Below is the transcript of Joe Paterno's weekly press conference, discussing the 22-13 victory over Temple and this week's contest at Iowa.
Q. Joe, why has Iowa been so successful, especially lately? And are there similarities between the way you run your program and Kirk runs his?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I don't know about the similarities. I can tell you, Iowa has been a good, solid football team that's played extremely well against us. And I think Kirk's done a great job. They're recruiting well.
He's been able to keep his coaching staff together. That defensive coordinator does a great job for them. Been with them a long time. And I think when he plays Penn State there's a little bit something there because he is a Pennsylvania kid and his father-in-law and I were high school teammates together Jerry Hart.
But they just do a good job. They recruit well. The kids play hard. They're disciplined. You gotta beat them. They don't beat themselves.
Last year we thought we had them licked and we made one or two mistakes and they took advantage of it. They blocked the punt at midfield, scored, and then they came back and intercepted a pass, took it to the 24-yard line; and the year before that, out there they scored on a field goal the last play of the ball game. Great job on the last drive.
They're a good football team, well coached, that's what it's all about, I suppose.
Q. What went into your decision to move team Okoli from defensive line to offensive line, and what do you expect from him Saturday against those defensive ends?
COACH PATERNO: Tough job against those defensive ends. They're good. Especially that one kid, he's about as good as any there is. He's going to have troubles. Everybody else in the country who has played against them have had troubles, and he hasn't had that kind of experience over there on offense. Hasn't played a lot of football in a tough game as an offensive lineman.
But we felt that he's more suited to being an offensive lineman. He's a tall rangy kid. He's not the kind of kid that can stay low and get underneath blocks and things like that.
And we are in pretty good shape in the defensive line. And we knew we were going to need some help offensively, on the line especially. And immature -- not immature, but inexperienced kids. I think it made sense. And thank goodness he's there.
Q. You just mentioned Iowa's defensive line, what impresses you most about that unit and what challenges are they going to present to your offense?
COACH PATERNO: Well, they're solid. They come off blocks. They line up properly. They read well. They tackle very well. They're just a good, solid, well coached defensive team with some kids that are strong. They do a great job with their weight room.
Big-time football team. And we gotta play better than we've played all year to even stay with them.
Q. You mentioned the punt block from last year. Did that prompt changes in your punt formation from this year and can you gauge overall through four games your special teams play?
COACH PATERNO: The latter part of your question, yeah, I think that we've done a good job. I think our specialty teams are much improved. I think there's a lot of reasons for that, obviously.
We put a lot more emphasis on it, because I felt we lost two ball games last year because we didn't do as good a job as we could have in a specialty team area. We did change the punt formation, because of the fact personnel, timing it takes. Sometimes if you've got a fast kicker you don't worry quite as much as you do being spread out, with a new punter, we thought we could make it easier for the punter if we could put him in a spread where he didn't have to kick the ball quite as fast, put a little more pressure on the people covering.
So there were a lot of little things that went into that. You know, one's as good as the other depending on the people that are going to do it. And you guys have heard me make that statement a thousand times. But I think it's worked out for us.
I think spread punters has helped us, particularly with this group of people.
Q. Chaz Powell at least seems not to have made a big impact in the last couple of weeks. Is there any thought you could still move him back to defense and that could actually be the best spot for him?
COACH PATERNO: Not really. Hadn't really talked about it. If it makes sense something down the road we may decide that Chaz could be more help to the team on the defensive side of the football. But I think Chaz is -- you know, you move kids from one side to the other and in the old days, going back 20, 20 -- a long time ago, it was a little easier because we didn't do as many things.
When you put a kid on offense now, you're in spreads. You're in shotgun. You're doing a lot of different things. And the timing is somewhat more intricate than it used to be that it takes a while to where they're comfortable.
I think Chaz has a chance of being an outstanding football player on either side of the football. Right now I think he's better offensively for the good of this team and I think for the long run the good of Chaz.
Defensively, it's pretty much the same thing, you've got to make so many adjustments. You play against the shotgun. You play against empty backs, where there's nobody there. You've got to make adjustments on the line as they come out of the huddle.
People are going out quick. People are changing plays. Even Temple, not just even Temple but watch Temple see how many times the team looked, turned to the sideline that the offensive coaches were changing the play after they took a look at what we were doing defensively. Then we tried to change after all after they had changed.
So there's a lot more cat and mouse than it used to be when we lined up from here to the wall, everybody, and one spread across the field. So it's -- I think Chaz is doing okay. Obviously he hasn't burst on the Nashville scene or anything like that, but I think he's doing okay.
Q. Just wondering, is there anything you can do to improve the team's performance in the red zone?
COACH PATERNO: I kind of missed that. The team's performance? Oh, I think we can. There again, you know, I'm reluctant to be critical of our team when the other guys are playing as well and doing as well as they have. Temple was a good red zone football team against the three teams that we had seen them against this year.
They were a good take-away team. And they were careful with the football. We got down in the red zone, we may have made -- maybe one or two mistakes that would have helped us. But, yeah, obviously you can always do a little better. And I think maybe the point you were trying to make is an adequate one or is a legitimate one, and that we can do it better. Maybe the play selection has to be a little better, throw a little earlier in some downs and things of that sort.
But overall, I don't want to go berserk. I think we gotta be solid when we get down there.
Q. There are six Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25. Five teams are 4-0. Is this going to be one of the tougher seasons in the conference that you've seen in a while?
COACH PATERNO: Oh, absolutely. I don't think there's any question. I thought before we started this, the season, that Ohio State and Iowa would be the toughest teams to beat for everybody in the league. I think they're both well coached. They've both got fine personnel.
