Citing a need to rest lingering injuries and give players time to catch up on school work, Joe Paterno said yesterday that he was displeased with the Big Ten's schedule, which affords no bye week.
"I've yelled and griped and did everything I could to give us an open date," he said at his weekly press conference.
So, at least to a certain degree, Paterno took matters into his own hands. He canceled practice Monday in order to give the team some rest because he said the players are "tired" and he doesn't want that to affect them later on.
"I'd be very critical of the fact that we're playing 12 games in 12 weeks," he said. "We're the only conference that does it. ... Everybody else has a week off or something here. And I think that makes it awfully difficult on your football team."
Notably, linebacker Dan Connor (knee), cornerbacks Tony Davis and Justin King (shoulders) have been dinged up at times this season.
Connor said yesterday that he has fluid outside the joint in his left knee. The fluid bubbled up after a hit in the Illinois game, and Connor has had it drained at least twice since facing the Illini.
He said it's not painful but "nagging." It's exactly the type of injury that crops up in the middle of the season.
Time off, Paterno said, would be nice.
"I think that's up to the presidents and athletic directors," he said. "I made a statement; we've gone from 11 games in 12 weeks to 12 games in 12 weeks, and it's tough. ... I've tried real hard to get that point across, but I'm just a voice in the wilderness."
Injury report
DT Ollie Ogbu suffered a right ankle sprain, Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said. There is no timetable on his return. ... LB Navarro Bowman, who suffered a high right ankle sprain against Illinois, is listed as "possible" against Wisconsin. ...
OG John Shaw, who had tendinitis in one knee, is cleared to return to action.
Joestradamus
Paterno on Illinois' upset last weekend of then-No. 5 Wisconsin:
"I told my staff Illinois will beat them.
"I told them before the thing started, Illinois is a really good football team. And Wisconsin played really well."
'Arch rivals'
Paterno and Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill share more than just an involvement with Big Ten football.
They're both from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Way back when, Paterno played at Brooklyn Prep.
Not too long ago, P.J. Hill played at Poly Prep.
"He is back from my home," Paterno said. "He's from Brooklyn, played at Poly Prep, one of our arch rivals at Brooklyn Prep.
"It was a non-Catholic private school and I went to the Catholic Jesuit school. And they never beat us, because we had a great quarterback."
Paterno was Brooklyn Prep's quarterback.
Bielema who?
From time to time, Paterno will forget his own players' names. So you expect him to remember Wisconsin coaches' name?
"I think they've done a great job. They've had, obviously, good coaching.
"I think Brian, the young coach, I don't think he's probably 35 yet," said Paterno, mistakenly referring to Brett Bielema as Brian.
Bielema stirred controversy last seaon against Penn State.
He had his team intentionally jump offsides on two straight kickoffs to end the first half in order to run out the clock and not give the Lions an opportunity to mount a scoring drive.
Before the start of this season, the NCAA changed the rule for kickoffs. The clock does not start until the receiving team touches the ball.
