Big Ten Notebook: Michigan's Denard Robinson saves his best performances for the Irish

• Michigan’s Denard Robinson always seems to save his best for Notre Dame. In 2010, he set the record for Notre Dame Stadium’s longest touchdown run (87 yards) in his first college road game. Last year, he found Roy Roundtree in the end zone with two seconds remaining to give the Wolverines the win at home. “I’m pretty much OK with him 95 percent or 99 percent of the time tucking it and taking it,” coach Brady Hoke told Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. “He’s got such a gift.”  

• Ohio State senior defensive end Nathan Williams was hoping he’d be able to play half of the season after having microfracture surgery to repair his right knee. But after playing in two of the first three game, including 63 of 79 defensive plays against Cal last weekend, Williams told Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, there’s nothing to worry about. “The way that I’m recovering is amazing to me,” he said.  

• Minnesota quarterback Max Shortell will start Saturday against Syracuse, replacing MarQueis Gray, who suffered a high-ankle sprain last week. Coach Jerry Kill is hoping Shortell's fill-in start goes much more smoothly than Shortell’s first, a 58-0 drubbing at Michigan last season. “There’s a definite air of confidence now. He knows he can go out and beat anybody,” offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune.

• Penn State sophomore Mike Hull may be the strongest player on the team but as an underclassman linebacker, he was buried on the depth chart. But he's learned all three linebacker positions, made 19 tackles thus far and returned a fumble 74 yards for a touchdown last week against Navy. Hull was 50-50 about leaving Penn State when the NCAA dropped devastating penalties on the program. “There’s no point in leaving now,” he said to Guy Cipriano of the Centre Daily Times. “I’m going to get my shot as a starter next year, hopefully.”   

• Michigan State RT Fou Fonoti suffered a stress fracture in his foot and missed last Saturday’s loss to Notre Dame. The injury could hold him out an extended period of time, Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press reported. His replacement, Skyler Burkland, was part of an offensive line that allowed the first four sacks of the season against the Irish. “It’s way too much,” Burkland said. “It makes me mad even talking about it because that should never happen.”

• Purdue’s Robert Marve, who tore his ACL for the third time on Sept. 9 against Notre Dame, has been cleared for individual drills. Marve declined surgery and is hoping to make a comeback this season. “I anticipate him being cleared and starting to get team reps,” coach Danny Hope said to Mike Carmin of the Journal and Courier. “I can’t tell any difference.” Hope said that when Purdue returns to the field, even if Marve is ready, the Boilermakers will go with Caleb TerBush on Sept. 29 vs. Marshall. 

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