Naturally, several analysts speculated Casey's pending legal problems stemming from an alleged assault of an off-duty policeman in Hoboken in May affected his game. However, it must be noted that Casey, despite impressive numbers in a part-time role last season, never has shown the consistency necessary to be a starter.

There is a reason he sat behind starter Kevin Thompson, a workmanlike quarterback, last season.

"Last year, when things started to go bad I would go to the sidelines, laugh it off and then go back out on the field and have some fun," Casey said after the loss to the Trojans. "Today, I think I might have put too much pressure on myself."

Imagine what sort of pressure Casey will feel if the Nittany Lions lose at home Saturday to Toledo.

"Right now we've gotta suck it up and come back and play better," Casey said.

On the plus side, Casey will be able to rely on a defense that was generally stout against the Trojans. However, wide receiver Eddie Drummond suffered a sprained knee in the opening minute against USC and is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.

Is Paterno nervous? Is he planning to shake up his lineup?

Not yet.

"We feel comfortable with what we're doing," he said. "We just have to do it a little better. We have to be more intelligent, be less jittery. We made a lot of mistakes.

"If we make the same mistakes this week by the same people, then I'll really question whether they can play in this league."

Around the Big Ten
Illinois: While everyone has focused on Illinois' potent offense, coach Ron Turner has been more concerned with finding a replacement for departed kicker Neil Rackers, who set the school's single-season scoring mark (110 points) in '99. Junior Steve Fitts will take over for Rackers and also remain the team's punter. "Fitts was the most consistent through spring ball and camp," Turner said. Fitts has not attempted a field goal for the Illini. However, he made 20 of 29 attempts and 51 of 56 extra points at Airport High School in Gaston, S.C. Junior Neil Adams, who walked on to the team this summer, will handle kickoffs. ... Opening against visiting Middle Tennessee State Saturday should evoke a few memories for Turner and junior quarterback Kurt Kittner. Kittner played his first down of college football two seasons ago against the Blue Raiders. He took the snap and knelt down to seal a 48-20 Illinois victory. It was Turner's first victory after 12 straight losses with the Illini.

Indiana: Junior Antwaan Randle El, who became the first player in Big Ten history to reach 5,000 career yards as a sophomore, remains the starting quarterback and the focal point of the Hoosiers' offense. Nonetheless, coach Cam Cameron still hopes to be able to use Randle El at other positions on offense to take advantage of his play-making ability. Just how much depends upon the development of sophomore backup Tommy Jones. "If he continues to elevate the level of his play," Cameron said, "then that gives us more flexibility. At the same time, we're prepared to play him (Randle El) every single snap." ... In an effort to replace three starters on the offensive line, the Indiana coaches are rolling the dice a bit. Junior Craig Osika has been moved from tight end to starting center and sophomore A.J. Myler has been moved from defensive line to offensive tackle. Myler could join Osika in the starting lineup. "He's really handling the transition well," Cameron said of Osika. "And it's not like we're moving an offensive tackle. We're moving a guy who is an athlete."

Iowa: At first glance, the Hawkeyes' 27-7 loss to Kansas State in the Eddie Robinson Classic on Saturday doesn't seem to offer much hope for second-year coach Kirk Ferentz (1-10 a year ago). But in the '99 opener, the Hawkeyes surrendered 543 total yards (347 rushing and 196 passing) in a 42-7 loss to Nebraska. On Saturday, Iowa's defense allowed 428 total yards. However, the Hawkeyes held Kansas State to 178 yards rushing and just 17 points through three quarters. ... Junior wide receiver Kahlil Hill, who was suspended for the entire '99 season for breaking team rules, had one catch for zero yards against Kansas State. "I give Kansas State an awful lot of credit," Ferentz said. "Their two cover corners they have are excellent."

Michigan: Two seasons ago, Justin Fargas was a promising freshman tailback for the Wolverines. But after suffering a gruesome leg injury in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin on Nov. 14, Fargas' career appeared to be over. He missed the entire 1999 season, but appears fully recovered and enters this season as the Wolverines' No. 2 tailback behind senior Anthony Thomas. "He has made tremendous strides in overcoming a very serious injury that really left his career in doubt," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "He is going to be a very important part of our offense." And don't forget, Fargas' father is Antonio Fargas, who played Huggy Bear on the 1970s TV show "Starsky and Hutch." ... According to Carr, junior quarterback Drew Henson is already off the pain medication he was taking for his broken foot. He is expected to begin rehabilitation sometime this week.

