BIG TEN Purdue's Tiller trying for first win over 'Lions

Penn State is the only conference team the Boilermakers' coach hasn't beaten.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Coach Joe Tiller has done almost everything since coming to Purdue in 1997.
He resurrected the program, led the Boilermakers to a record six straight bowl games, won a conference title and put Purdue back on the Top 25 map.
The lone exception seems to be Penn State, the only Big Ten team Tiller has not beaten and the next visitor to Ross-Ade Stadium today.
"When you play a team like Penn State, you look at them, you see how they're performing, you see how close they are to having the pieces fall into place," he said. "Then you play with your fingers behind your back."
No. 18 Purdue (4-1, 1-0) knows the dangers all too well.
In the 2000 Rose Bowl season, Penn State handed the Boilermakers their first Big Ten loss, and twice since '97 Penn State left West Lafayette a winner.
It's not just Tiller's problem; Purdue has not beaten the Nittany Lions since 1951.
But things have changed dramatically in recent years.
The Boilermakers, not the Nittany Lions, enter today's game on a four-game winning streak and carrying a national ranking.
It's Purdue's defense, not Penn State's, that now makes opponents shudder.
And most expect the Boilermakers, not the Nittany Lions, to be the Big Ten contender.
Yet Purdue knows snapping a six-game losing streak to Penn State (2-4, 0-2) won't be easy, even if it looks like the Nittany Lions are in the midst of a down year.
"They can really fly around," Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton said. "Always with Penn State, their linebackers and defensive line are going to have good athletes. We're going to have a challenge this week."
Combined with an offense that has averaged more than 41 points over the last three weeks and that appears to have its ground game going strong after rushing for more than 300 yards last week, Purdue appears to be steamrolling opponents.
If Purdue is to close out this four-game homestand with a sweep, and a long-awaited victory over Penn State, it will require more of the same -- tough running, strong defense and better special-teams play.
"We've certainly had chances to play a complete game but for whatever reason, we've not gotten it done," Tiller said. "I'd like to see us put it all together for the first time this season."