Bernard Fernandez: The Nittany Line: Lions intend to keep Clark safe

TO MANY FOOTBALL players, the phrase "head games" might simply involve trash-talking at an opponent in an effort to psych him out.

For others, the term is quite literal as they wait ... and wait ... to get back on the field after suffering a concussion, or even the possibility of one. The period between "having your bell rung" and being sent back into a game has widened significantly. Not so very long ago, a concussed player need only to correctly answer how many fingers a trainer or assistant coach was wagging in front of his face to receive permission to return to the field. Now, it's likely that anyone visibly dazed will have to pass a comprehensive battery of medical tests before being cleared to play or even to practice.

Bottom line: Quarterback Daryll Clark, who rushed for 83 yards on seven carries and scored his first two rushing touchdowns of the season in Saturday's 35-17 victory at Illinois, likely will be excused from designed running plays tomorrow afternoon in Beaver Stadium against 37 1/2-point underdog Eastern Illinois, a Football Championship Subdivision foe. Any reward that might be gained from Clark taking off on a called quarterback draw isn't likely to justify the risk - unless, of course, it's a close Big Ten game and the Nittany Lions need to utilize everything in their playbook.

Concussions are a hot topic in college football these days, what with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, possibly unavailable to play for the top-ranked Gators in tomorrow night's nationally televised contest at No. 4 LSU, after being hurt in Florida's 41-7 rout of Kentucky on Sept. 26.

Penn State wide receiver Graham Zug incurred the only concussion of his career on Sept. 19 against Temple, and a mild one at that. He was held out against Iowa the following week, but returned to catch three passes against Illinois.

"It stinks when you get a concussion, because you're not allowed to play," Zug said. "You need to stand on the sideline; you're not exactly sure what's going on. You have to do all these tests - concussion recovery tests, exercise tests to make sure you don't get headaches.

"It's a process you have to overcome. You may feel fine a couple of days later, but there's still problems going on. There's nothing you can really do about it. You just have to be patient and wait to get cleared to play again."

Clark suffered a concussion early in the fourth quarter of last season's 13-6 victory at Ohio State. Although he remained on the field for seven plays after being hurt, he eventually was replaced by Pat Devlin, who scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard sneak.

"There was a gap between maybe 13 minutes [remaining] in the fourth quarter and 6 minutes remaining," Clark said last year of the period when he thought he was standing upright, but blacked out. "I don't remember anything between that. I do remember getting hit, [but] I don't remember anything that happened until I came to - we were ahead and I was on the sideline."

Maybe it is or isn't a coincidence that Clark, after a bye week, played his worst game of the 2008 season in a 24-23 loss at Iowa when he was 9-for-23 passing for only 86 yards and a crucial fourth-quarter interception the Hawkeyes helped turn into their game-winning drive.

And now?

"I really don't worry about it, because that's usually when it happens," he said of the possibility of being hurt on a running play. "The coaches have told me that if I run, not to take any unnecessary hits. I feel like I've done that. But sometimes you have to run."

* With last week's starter, Nerraw McCormack (ankle), likely out and previous starter DeOn'tae Pannell (ankle) gimpy, the revolving-door right-tackle position could feature more snaps for senior Ako Poti and redshirt Mike Farrell, both of whom are listed on the depth chart at left tackle.

* Eastern Illinois quarterback Jake Christensen - the starter for Iowa in a 27-7 loss to the Nits in a 2007 game in Beaver Stadium - has been cautioning his teammates what to expect when they take the field and see the largest crowd many will have ever played before. "I told them it's OK to be awestruck at first, but at the end of the day, they put their pants on the same way we do," said Christensen, who acknowledges Penn State is "going to be bigger than we are and probably faster at every position."

* The Nits are converting 56.2 percent of their third-down plays, which is second in the Big Ten and fourth nationally. That figure isn't likely to come down much, if at all, against EIU.

Eastern Illinois at No. 14 Penn State

12:05 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College

TV: ESPN Classic

Radio: WNTP (990-AM); WPNV (1440-AM)

Records: Eastern Illinois 4-1; Penn State 4-1

History: First meeting

Coaches: Bob Spoo (22nd season at Eastern Illinois, 136-110-1); Joe Paterno (44th season, 387-128-3)

About Eastern Illinois: The Panthers have a fairly high profile for a FCS team. The school boasts two grads who are current NFL coaches (Minnesota's Brad Childress and New Orleans' Sean Payton) and a starting NFL quarterback (Dallas' Tony Romo). EIU is ranked 25th in this week's FCS poll, and Spoo has guided his teams to eight FCS playoff appearances ... It might not be as easy as Penn State fans think to match Saturday's 328-yard rushing explosion against Illinois. The Panthers allow only 94 yards per game on the ground ... EIU is 0-3 all-time against Big Ten teams, losing to Illinois in 2006 and 2008 and to Purdue, Spoo's alma mater, in 2007 ... Quarterback Jake Christensen, a transfer from Iowa, had to pass 42 class credits in the spring and summer at his former school to transfer to EIU, where he promptly beat out two-season starter Bodie Reeder.

About Penn State: If the Nits jump out to a big enough early lead, this might be a good spot to get backup quarterback Kevin Newsome, a true freshman, his first appreciable playing time. "Everyone is going to see the talent this kid has," starting QB Daryll Clark said. "He's getting better every week. He definitely can make all the throws. He's reading coverages a lot faster" ... Redshirt junior Brett Brackett is the leading returning receiver from 2008, but he has been a virtual non-factor in the passing game with one reception for minus-7 yards. Look for the 6-6, 232-pound Brackett to possibly get a look at tight end next season after seniors Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler depart ... Premier outside linebacker Sean Lee figures to be sidelined for the third straight week with a sprained knee. "We've got our fingers crossed that he'll be OK," coach Joe Paterno said. "We're going to lean on the side of being too conservative."

Penn State 41, Eastern Illinois 7