And they've got a sense of how good they are. I mean, they're playing with an awful lot of poise, both teams. They don't lick themselves.
The only game that I've seen Iowa really lick themselves in the last few years would have been that game at Arizona, when they kicked the ball around. Gave up the punt, the kickoff return and did a couple of things that were so unlike them.
And obviously they'll make the adjustments necessary, because they know how to coach -- they know how to coach and they know how to get kids to learn from mistakes. And I think they made a few mistakes out there.
But that's not like them. That's not like them. Most of the time when you gotta beat them -- and I thought that both they and Ohio State would be two of the best teams in the league. But now Wisconsin, we don't play Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's a fine football team. Michigan State, too. I think the whole conference has moved up. And that's where we are. This week we've got Iowa. Iowa is right now and that's going to be a tough ball game for us. I can't worried about anything down the road.
But to answer your question, yeah, I think when I was before the season started, I thought that Iowa would be one of the better teams in the country.
Q. Talking about Robert Bolden, his high school coach has said that one of the things that he worried about with him starting right away as a freshman was that he would be too hard on himself and put a lot of pressure on himself. You said a couple things on Saturday that I thought maybe suggested that you had those same kind of concerns. Could you talk about Bolden a little bit in terms of his personality and his temperament and why he's able to handle all the pressure and all the attention that comes with his position?
COACH PATERNO: How long do we have? You got a three-hour meeting today or what? He's a kid that's had success in things he does. He's a good athlete.
He's got a lot of ability in that particular position. He's obviously -- what made him a tailback, not only a great tailback, but he knows what's going on. He's a smart kid. He studies the game. In his own quiet way, he's a strong leader. So all the things that you're looking for in a quarterback, except he's gotta get some more experience.
And if he gets down on himself a little bit, I think it really doesn't show that much. Once in a while he may give some indication he's a little annoyed and maybe even a little late throwing the football, something like that. But I think overall he's done anything we've asked him to do. He really has.
Q. Playing time for your two back-up quarterbacks, Newsome and McGloin in the first four weeks, and are you confident they would be ready to step in and do a good job if they had to? Were you hoping to get more playing time for the two back-up quarterbacks, Newsome and McGloin, in the first four weeks, and do you assume if they had to step in they could do a good job if they had to?
COACH PATERNO: Talking about the two backup quarterbacks. I'm repeating myself all the time. We went into the season saying we were going to play this thing by ear, that we had to start a guy. We felt Bolden was the guy to start at. There might be situations where we would have to think about using one or two of the other kids. And that hasn't changed. That hasn't changed.
We used Kevin in a couple of games where I thought he could do a little bit more with the run game, change the pace for us. He may play more this week than he's played. I don't know. It will depend on how the game goes, how we handle some people, how we handle some of their defensive people, and try to adjust as the game goes on.
So we may play a couple, two quarterbacks, may play three, may play one. If you had told me we were only going to play one quarterback against Temple I would have been surprised. That's all we did. We played one quarterback against Temple.
Q. How much does it mean to the development of Rob and -- Rob Alden, and how much does it do for the team when you guys were up 15-13 in the fourth quarter, you had the ball on your own four-yard line, they had to get it out of there, he hit those big two third down passes, the key to that touchdown march?
COACH PATERNO: There's an old saying there's nothing that succeeds like success. I think the fact he is able to do that should be good experience for him. It will help him in other situations. I thought it was good that we could do that. I think that is offset by the fact the question that was asked earlier: Can we improve in the red zone?
I was disappointed that we didn't do a little bit more in the red zone, but I was pleased we were able to take the football, and we didn't have great field position all day. We had some. I shouldn't say none. But we had some. And I think we moved the ball pretty good. And, again, I think there was a tendency to underestimate just how good a football team Temple is. Good football team. Big, lean, I didn't see any fat kids out there. They ran. They were good tacklers. So when we made that drive, I think that was important to some of those kids.
But there again, we were home. Now we're on the road. Now we're playing against one of the, probably one of the four, five best teams in the country out there. And a team that we're certainly not going to intimidate. They've kicked our ears in a couple of times.
Q. Wonder if you could talk about Iowa quarterback. He's had some good success against you over the last two years, Stanzi, the quarterback. The Iowa quarterback, Stanzi, could you talk about his performance the last couple of years against you guys?
COACH PATERNO: As I said, two years ago he took them down the field in a clutch. I think he's turned out to be one of the better quarterbacks in the country. Very accurate with the football. Doesn't scramble a lot. But when he scrambles he's very effective.
He doesn't give up a lot of yardage. And he's a good leader. And he's got guts. He takes a lot of chances. I like the kid. I think he's a heck of a player.
Q. Shawney Kersey, there were some reports out there that he wasn't at practice last week but he returned yesterday. Can you give us an update on what his status is?
COACH PATERNO: You just gave it.
Q. Can you describe maybe some of the circumstances that led to him --
COACH PATERNO: He was at practice yesterday.
Q. Was he at practice last week?
COACH PATERNO: He practiced yesterday. Some days sometimes kids will miss a practice.
Q. (Question off microphone).
COACH PATERNO: No, I think they're playing better because of the fact that they've had, they're getting some experience. I think the linebackers are the guys that -- the down guys played some football. There's some kids that haven't played a lot of football, linebacker, kid like Marty hasn't played a lot. And I just think it's a question of playing.
I thought we were playing pretty well the first half defensively. I came in and I said, "Look we have to stay after this thing and score some points."
But when coaches moan about people being inexperienced and teams being inexperienced and the lack of some leadership in different areas because of the lack of experience in key spots, you guys think whistling in the dark, no. That is a problem when you're playing teams that give you as many things as I mentioned earlier.