Michigan State: Big Ten defensive coordinators had better be prepared to deal with T.J. Duckett, the Spartans' 6-foot-1, 252-pound sophomore tailback. Despite splitting time between linebacker and running back last season, Duckett rushed for 606 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. Now that he is playing exclusively at tailback, watch out. "He has trimmed down a little bit and is in excellent shape," Michigan State coach Bobby Williams said. "He has a really good grasp of what we're doing offensively. I certainly hope he is going to have a tremendous year for us." ... Freshman Jeff Smoker, a prep All-American quarterback at Manheim (Pa.) Central, is being groomed to back up junior Ryan Van Dyke. Van Dyke has yet to start a game and has attempted only 99 passes in two seasons, so Williams plans to get Smoker on the field as early as possible. "We can't afford to redshirt Jeff," he said. "You always like to have a guy with some type of experience going into your (conference) season. You hate to have a guy step in for the first time when you get into the meat of your schedule."

Minnesota: As veteran coach Glen Mason scans his depth chart, he sees inexperience at two critical positions -- quarterback and tailback. Redshirt freshman Asad Abdul-Khaliq is set to start at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. Sophomore Tellis Redmon, who carried the ball eight times as a freshman, is the No. 1 tailback. His backup is redshirt freshman Thomas Tapeh, who is still nursing a foot injury. Khaliq, 20, attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in 1998 and has participated in two spring practices at Minnesota. "He's got qualities to be a great leader," Mason said. "He's tough. He's smart. He's got a charismatic personality." ... When Minnesota pounded Louisiana-Monroe, 35-0, last season, the Indians were a power-running team. Their coaches changed to a spread offense at midseason, though, meaning the Minnesota defenders will face an entirely new system on Saturday. "I guess up in our neck of the woods I would compare what they are doing offensively to what Purdue does," Mason said. For the record, Mason is 0-3 against Purdue and the Gophers' defense has allowed an average of 49.3 points per game in the losses.

Northwestern: After enduring a disappointing 3-8 season in 1999, the Wildcats open Thursday night at home against Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference. An easy victory to jump-start a turnaround in 2000, right? Not so fast. "I don't know how we could sit and look at anybody after being 3-8 a year ago and feel they are a lesser team," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "If anyone has a great deal of respect for the Mid-American Conference, it's me. It's a league I played in and coached in for a lot of years. I know it's a great football league." ... Wide receivers Sam Simmons (fractured clavicle), Jon Schweighardt (fractured elbow) and Teddy Johnson (stress fracture in his shin) all are healthy and expected to contribute this season.

Ohio State: Junior quarterback Steve Bellisari held off challenges from two freshmen and will start Saturday against visiting Fresno State. Remember, though, that Bellisari completed just 45.1 percent of his passes last season, with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. "I hope he feels more comfortable with what we're doing offensively and makes better decisions," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "We don't ask Steve to win football game for us. But we do ask not him to not put us in a bad situation." ... Senior Derek Combs is expected to start at tailback as the Buckeyes attempt to replace the departed Michael Wiley. Combs won Ohio's Mr. Football Award as a senior at Grove City High School but has yet to blossom with the Buckeyes. He has just 26 carries for 99 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Jonathan Wells and senior Jerry Westbrooks are the backups. ... Senior Tyson Walter, who has started 37 games at offensive left tackle, will not play in the opener because of a staph infection. He will be replaced by redshirt freshman Ivan Douglas.

Purdue: Joe Tiller picked a bad year to open the season against Central Michigan. Former Michigan assistant Mike DeBord took over the program in the offseason and has implemented new systems on offense and defense. Needless to say, Tiller has burned his scouting report. "You get involved in a real guessing game," he said. "Obviously you have a film from last year, but with a new head coach and new coordinators you're not sure they're going to do. You're right in some cases and wrong in others."

Wisconsin: Senior split end Chris Chambers, who has been sidelined since suffering a stress fracture in his right foot on the first full day of preseason camp (Aug. 11), hopes to play in the Big Ten opener on Sept. 23 against Northwestern. Chambers has been walking on the foot in a pool and hopes to discard his crutches this week. If X-rays show the break is healing properly, he will step up his rehabilitation. Without Chambers, who has 75 catches for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons, the Badgers have only one receiver on the roster with at least 10 catches. ... The Badgers have been ripped in recent seasons for playing a non-conference schedule prepared by Betty Crocker. This season, they face four non-conference foes who were a combined 28-20 in 1999, a winning percentage of .583.

Jeff Potrykus covered the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.