Penn State vs. Ohio State has healing power

STATE COLLEGE - The rock oldies favored by the schools' respective bands are Bruce Channel's "Hey Baby" at Penn State and the McCoys' "Hang On Sloopy" at Ohio State, but the song whose title best captures the spirit of today's clash between the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions and 15th-ranked Buckeyes is "Hurts So Good," the 1982 Grammy Award-winning smash by John Mellencamp.

After a year in which the stodgy Big Ten Conference actually allowed member schools to slip a bye week into their schedules, it's another 12-games-in-12-weeks torture test for league teams that, frankly, could use a bit of rest at this stage of a long and grueling season.

But even players with a lengthening list of bumps and bruises are feeling no pain this week. Big, nationally televised games have a way of at least temporarily restoring the sore and the gimpy.

At Ohio State, several key Buckeyes who had been sidelined with injuries suddenly felt well enough to return to practice. Sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the Jeannette, Pa., native who usually has so many icepacks covering his body after a game that he resembles the Abominable Snowman, has regained a bounce to his step in anticipation of his first game in Beaver Stadium.

"Adrenaline is an amazing thing, even when you're feeling a little bit sore," OSU coach Jim Tressel admitted in announcing that starting defensive tackle Dexter Latimore (knee sprain) would be in the lineup today after missing the previous four games and starting left guard Justin Boren (foot) would be play after sitting out last week's blowout of New Mexico State.

That same refusal to give in to a bit of discomfort is the message being issued by Penn State players who understand the significance of another showdown with the Buckeyes, with another possible share of the conference title on the line for the winner.

Redshirt sophomore safety Drew Astorino, a decent pass-coverage guy whose most obvious strength is coming forward in run support, has been soldiering on since the beginning of the season with a sprained left shoulder. Does his aching shoulder prevent him from laying the wood to opposing wide receivers and running backs? Apparently not, nor would it make him hesitate today.

"It's a little banged up," Astorino said when asked about the bum shoulder. "It started out as a stinger, I think. But it's something I can play with, so it's not really a big deal."

Sean Lee, the senior co-captain whose chances to become Penn State's latest All-America linebacker were thwarted when he suffered a sprained left knee against Temple that kept him out of four games and limited him in two others, is finally close to 100 percent. But even if he weren't, he said he'd be on the field against the Buckeyes because these are the types of games he and his teammates came to Penn State to play.

Lee said he expects today's game to be a "ton of fun," a test of hearts and wills and talent.

"There's going to be high stakes," Lee said, all but licking his lips in anticipation. "You know at one point or another you're going to have to get the win against these guys if you want to be conference champions." *