You go out there and the kids now -- never saw an empty back field. Never saw a quarterback that can do certain things. Never saw -- never had to make that many adjustments in a game. So until he's had exposure to it, he's a little bit reluctant. And sometimes one kid is a little bit more natural and he jumps up and moves ahead of the way you would think he could be at that stage.
But most of the time it takes a while. They've got to get comfortable. And you gotta be careful you don't be critical of them. I was critical of the football team at halftime at Alabama because we didn't tackle. Not because we didn't line up and do things.
We were in pretty good position a couple times against Alabama. We didn't tackle well. And that was maybe because we were a little bit hesitant as to whether we could tackle, I don't know. Afraid of missing them, I don't know.
But I wasn't happy with that. But other than that I think we played fairly well.
Q. It doesn't seem your defense has started real quickly a couple times this year, going on the road now in the first Big Ten, is that something you're looking for?
COACH PATERNO: No. I think that the fact that it may appear that they have started slow or slowly is the fact that a lot of times you go in a game, you get something you hadn't really expected. We spent an awful lot of time practicing against Temple, an empty back field, because we thought we would get that.
Didn't have one. All right. We didn't have one. But temple had used an empty back field to a pretty good percentage of their offense in the first three games but they didn't do it against us. But you gotta be ready for it.
So you start out expecting this and that and then all of a sudden you've got to start changing things around a little bit. And I think that's a credit to the coaching staff, that as soon as they get the feel for things, they get -- they start changing a couple of things around, putting an emphasis on certain things so that we can do a better job of anticipating what may happen.
But I think outside of the one ball game, I think we were pretty -- we've been pretty good defensively, really. Just that first half.
Q. You talked about the secondary, taking more risks, Nick Sukay, can you talk about his performance?
COACH PATERNO: Nick has been a little bit hesitant to jump on some passes. He played the man sometimes when he should have gone after the football. And we talked about that. In fact, I talked to him before the game. I said, "Look, Temple hasn't thrown an interception the first three games, hadn't thrown an interception.
We got a couple. I think Nick got two, didn't he? And I told him -- I said, "I think you can get one or two if you just believe what you see."
And as Nick does, he smiled at me, said, "Yeah, Coach, go see the next guy." But that's, again, a question and answer, but they're playing and we'll see what happens this weekend because this guy's playing -- someone asked me about the quarterback. The Iowa quarterback, he's tough. He's really tough. And they have great whiteouts. I mean, they have great -- not good whiteouts, they have great whiteouts.
Q. Your lack of success in the last ten meetings against Iowa, for you personally, is that frustrating when you, given the record against Iowa, for you personally is that frustrating?
COACH PATERNO: Frustrating because Iowa's beating us?
Q. Correct.
COACH PATERNO: No, I think they've beaten us fair and square. I think we've had chances to win. Obviously we had a chance a couple of years ago when they beat us on the field goal at the end of the game out there.
And I think we were ahead 10-0 when we went in the fourth quarter. I think they do -- these things go this way. No, that doesn't even come into what happened, except to learn from the fact that we might get this and this situation, because they've had some success doing that in a particular situation. We want to be ready for it.
But the fact that Iowa beat us the last couple of years or even -- I don't know, maybe they beat us three, four, I don't know. I know the last two, obviously.
I don't think that way. I mean I don't mean to be all the time putting you guys off on being specific, but I don't think that way. We're playing Iowa whether they beat us last year or we beat them, it won't make any difference. I mean, we better play well, because this is the 19 -- the 2011 team. It's not the 2010 or 2009. It's the 2011 Iowa team. And they're the team we've got to play and they're the team we've got to try to beat.
Q. This is your second night game. Does it help in terms of preparation for what the kids do all day since you've already had one of those this year and maybe them kind of feeling at ease?
COACH PATERNO: You mean a trip?
Q. Right. Being on the road with a game at night, the guys at the hotel, that kind of thing.
COACH PATERNO: I think it probably helps a little. Not much. But it probably helps. The Alabama trip was a tough one. We had an-hour-and-15-minute bus ride from the hotel to the field for the game, because we had to stay in Birmingham, because you couldn't get a place in Tuscaloosa. But it will probably help. Again, when they blow the whistle and you get started, I don't know half the time you don't know where you are.
You know who the guy is, he's the guy with the different colored jersey over there, but I don't think it -- it never meant anything to me when I played. Whether it means something to these kids now because there's so much more hoopla that goes around than when I played -- when I played go down to Yale Bowl. What's the Yale Bowl. Somebody said to me, "Hey you're going to play in the Yale Bowl." I said, "Where do you flush it?" Being a smart aleck from Brooklyn.
Q. The Iowa quarterback, you talked about him before, Stanzi, pretty turnover prone last year. Through three games only one interception this year. Have you seen a major difference from this year to last year looking at film?
COACH PATERNO: No, we've got to play our game. You can't every time you get into a situation -- we've got to be ready to handle certain things he does well. I mentioned the fact, I think his whiteouts are outstanding. And they're big kids. They lost a great back, but the other kid really played well for them last week.
And the quarterback is a guy that's going to carry them. I mean, offensively he'll make some plays. We're not going to stop calling -- he's going to make some plays. I just hope we can keep him where he's not making that many plays. So we can stay in the ball game and be a little bit more, be competitive.
But I keep saying you're talking about a really big time football player. Big league leader and a kid who knows how to play that position and he knows how to use his personnel, and they know how to coach him. It's a tough combination.
