Buckeyes host Akron; Penn St. has Notre Dame

It’s a “white-out” weekend in Happy Valley.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS — Whether they grow up on a dairy farm near Van Wert in the west, near the banks of the meandering Ohio River down south or on the streets of Cleveland a stone’s throw from Lake Erie, there’s something about Ohio State that beckons the state’s best high school football players.

It’s a fact that makes life simpler for coach Jim Tressel, who basically has his pick of the top players produced within the borders.

For those challenging the Buckeyes, particularly those who also call Ohio home, it’s a huge hurdle.

“For the most part, kids in Ohio dream about playing for Ohio State,” said Akron coach J.D. Brookhart, who will take his Zips against the 12th-ranked Buckeyes. “It’s not always an opportunity that’s given to them, so this is a big game for them. There’s a little extra incentive.”

That motivation seldom results in a win. For years, the Buckeyes wouldn’t risk their domination of the state by even deigning to play an in-state opponent. Since that 58-year policy ended in 1992, Ohio State is 15-0 against its closest neighbors, by an average score of 34-12.

Akron gave the Buckeyes fits the only other time the teams have met in the last century. In Tressel’s first game as Ohio State’s head coach exactly six years from Saturday’s meeting, the Zips never led but lost only 28-14.

Penn State vs. Notre Dame

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Hostile crowd. Tradition-rich opponent. National television.

Penn State’s Anthony Morelli knows exactly what kind of pressure Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen will feel when the heralded freshman makes his first collegiate start tonight against the 14th-ranked Nittany Lions.

Except this time, Morelli is the veteran quarterback on home turf looking for a statement early season win.

A year ago, Morelli strode past Touchdown Jesus into jam-packed Notre Dame Stadium to make his first road start.

The outcome wasn’t pretty — the Brady Quinn-led Irish took advantage of Penn State turnovers, blown assignments and a botched field-goal attempt to win 41-17 and hand the Nittany Lions their worst defeat of the 2006 season.

“We turned over the ball too many times. We’ve got to focus and take care of the little things,” said Morelli, a senior who looks and sounds more confident in his second year as starter.

Memories of last year’s drubbing are still fresh in Happy Valley, so Penn State (1-0) wants payback. The makeshift tent city known as “Paternoville” sprouted up on the sidewalk outside Beaver Stadium filled with students eager for the best seats — a sure sign it’s a big-game weekend in Happy Valley.

The school called for a “white-out” inside Beaver Stadium, asking all fans to wear white clothing.

The Nittany Nation would like nothing more than to watch Clausen’s starting career with the Irish (0-1) to begin with a loss. In high school, Clausen led Oaks Christian to a 42-0 record as a starter.