Tomorrow's homecoming matchup against Illinois at Beaver Stadium won't only bring the return of thousands of alumni -- it will also mark the return of Penn State starting quarterback Anthony Morelli and his backup, Daryll Clark.
After the two suffered mild concussions against Michigan last week and were unable to finish the game, Penn State's medical staff cleared the quarterbacks to play against the Fighting Illini tomorrow, according to a release issued yesterday afternoon by Jeff Nelson, Penn State sports information director.
Kickoff is set for noon.
The return of Penn State's top quarterbacks should come as welcome news for a team that started No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll but has since dropped out after losing to Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame--all top-five teams.
With a repeat Big Ten title and Bowl Championship Series Bowl likely out of reach, Penn State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) knows it must regroup and finish the season strong if it wants to qualify for a respectable bowl game.
"Guys that have been here last year, we don't know no other way than a bowl game," sophomore wide receiver Deon Butler said. "We just have to learn from the losses. We can't sit there and harp on it no matter who it's against. We're competitors, we don't want to lose to anybody, no matter what rank they are."
Though Illinois (2-5, 1-2) isn't exactly a Michigan or an Ohio State, the Lions aren't overlooking anybody at this point. And after last year's 11-1 Orange Bowl year, Penn State doesn't want a relapse to the dismal 2003 and 2004 seasons.
"One big thing is guys are just tired of losing. Nobody wants to go back to the down years, the [4-7] and the 3-9 seasons, Butler said. "Guys are just looking at each other like, 'I'm tired of this.' "
If Penn State is looking to relieve some frustration, Illinois may be the perfect target. The Lions clobbered the Fighting Illini 63-10 last year in Champaign, racking up 56 points in the first half alone.
While Illinois might not be the pushover it was last year -- the Illini upset Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. and also has talented Isiah "Juice" Williams as quarterback -- it is pitted against a Penn State team itching to show it's just as talented as the top 25 teams in the country.
"The guys are definitely motivated and ready. I know I am," junior linebacker Dan Connor said. "The team right now is just kind of chomping at the bit to get on the field and play again, just to get another shot at it."
Even with three losses, a New Year's Day bowl appearance in the Capital One Bowl is still possible. And with the chance that Michigan and Ohio State could play in the championship game, the Lions' options increase even more.
But still, the Lions know that to earn a trip to Orlando this winter, they need to prove that they belong in the ranks of the college football elite this season.
"With each big test on the field, we haven't proved that. And until we prove that, I don't think we should be in the top 25," sophomore linebacker Sean Lee said. "Really, we want to be in the top 25. We think we're definitely good enough to be in the top 25 and we think we're better than some teams in the top 25, but you need to prove it on the field."