Q. You mentioned Okoli a little earlier, Chimaeze Okoli. Is that definitely his job? Are you guys working out other guys at right tackle with Lou being done for the year?
COACH PATERNO: There again, I don't know. I think Okoli deserves an opportunity to go in there as starting right tackle. He's certainly going to have some problems. And we can't overreact. He's playing against some -- I mean, this may be as good a down of guys we're going to play against. The two wins may be the best combination of -- I don't know. I haven't seen everybody else we're going to play.
But our tackles are going to have their hands full with pass protection. And we're not -- we've got to throw the football some, because obviously we're not going to take the football and jam it down their throat. Nobody's done that.
Even game they lost. I mean, the game they lost, they didn't -- they didn't take the ball and jam it down their throat. They fumbled it. Kickoff return and the whole bit. So I think the kid will do a good job. But I'd have to define what I think is good, you guys on Sunday may say well so and so missed a block. Yeah, he's going to miss that block. He's going to miss a block. You guys every once in a while you ought to check your grammar, every once in a while, there's a couple of things in there I say, didn't this guy ever take English? (Laughter)
Unfortunately my wife, she's the grammar teacher. All right. Guys.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Bolden Era Begins Earlier Than Expected
Wally Richardson has company.
In a surprising announcement despite the avalanche of evidence pointing to Robert Bolden's jaw-dropping athleticism and rapidly improving marksmanship, Joe Paterno named the highly-touted true freshman the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions season opener on Saturday versus Youngstown State.
Murmurs from the mountains became roars in the Valley over the past few weeks when discussing Bolden's ascension up the Penn State depth chart. Onlookers marveled at his skill set and make-up and spoke in near unison with the belief that he, a true freshman, should be the starting quarterback on merits.
Yet, we all know Paterno's modus operandi in these situations, especially with kids who have not yet been molded into men. He vacillates on the edge, speaking in generalities (as he did at his Tuesday press conference) and normally goes with the safer option until his hand is forced by an opponent that starkly points out Choice A's fatal flaws.
That's not to say Bolden will incur nary a growing pain, but this decision -- the right decision made by Paterno for the program's ascension back to national prominence -- speaks volumes of the coach's football intellect, but also speaks loudly of Kevin Newsome, the presumed starter who never took the bull by the horns and claimed the job during spring practice into the fall season.
Newsome is a freakish athlete and offensive coordinators Galen Hall and Jay Paterno must design packages to get him on the field (think Michael Robinson) but by all indications he struggled with his reads, his accuracy and his overall ability to lead a still maturing offense.
In a way Paterno had no choice, which may have been a good thing. He was diplomatic with his public statements explaining his decision, yet the undertone was clear. Joe Paterno would never start a TRUE freshman quarterback if he didn't have a strong inclination that Bolden gave him the best chance to win...not Saturday because that is very much a foregone conclusion, and not the week after at Alabama, a waxing waiting to happen no matter the man under center.
This move is about a new era. This move is about the future of Penn State football. This move speaks volumes for the man who made it--an iconic coach entering his 45th season at the helm and passing over the safe choice for a young Lion and a bright future.
In a surprising announcement despite the avalanche of evidence pointing to Robert Bolden's jaw-dropping athleticism and rapidly improving marksmanship, Joe Paterno named the highly-touted true freshman the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions season opener on Saturday versus Youngstown State.
Murmurs from the mountains became roars in the Valley over the past few weeks when discussing Bolden's ascension up the Penn State depth chart. Onlookers marveled at his skill set and make-up and spoke in near unison with the belief that he, a true freshman, should be the starting quarterback on merits.
Yet, we all know Paterno's modus operandi in these situations, especially with kids who have not yet been molded into men. He vacillates on the edge, speaking in generalities (as he did at his Tuesday press conference) and normally goes with the safer option until his hand is forced by an opponent that starkly points out Choice A's fatal flaws.
That's not to say Bolden will incur nary a growing pain, but this decision -- the right decision made by Paterno for the program's ascension back to national prominence -- speaks volumes of the coach's football intellect, but also speaks loudly of Kevin Newsome, the presumed starter who never took the bull by the horns and claimed the job during spring practice into the fall season.
Newsome is a freakish athlete and offensive coordinators Galen Hall and Jay Paterno must design packages to get him on the field (think Michael Robinson) but by all indications he struggled with his reads, his accuracy and his overall ability to lead a still maturing offense.
In a way Paterno had no choice, which may have been a good thing. He was diplomatic with his public statements explaining his decision, yet the undertone was clear. Joe Paterno would never start a TRUE freshman quarterback if he didn't have a strong inclination that Bolden gave him the best chance to win...not Saturday because that is very much a foregone conclusion, and not the week after at Alabama, a waxing waiting to happen no matter the man under center.
This move is about a new era. This move is about the future of Penn State football. This move speaks volumes for the man who made it--an iconic coach entering his 45th season at the helm and passing over the safe choice for a young Lion and a bright future.
Confirmed: Bolden to Start Opener
Here is the official release from Penn State athletics.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno has named true-freshman Robert Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich.) as the Nittany Lions' game one starter Saturday when Penn State takes on Youngstown State in a 12:00 p.m. kickoff at Beaver Stadium. Paterno expects multiple quarterbacks to see action in the game that will air live on the Big Ten Network.
"Based on what we have seen to this point, Bolden has a slight edge right now, but we are confident all three quarterbacks are ready to go and hope to give them an opportunity to play until we settle on the one that gives us the best chance to win," Paterno said.
Paterno said his three young quarterbacks: Bolden, sophomore Matt McGloin (Scranton, Pa.) and sophomore Kevin Newsome (Portsmouth, Va.), would be listed 1A, 1B and 1C on the depth chart at this point and all still have the opportunity to earn the starting nod on a regular basis.
