Big Ten Notebook: Illinois' Tim Beckman not sorry about recruiting Penn State players

Bill O'Brien and his team will face Illinois and coach Tim Beckman on Saturday. Beckman was one of the first coaches in Happy Valley recruiting Nittany Lions players after the NCAA sanctions. (US Presswire)

News and notes from around the Big Ten: 

• Urban Meyer was so unsatisfied with his team’s 29-15 win over UAB that over the weekend, he only watched video of four positive drives and ignored the rest. He was so pleased with his selective editing that he decided to show the players those same highlights in Sunday's practice. “He wanted us to focus on the positive,” right tackle Reid Fragel said to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

• There might be a little extra motivation for Penn State when the Nittany Lions take the field against Illinois this Saturday. Fighting Illini coach Tim Beckman was one of the first coaches on Penn State's campus, recruiting players after the NCAA announced its sanctions on the program. Beckman said he’s not sorry for the decision, reported Guy Cipriano of the Centre Daily Times.

• Michigan State’s Dion Sims, who caught just 12 passes for 99 yards last season, has emerged as the Spartans’ most reliable pass-catcher. He already has 277 yards on 22 catches but more important than the raw numbers, is the fact that he represents a balance to the Spartans’ run-heavy offense. “He’s a guy who’s reliable and we know we can count on him,” Andrew Maxwell told Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press. 

• Given the instability in the Leaders Division with two teams ineligible and another (Wisconsin) barely able to stay afloat, is it fair to say Purdue is the favorite to go to the Big Ten Championship game? Ken Thompson of the Journal and Courier cautiously took that approach. He cites numerous media personnel, including Purdue graduate Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com, who said, “Any other year -- any other year -- this Purdue team is an also-ran just hoping to play in a bowl at all. Now they are thinking roses.” 

• Minnesota, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2008, will likely be heading into conference play without star quarterback MarQueis Gray, who suffered an ankle injury two Saturdays ago.  “It would be a minor miracle if he was ready to play,” coach Jerry Kill told Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. The second-year coach knew it wasn’t looking good when the two were jogging out to the field together for last Saturday’s game vs. Syracuse and Gray couldn’t keep up with the 51-year-old. Max Shortell will start in his place. 

• Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, who was pulled after the first quarter of last Saturday’s game vs. Louisiana Tech, will remain the starter, reported Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. Beckman removed Scheelhaase, playing his first game since injuring his ankle in the season opener, because he took a hit and wasn’t fully recovered.