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Thursday, October 26, 2000

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The road to the Rose Bowl goes through West Lafayette, Ind., this week when the Ohio State Buckeyes visit the Purdue Boilermakers. The winner has the inside track to Pasadena.

The game pits the conference's top offense against the top defense. Purdue is first in the conference in yards per game (478.6), first in passing yards per game (311), second in scoring (34.2) and sixth in rushing yards per game (167.6).

Ohio State is first in the conference in total defense (12.3 points and 286 yards per game), first in rush defense (92.3 yards per game) and second in pass defense (194.5).

But what might determine the outcome of the game is the play of Ohio State's offense and Purdue's defense. Ohio State employed some three-and four-receiver sets in its 38-10 victory against Iowa, and the Buckeyes are averaging 31.4 points per game. Purdue is ranked third in total defense, third in rush defense and third in pass defense.

"I think it's important to keep the ball away from the Purdue offense," Ohio State Coach John Cooper said. "Penn State had a good game plan for them. We've looked at a lot of the things they did against them."

The biggest difference in Purdue's offense this year is the presence of a running game. Purdue Coach Joe Tiller employs the spread offense, but he has put a more concerted effort into the running game. Montrell Lowe is averaging 80 yards per game.

"Our running game is something we always work on," Tiller said. "I don't know that we're spending more time on it than in the past. I think the run is there a little more this year than past years, and some of that might have to do with a mature offensive line."

Another concern for both coaches is increased pressure and expectations. Ohio State was 6-6 a year ago and did not go to a bowl game, and it's been a long time since Purdue has been in Rose Bowl contention this late in the season. The Boilermakers last played in Pasadena in 1967.

"A lot of our players haven't been in this type of a game," Cooper said. "This is our most important game to date. It's a very important game for both teams. It's a big ball game."

"We're not looking past the game, but it's kind of on everybody's mind," said Purdue defensive lineman Matt Mitrione. "I mean, you have to be under a rock not to know what it all means."

Son of a Steeler

The best receiver in the Big Ten has a Pittsburgh connection.

Minnesota junior Ron Johnson is the son of Ron Johnson, who played cornerback for the Steelers from 1978-84.

Born five months after the Steelers' fourth Super Bowl victory, the younger Johnson is leading the conference in receiving. He has 42 receptions for 799 yards and seven touchdowns. He is 11th in the nation in receiving yards per game, averaging 99.8.

Johnson, who is 6 feet 3 and 216 pounds, is a Detroit, Mich., native who attended Martin Luther King High School. Penn State was among his final choices coming out of high school.

When Penn State and Minnesota played a couple of weeks ago, Johnson caught five passes for 114 yards and scored on a 64-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Last year, on the first play of Minnesota's game-winning drive in University Park, Johnson caught a 46-yard pass to put the Gophers in striking distance.

Bowl eligible

With victories last week, Michigan, Purdue and Ohio State clinched bowl bids. Northwestern and Minnesota each have five victories and should become bowl-eligible in the coming weeks.

The conference sent seven teams to bowl games last year. For that to happen this year, two of the following teams must finish strong: Indiana (3-4, 2-2), Penn State (3-5, 2-2), Illinois (4-3, 1-3), Wisconsin (4-4, 1-4) or Michigan State (3-4, 0-4).

Short snaps

Wisconsin's Ben Herbert (West Allegheny) made his first career start last week against Purdue. A junior defensive end, Herbert made a career-high eight tackles. Herbert, who had been playing a lot in a reserve role, is 10th on the team in tackles with 28, has one tackle for a loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. ... Purdue senior Drew Brees became the conference's all-time leading passer last week against Wisconsin. Brees passed Chuck Long and has 10,567 yards. He has 83 career touchdown passes, 37 interceptions and has completed 61.1 percent of his passes (918 for 1,502). ... Michigan has posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1987. The Wolverines beat Indiana, 58-0, and Michigan State, 14-0. They are second in the conference in total defense, giving up 15.6 points per game. ... Michigan State sophomore running back T.J. Duckett, the nation's eighth-leading rusher, is questionable for the game against Illinois this week because of a shoulder injury.