Bolden, who will be the first true-freshman quarterback to start a game at Penn State since Wally Richardson took the field against Cincinnati in 1992, was a four-star recruit out of St. Mary's Prep and was ranked the fourth best quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com and the second-best dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. The 6-3, 221-pounder completed 72-of-152 passes for 1,013 yards and seven touchdowns while running for 535 yards and nine scores in a senior campaign in which he led St. Mary's to the state finals.
He totaled more than 2,000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 16 scores in his final two high school seasons.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno has named true-freshman Robert Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich.) as the Nittany Lions' game one starter Saturday when Penn State takes on Youngstown State in a 12:00 p.m. kickoff at Beaver Stadium. Paterno expects multiple quarterbacks to see action in the game that will air live on the Big Ten Network.
"Based on what we have seen to this point, Bolden has a slight edge right now, but we are confident all three quarterbacks are ready to go and hope to give them an opportunity to play until we settle on the one that gives us the best chance to win," Paterno said.
Paterno said his three young quarterbacks: Bolden, sophomore Matt McGloin (Scranton, Pa.) and sophomore Kevin Newsome (Portsmouth, Va.), would be listed 1A, 1B and 1C on the depth chart at this point and all still have the opportunity to earn the starting nod on a regular basis.
Bolden, who will be the first true-freshman quarterback to start a game at Penn State since Wally Richardson took the field against Cincinnati in 1992, was a four-star recruit out of St. Mary's Prep and was ranked the fourth best quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com and the second-best dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. The 6-3, 221-pounder completed 72-of-152 passes for 1,013 yards and seven touchdowns while running for 535 yards and nine scores in a senior campaign in which he led St. Mary's to the state finals.
He totaled more than 2,000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 16 scores in his final two high school seasons.
Source: Bolden to QB Nits in Opener
A source with direct knowledge of the situation told me on Wednesday that Robert Bolden, a TRUE (yes for those who can't believe that word) true freshman, will be the starting quarterback for Saturday's game versus Youngstown State.
The source backed up an earlier report in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.
More to come when an official release is handed down.
The source backed up an earlier report in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.
More to come when an official release is handed down.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Penn State Football Depth Chart
Below is the official Penn State football depth chart as of August 29th. Stay tuned for a complete position-by-position breakdown this week right here!
CLICK HERE to read the official depth chart courtesy of Penn State athletics.
CLICK HERE to read the official depth chart courtesy of Penn State athletics.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
Joe Paterno Football Media Day News Conference
Here is the transcript of Joe Paterno's session with the press during Football Media Day at Penn State.
COACH PATERNO: I have one request -- Please don't ask me if I'm going to die tomorrow. (Laughter) Believe me, I've got a few more days left. (Laughter) Okay, let's talk football.
Q. I know you have some high expectations for Devon Still this year. Could you kind of tell me how he's coming along and your thoughts of what he'll be able to--
COACH PATERNO: Still is a good football player. He's worked hard. He's got a lot of ability. He's a big, rangy kid. He's probably 6-5, about 300 pounds. But I like him. He's a hard worker. When he first got here he was a little lazy, but he's really gotten to where he's a leader. So he's done very, very well.
Q. With Curtis Drake out now with a broken leg, what do you do to replace him and is there any thought of putting (Chaz) Powell back on offense?
COACH PATERNO: That's tough. Drake is one of the better football players we have. He's very versatile. I mean, he can do a lot of things. He can throw the ball; he was a heck of a high school quarterback. He's a really good receiver, good runner. It's a big loss for us, really is a big loss. But that's the way it goes. We've got to go without him. He'll be at least...they're talking six, eight weeks, so it'll be at least that.
Q. Any thought of putting Powell back on offense?
COACH PATERNO: Powell? Not really. Powell is doing very well on defense and likes it over there. Powell's biggest problem has been he's been you know, he's a kid that he's not been consistent in doing some things, but all of a sudden he's he looks like he's having some fun out there on defense, and he's really doing well. So I think I doubt it very much, unless there would be a disaster, we would not we'd keep Powell right where he is.
Q. You have several quarterback candidates with different attributes and different liabilities, and it's a little bit of a unique season because the offensive line has some question marks in it. So without naming names, do you have any templates you want to follow on what you want most out of the candidate who's ultimately the winning candidate?
COACH PATERNO: Well, it's a little too early. One thing that's changed, and I don't know whether you folks have been alert to it, but they changed the amount of time you have. They (NCAA) gave us an extra five days, (with) no more practices. You still can only get 29 practices, but you get four more days to get it in. So we've used the four days in order to get a little better feel for some of these kids.
So I told the coaches when we started, whatever you want to call it, preseason practice, but whenever we started practice, I said, since we've got the extra days we've never practiced for 29 days. I've always gone 26, 27, but we're going to take the 29, and we're using the extra days I'm using those to evaluate people. So we've spent more time trying to get to find out what some kids can do, who the leaders might be, whether we can come up with a couple of offensive linemen, because we've got troubles there, and to give all the quarterbacks a shot at it to see what they can do.
And now we took two days off. We took today off and tomorrow off, and I'll take two more days off down the road because I think we're going to work really hard now since we're as far as the class work. Right now we're taking finals tomorrow.
So once we get that over and once we get over the so called tryout period, then we'll go to work, and we'll work hard the next week, take a couple days off, and again, hopefully we don't get banged up too much, and then get back in there where we start to get ready to play a football game.
