the sideline longer, more pain started hitting him."

The stinger was Posluszny's fourth in a week and a half, with each one growing progressively worse. The one he suffered the Tuesday before the game was the first one to bother him, but he convinced his coaches otherwise.

"He's been sucking it up all week, playing with that thing," defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "I thought it was hanging by a thread, and so did [linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden]. And every time I asked him how it is, he smiles and says, 'fine.' I know he's lying to me."

Posluszny steadily regained strength and had an MRI Sunday, the results of which were normal. He was released from the hospital Sunday, his right arm out of its sling and having regained full mobility. And though Jackie said that Vanderlinden, who came to the hospital Saturday, plans to ease Posluszny back into practice, being the soldier that he is, he likely won't miss a beat.

Day to remember

Offense: Quarterback Zack Mills. In the words of Chandler Bing, could Mills be any more valiant? Mills played through pain, but he never displayed anything less than incredible drive and perfectly placed passes. Bonus: he played a better than Heisman hopeful Kyle Orton.

Defense: Linebacker Dan Connor. As Bradley said, Connor practiced at middle linebacker "one day. One day." Apparently, though, one day was enough. The true freshman started in place of an injured Tim Shaw and, by the end of the game, was the co-leading tackler.

Day to forget

Offense: The offensive line. Forced to replace injured left tackle Levi Brown, the line seemed to struggle, especially early on. Mills was sacked twice and was, far too often, forced to throw on the run or throw the ball away.

Defense: Linebacker Derek Wake, again. He's a fifth-year senior, but he hasn't been playing like it. Bradley said Wake "got caught up inside a little bit" on the 40-yard Purdue touchdown pass, and it's not unfair to say those kinds of errors happen all too often.

Did you notice?

An impressively whited-out student section, with the ever more distinct navy blue "S Zone" ... The repeated, repeated playing of the "Zombie Nation" techno song ... The passing of not only the Nittany Lion, but also Kermit the Frog, up through the student section to the box seats.

Extra Point

Yes, it's incredibly hot when Wisconsin plays House of Pain's "Jump Around" in the third quarter, eliciting the entire student section to, yes, jump around. Penn State trying to copy the tradition -- that's not so hot.