9/18/07 - News and Notes

Michigan QB Chad Henne is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game versus Penn State. Henne is 2-0 in his career against the Nittany Lions, but with him out of the game, the focus will be on Penn State's QB Anthony Morelli. Illinois travels to Indiana this weekend with the winner setting themselves up for a possible bowl berth. Illinois last played in a bowl after winning the Big Ten in 2001. The Hoosiers have not been to a bowl game since 1993. The "overachieving" Michigan State Spartans host an "underachieving" Notre Dame team on Saturday in East Lansing. MSU coach Mark Dantonio thinks his team needs to continue to overachieve if they plan to defeat a Notre Dame squad still looking for their first offensive touchdown this season. After losing on the road to in-state rival Iowa State, the Iowa Hawkeyes now head to Madison to face 9th ranked Wisconsin with the Heartland Trophy at stake. Former Hawkeye and current Badger head coach Bret Bielema says one of his first goals at Wisconsin was to beat Iowa. Despite a 1-2 start and recent loss to Florida Atlantic, Minnesota AD Joel Maturi thinks Gopher head coach Tim Brewster is "doing things the right way". Minnesota's defense is giving up 36 points per game this year, and things will only get uglier when they face high scoring Purdue this weekend. Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis and Michigan State DL Jonal Saint-Dic were named Big Ten co-defensive players of the week. This marked the 2nd time Laurinaitis was named Player of the Week in his career. Indiana QB Kellen Lewis was named Big Ten offensive player of the week for his efforts in the Hoosiers victory over Akron. Lewis finished the game with a total of 5 TDs and rushed for 199 yards.