Q. Considering what you have, though, is mobility more important than it has been, a grasp of the offense? Where do you think the winner is going to --
COACH PATERNO: I don't know. You know, I think it's a combination of things. It's not that easy to say, "this kid is going to play here." I always go back every once in a while I tell the staff, years and years ago (Vince) Lombardi grew up in the same neighborhood I did in Brooklyn, and I used to go down when he was assistant coach with the (New York) Giants, used to be up in St. Michael's I think it was up in New Hampshire, I'd go up and spend some time. (Tom) Landry was in the secondary, was the defensive coach. Lombardi used to say all the time, the part of coaching you have to do is you have to get the right guy in the right spot doing the right thing at the right time.
Now, what combination that is, you don't know. I could not tell you what the makeup of this team is going to be because of the fact of what I just said. We've been trying people out. And we're trying to get the best combination of people to react to each other. A couple guys that may not be as good football players, there's a couple guys that we're not playing but who are good leaders and people that can do some things in the clutch, make some things happen when we got to make them happen.
So we're right in the process right now of we're trying to learn from them, really.
Q. Can you talk a little bit more about the quarterback competition? Has anyone stood out and any possibility that you might play a freshman?
COACH PATERNO: Well, there isn't anybody with any experience out there, so when you say you're going to play a freshman or what have you, we may be forced into playing a freshman. I think we have really the (Kevin) Newsome kid is really a freshman. He started in January a year ago.
I know you think I'm bagging the question maybe on this one, but I really don't know who's going to be the quarterback. I don't know right now. We're trying to put them in positions, situations I should say, not positions. We try to put them in situations where they have to make something happen. They have to be able to do some things in the clutch, get a little confidence, get the football team to get some confidence in them so that they can get in the huddle and say to their team, hey, come on, let's go. Let's show these guys we're a pretty good football team and go from there.
I think we're going to we'll probably, before it's all over, not right away, but before it's all over we'll probably have a decent quarterback. Whether we're going to have a great one this year, you know, that's maybe a long shot.
Q. Pete Massaro sat out last year with a knee problem. How is he doing so far in the practice and do you expect him to be in the rotation at defensive end?
COACH PATERNO: So far okay. Now, again, we've only had the pads on once. Yesterday is the only day we've put the pads on, so it's tough to evaluate how he's going to handle maybe being in there 15, 16 plays where we're scrimmaging and he's got a play tired and things like that. We have not tested that thing that way.
But we'll get around to doing it.
He looks as if he's okay. He looks as if he's going to be all right. He's a good athlete, he's a hard worker, he did a great job with his rehabilitation. The doctors were very and trainers were very pleased with how hard he worked to get himself to where he could play, so we're optimistic about it.
But for me to get up here and tell you he's ready to go, I don't think I'm in a position to say yes to that yet.
Q. With all the talent you lost at linebacker, what are you looking for in the competition there this summer?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I'm glad we've got a competition. I don't know what you know, I'm looking for solid play. Hopefully they'll play up to their potential, that a couple guys will come to the front. But I don't have any, "this guy has got to make X number of tackles, this guy has got to make three interceptions," that kind of stuff. Hopefully we have a couple of kids that are going to make some plays in the clutch because of their ability. But we do have four or five pretty good linebackers. You know who they are, so there's no sense me getting into their names.
Q. How has (Doug) Klopacz looked at center so far? What will the evaluation process be to see if he can handle that and maybe if you have to move (Stefen) Wisniewski back?
COACH PATERNO: Well, he's got ability. If he doesn't...he's got to get a little bit more consistent. He has a tendency every once in a while to take a blow, but if he gets a little bit more consistent, he'll be fine. But Wisniewski right now is the second center, and last year he was our first center. So obviously we think Klopacz is pretty good, otherwise we wouldn't move Wisniewski over to guard.
I like Klopacz. He's all business, keeps his mouth shut, works hard, been around. He's a senior. So I think he's going to be okay. Now, whether he's we'll see. But there's three or four kids on that offensive line that are pretty good, and he's one of them. Right now I think we could play with him and do all right.
Then there's a couple other guys that will have to come through.
Q. Continuing on the offensive line, just in general, how do you feel about it, and is there a chance that any of the younger guys like (Eric) Shrive could see action at some point this year?
COACH PATERNO: I doubt if Shrive can. I think a couple kids have to. Shrive one of these days is going to be a pretty good football player, but right now he's he's just inconsistent. He guesses a little bit. He's not quite the disciplined kid you've got to be in this league right now. The kind of people we have to play against. He's not a take charge guy. We're looking for a couple guys that can go out there and dominate some people. He's not there yet. He's a big, strong kid and he's got a chance to be good, but right now he's probably a year away.
But he works hard. He's a good kid, a bright kid, and I think eventually he's going to be pretty good.
Q. During the summer when you were a little bit under the weather, were you relying on your assistant coaches maybe more, and are you delegating more to them at this stage of the game?
COACH PATERNO: I'm not sure whether they would agree that I'm delegating. I don't know. We go into staff meeting, and there are some things that I don't particularly like that I see on the practice field, and I make it known that I think we want to change this or we want to do this or something like that. But on the field, I don't coach on the field as much as I used to. They're doing most of the coaching on the field.
In the old days I used to grab a couple kids and shove them around a little bit. There's two things wrong with that these days: Number one, the first one and the more important one is I don't want to get like the guy at Texas Tech, if you know what I mean. And the second thing is I prefer to wait until I get them in a meeting and say, "hey, I don't like what we're doing there and I didn't like the way he handled that kid or do something like that." But I try to stick my two cents in.
