COVER STORY
NEW
ATTITUDE
After struggling both on and off
the field last season, Bill Belton
is finally hitting his stride
|
T
he football pressed firmly into Bill Belton's stomach.
It was Penn State's first play from scrimmage at Minnesota,
and quarterback Christian Hackenberg had just dropped back
from the 25-yard line, turned left and extended his right arm
toward the Nittany Lions' junior running back.
Belton's arms enveloped the ball, but in a fraction of a second, it
slipped like a letter through a mail slot, bouncing off his left knee to
the turf and, 10 yards downfield, straight into the body of Minnesota cornerback Eric Murray.
"Didn't bother me," Belton said. "When stuff like that happens,
I've been through way worse things than that.
"
This season, his third as a Nittany Lion, Belton has had his successes, too.
Against Michigan, a costly Zach Zwinak fumble on the first play of
the second half opened the door to Belton's quadruple-overtime,
game-winning touchdown carry. Two games later, against Illinois,
he became the first Nittany Lion to eclipse 200 yards rushing in
more than a decade.
Taking both the positives and negatives in stride, Belton has a new
perspective from which he can appreciate his opportunity to play
football at Penn State this year.
Were it not for a year of life-altering events, none of it – not the
touchdowns, not the fumbles, not the chance to reach 1,000 yards
rushing – would be taking place.
