Roc Bellantoni says Eastern’s All-American middle linebacker Donald Thomas is overdramatic sometimes.

But after Eastern’s defensive coordinator saw Thomas lying on the O’Brien Stadium field early in the fourth quarter of last Thursday’s win against Tennessee Tech, Bellantoni knew Thomas wasn’t kidding.

Thomas was blocked by a Tennessee Tech player and did not get off the ground for approximately five minutes.

“As he kept laying there, my first thought was ‘Oh God, don’t do this to me again. I can’t go through this again,'” Bellantoni said. “I became really, really worried and thought for sure it was something serious.”

It was an eerie situation similar in some ways to last year’s season opener. All-American linebacker Clint Sellers lay motionless on the field at Illinois after the opening kickoff. Sellers ended up damaging his brachial plexus bundle in his right shoulder, a nerve connected to his spinal cord.

Sellers’ football career ended on that play.

But Thomas jumped up and ran off the field just before a medical team was approaching with a backboard to carry him off the field.

Thomas didn’t play again in the game, suffering what Bellantoni called a hyperextended neck.

“Thankfully, it was nothing major,” Bellantoni said. “I think it scared everybody more than anything.”

Thomas has practiced with the team all week and head coach Bob Spoo said he will be ready to play this Saturday against Purdue.

Players experience before at Ross-Ade

This is the first time ever Eastern will play Big Ten opponent Purdue.

But two Eastern players have played at Ross-Ade Stadium before heading into Saturday’s game against Purdue.

Starting quarterback Cole Stinson traveled there in 2004 when he was with Ball State, but did not play in Ball State’s 59-7 loss.

And starting defensive tackle Jeff Sobol traveled with Illinois for a game there in 2005, but did not play.

And Eastern head coach Bob Spoo played at Purdue in the late-1950s, and coached there from the late-70s until the mid-80s.

Ross-Ade, which opened Nov. 22, 1924, has undergone a $70 million renovation since 2001, adding a new video board, a new grass playing surface and reducing the capacity from 66,295 to its current 62,500.

“Even thought I’ve been back to Purdue on a couple of occasions, I have not been inside Ross-Ade Stadium,” Spoo said. “So it’ll be a curious time for me.”

Yankees owner has Purdue ties

Spoo was a sophomore quarterback on the 1956 Purdue team, the same year George Steinbrenner served as a volunteer assistant coach for Purdue. Yes, that George Steinbrenner, the long-time owner of the New York Yankees.

“I don’t even remember who he coached or what he coached,” Spoo said.

Purdue cruises to win in opener

Purdue head coach Joe Tiller joked Tuesday that his team took a knee on the final three plays to lose five yards so the rushing yards would equal the passing yards. It did not, but for a team with a reputation for pass first, rush second the Boilermakers run game actually out-gained the passing game in Saturday’s 52-24 win at Toledo.

Senior quarterback Curtis Painter went 14-of-30 for 244 yards, while Purdue rushed for 254 yards.

Senior Kory Sheets rushed for 91 yards on 11 carries, while junior Jaycen Taylor had nine rushes for 86 yards.

“Balance is something you strive for all the time whether it’s spread or wing-T football,” Tiller said. “If we weren’t as experienced as we are (offensively), we’d be more simplistic in our things.”

Painter latest in line of Purdue QB’s

Painter is coming off a record-breaking 2006 season. The three-year starter threw for 3,985 yards, a Purdue single-season record, and a Big Ten season record as well. Bellantoni knows his defense cannot completely stop Painter during Saturday’s game.

“We’re going to try to slow him down,” Bellantoni said. “Our defensive philosophy isn’t to lead the nation in pass defense. We’re going to be sound and simple and keep the ball in front of us and make tackles.”

Spoo had a first-hand role in the development of some Purdue quarterbacks, which under Tiller’s regime have included current National Football League quarterbacks Drew Brees and Kyle Orton.

Spoo coached Mark Herrmann, Scott Campbell and Jim Everett during his time at Purdue.

And Spoo said Painter ranks right up there with all of the above-mentioned players.

“He’s got great awareness, great strength,” he said. “He can put the ball anywhere on the field. I’m sure he’s becoming more and more comfortable every year knowing the offense.”