Q. Can you talk about Evan Royster? We didn't get to see him in the spring game. Can you talk about how he's been preparing to get ready to handle the load and how will you use some of the other talented running backs you have to get them in the game with Royster, as well?
COACH PATERNO: Yeah, we were in practice. I don't know whether there's a point that you're making. I apologize for not being able to go along with what you're trying to get.
I think, as I tried to say earlier, spring practice has got to give way to preseason right now. I think the thing I have to do, and that's one of the advantages I have, I've coached so long and I've been around a lot of football players, a lot of football teams, is that I think I can sum up I don't think maybe I'm answering your question. I can sum up where are we this week, "where are we, does this kid have it, how long can we wait, let's put him in a situation where we test him."
I mean, there's a lot of things you've got to do in the putting of a group together. You know, just remember this: We have to put together a group that has to play most of the time before massive crowds, 100,000 people. A kid makes one, two, three mistakes and he's cost you a football game, and you're always trying to in the back of your mind you're trying to get across to your guys that are going to have to make the plays and the guys that are going to be in that, hey, don't be stupid, don't put the ball on the ground.
You take the (2009) Iowa game; we let them block that punt. We fell asleep. I mean, you would have thought we never practiced punting the ball. So I don't know. That doesn't answer your question, I know that.
Q. Brandon Ware is listed at 337. Did he come in the in the kind of shape that you've wanted? I know he's been sort of a little bit in the doghouse in the past because of weight issues, and you've got 13 players over 300. Is there anyone else that when we reported maybe was a little heavy, too heavy?
COACH PATERNO: We had a couple of kids that were too heavy and I wouldn't let them practice until they lost some weight. I won't get into who they are because I don't think that's fair because they've lost the weight. Ware has got other problems. Ware's problems are academic. Ware has been a goof off academically. But he's straightening himself out a little bit. He's not home free yet. Ware is not home free yet. Ware is a guy that can be a really good player. He's about 330 but probably ought to be about 320.
But he knows what he's got to do, but he hasn't done it yet. And it's not necessarily the physical part of it, it's really his he's got to do a better job in the classroom.
Q. Have you found a punter yet?
COACH PATERNO: We've got three kids out there punting, and I think we're going to have a punter, but there again, you never know until he goes out there and punts the ball before a lot of people. It's like the kid taking the foul shot; some guys go out here and can't do it. But I think we're going to have a punter. I think we'll be all right. I'm not sure, but they have potential. The three kids all have good leg...a little erratic right now. We'll get them settled down a little bit and a little bit more consistent, and I think we'll probably end up with a decent punter, maybe not a great one but a decent one.
Q. Your Thursday night radio show, I think you said in Chicago you were cutting back on appearing on that. Just curious, what was the reason behind that, and are you cutting back on any other similar responsibilities?
COACH PATERNO: Well, the Thursday night show is a tough show for me because of the fact I've got to come right off the field and go into that radio show. That's always been a problem for me because of the fact that I go in there and you know, well, you guys have seen me. If we have a lousy practice and somebody wants to ask me, I feel like telling them, "go jump in the lake." It's making the adjustment all the time.
And it's a pain in the rear end. I want to get home. I want to start doodling. I want to figure out what we didn't get done so that maybe I can figure out a couple things for the game on Saturday.
So it's really annoying is probably not the best way to put it, but it's something that I would really when I was in a situation where we had to build up the program a little bit, I figured it was something I had to do. I don't really feel as if I have to do it right now, and I may not be I may be overstating that case, but I just don't it's not a it's a tough thing to come off the practice field on a Thursday and hustle over there and get on the radio, and I didn't like it. You know, and I don't get paid a lot of money. (Laughter.)
You know, I do that; I do the Quarterback Club on Wednesdays; I do a pregame (radio) show. There aren't a lot of coaches that do all those things. I do a show with Steve Jones before the game; I go to Quarterback Club every week and get up and answer questions and the whole bit. So I mean, it wears on you a little bit.
I'm anxious to just concentrate on trying to make sure we put everybody get the best arrangement we can in order to have the best football team we can have.
Q. Earlier you talked about the linebackers. I know you've only had one practice, but what are you expecting? Is there any way to know what to expect from Michael Mauti this year, and would you expect him to lead the linebacker corps pretty much?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I think Michael Mauti has a chance to be really good. Now, whether he comes off that knee operation, there again, you don't know. He's like Massaro. He had a tough knee operation, and I've got my fingers crossed that he's going to be fine because he is a very, very fine athlete, as is Massaro. You keep your fingers crossed and hope he's going to be okay, because if he's okay, he's pretty darned good.
Q. Without looking past the opener, can you talk about what it's going to be like to take your team to Alabama and walk on that field down there?
COACH PATERNO: You know, I'd be dishonest if I told you I have not looked at tapes of Alabama; I have. It's pretty tough these days not to turn on the television set and see three, four football games every night almost. So I've seen a lot, and I've looked at a lot of Alabama tapes. But I can't rewind it, I can't do some of the things I will do once we get to the week before we play Alabama.
But right now, if you said to me, "how good is the right offensive tackle of Alabama?" I couldn't tell you, not right now.
Q. Talk about going to Alabama and being involved in an Alabama game.
COACH PATERNO: I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I Alabama is obviously a very gifted football team, and Nick has done a really good job coaching it. When we get around to it, it's going to be a tough football game.
But you mentioned the fact that we open up with Youngstown. A couple years ago Michigan opened up with who did they open up with? (Appalachian State) And they got they blocked a punt and got licked I mean, blocked a field goal and got licked. So I'm really not I'm trying not to get that involved in that. The time will come when I it'll be 14, 15 hours a day looking at them, but I have really not given them a lot.
