Since a 21-10 loss to Iowa on Sept. 26, Penn State coach Joe Paterno has done a better job of protecting his quarterback, Daryll Clark, than the team's offensive line did. Clark was sacked twice and picked off three times by the Hawkeyes, while completing just 12 of 32 passes.

Old news?

Not really. Paterno got defensive during his Tuesday news conference when asked about the adjustments Clark might have made to be successful since that ineffective game against the Hawkeyes.

"I resent that question, to be frank with you," Paterno said. "I've said several times I thought (Clark) played a heck of a game against Iowa. I don't think our getting licked by Iowa had anything to do with Daryll's performance."

During Paterno's stint on the Big Ten teleconference, he also defended Clark, who leads the league in passing efficiency and ranks No. 2 in passing average (239.8 yards per game). He has 18 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, just one in the five games since the Iowa loss.

"(Clark) has always been a strong leader," Paterno said. "He hasn't had to prove anything to the squad. He's their leader, the offensive leader."

During the Nittany Lion's current five-game winning streak, Clark has completed 66 percent of his passes. In last Saturday's win at Northwestern, he rushed for his 20th career touchdown, tying the Penn State quarterback record held by Michael Robinson.

"I have felt that maybe people aren't paying much attention to him," Paterno said of Clark, 23, a senior and two-year starter, "because of the fact that we don't go around yelling, 'This guy ought to be a Heisman Trophy winner, this guy ought to be this or that.'

"I don't know if I've done a good enough job in letting people know how good we think Daryll is."

Is he Heisman good?

"It's hard to compare (candidates)," Paterno said. "I don't see all the other guys that people are talking about all the time. Every week, it's a new list from what I hear. You turn on the tube to get some sleep and there are a couple of guys talking about, 'Let's hear your Heisman Trophy list.'

"Where does that put (Clark) in the so-called Heisman race? I don't know. But I hope he gets his due. People ought to realize that he's one heck of a quarterback."

Pryor in the spotlight

When sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor , who was raised in Jeannette, Pa., signed with Ohio State, he knew there would be plenty of questions prior to his first trip to Penn State, one of the school's on his short list.

"Didn't take much of a brain to realize how good of an athlete he was, if you watched him," Paterno said of Pryor's high school exploits in football and basketball. "A dominant, dominant player."

Nobody has ever questioned Pryor's skill. Plenty have questioned his ability to reach lofty expectations. The questions just come with the position, according to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel .

"Probably the quarterback in general you answer the most questions about, then, perhaps a star running back," Tressel said.

"Those are the two positions you answer the most questions about," Tressel said, "because a bulk of the people have a comprehension for what they do. Or, at least, they feel they do."

Sports Illustrated jinx?

The unbeaten Iowa Hawkeyes are featured this week on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated.

"You've got to be kidding me," said Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz when informed of the news. "We're on the cover? Isn't the World Series going on right now?"

Regarding the jinx, Ferentz said, "So what game was it with the black cat running out? Was that Penn State? We survived that."

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