I'm sure the assistant coaches have looked at more than I have.
Q. What's the latest with Stephon Morris? I heard he got shaken up in practice? Is he practicing? Is he out?
COACH PATERNO: Morris wasn't hurt that badly, but we've had some tough injuries. I don't know why. We've got four or five concussions. We are going to keep some people out, and I'm talking about two or three really good players, and I'm not sure we're trying the medical people and I have spent some time trying to figure out, you know, whether it's the helmet, whether it's some type of blocking. I don't know.
But Morris is going to be all right.
Q. Earlier you were asked about the radio show. You talked about the Quarterback Club and the Saturday pregame show. Do you still plan to do those, the Quarterback Club and the Saturday pregame show?
COACH PATERNO: Well, very few people have the let me put it a different way. You know, I've been through it when we didn't have a fan call, but when you go to the Quarterback Club, and I don't know if any of you ever go, more than half of them are women. Really, there's an awful lot of people who have an interest in it, and I feel a little obligated to respond to that. Whether I want to do it every week, I'm not sure anymore.
Q. There's a lot of guys on this team who haven't proved themselves or haven't had a chance to prove themselves yet. As a coach, do you relish those seasons where it's more you're teaching and you might not know what you have, or is it more frustrating than when you have a team come back that has eight or nine seniors starting?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I like the team. And obviously I'm confident in our coaching staff. I think we've got a really big league coaching staff, and they've done a great job. Somebody had asked me earlier about are they carrying me; yeah, they probably are carrying me. So I'm looking forward to it. I really am. I think we've got a long way to go. I think we've got a tough schedule obviously. We've got to play some good people on the road. And we've got to play some good people, period.
So I think it's you know, you like the competition. If you didn't like it, you ought to get out of it. I mean, that's the way I've always felt about it. I've always felt, hey when I recruit kids, I tell them, "hey, don't be afraid of competition. If you're afraid of competition, don't even look at us because you'll never get good if you don't play against good people and you'll never get good if you don't practice against good people." Until somebody knocks you on your rear end, and pardon me ladies, but unless somebody knocks you on your rear end, you're never going to learn. You get knocked on your rear end, you get back up and you figure out, "how did he knock me down?"
So I like the competition; it doesn't bother me. Now whether we're going to be good enough, you know, that's what it's all about. But it certainly doesn't bother me, competition.
Q. What are your concerns with the offensive line?
COACH PATERNO: Well, we're not very good right now, our offensive line. We've got two or three guys that three anyway, that are that I think can play right now. The others we're going to have to work hard with, and they're going to have to work hard in order to be good enough to handle some of the people we have to play.
Whether they get good enough, that's what we so we've got to coach. We've got to go to work and we've got to get a bunch of guys that kind of we can get them to come together and feel good about themselves and look forward to being a tough bunch of kids. Right now we're not really tough. I think we've got to get tougher, and I think we will. I don't think it's I don't think they know right now how to be tough.
COACH PATERNO: I have one request -- Please don't ask me if I'm going to die tomorrow. (Laughter) Believe me, I've got a few more days left. (Laughter) Okay, let's talk football.
Q. I know you have some high expectations for Devon Still this year. Could you kind of tell me how he's coming along and your thoughts of what he'll be able to--
COACH PATERNO: Still is a good football player. He's worked hard. He's got a lot of ability. He's a big, rangy kid. He's probably 6-5, about 300 pounds. But I like him. He's a hard worker. When he first got here he was a little lazy, but he's really gotten to where he's a leader. So he's done very, very well.
Q. With Curtis Drake out now with a broken leg, what do you do to replace him and is there any thought of putting (Chaz) Powell back on offense?
COACH PATERNO: That's tough. Drake is one of the better football players we have. He's very versatile. I mean, he can do a lot of things. He can throw the ball; he was a heck of a high school quarterback. He's a really good receiver, good runner. It's a big loss for us, really is a big loss. But that's the way it goes. We've got to go without him. He'll be at least...they're talking six, eight weeks, so it'll be at least that.
Q. Any thought of putting Powell back on offense?
COACH PATERNO: Powell? Not really. Powell is doing very well on defense and likes it over there. Powell's biggest problem has been he's been you know, he's a kid that he's not been consistent in doing some things, but all of a sudden he's he looks like he's having some fun out there on defense, and he's really doing well. So I think I doubt it very much, unless there would be a disaster, we would not we'd keep Powell right where he is.
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Q. You have several quarterback candidates with different attributes and different liabilities, and it's a little bit of a unique season because the offensive line has some question marks in it. So without naming names, do you have any templates you want to follow on what you want most out of the candidate who's ultimately the winning candidate?
COACH PATERNO: Well, it's a little too early. One thing that's changed, and I don't know whether you folks have been alert to it, but they changed the amount of time you have. They (NCAA) gave us an extra five days, (with) no more practices. You still can only get 29 practices, but you get four more days to get it in. So we've used the four days in order to get a little better feel for some of these kids.
So I told the coaches when we started, whatever you want to call it, preseason practice, but whenever we started practice, I said, since we've got the extra days we've never practiced for 29 days. I've always gone 26, 27, but we're going to take the 29, and we're using the extra days I'm using those to evaluate people. So we've spent more time trying to get to find out what some kids can do, who the leaders might be, whether we can come up with a couple of offensive linemen, because we've got troubles there, and to give all the quarterbacks a shot at it to see what they can do.
And now we took two days off. We took today off and tomorrow off, and I'll take two more days off down the road because I think we're going to work really hard now since we're as far as the class work. Right now we're taking finals tomorrow.
So once we get that over and once we get over the so called tryout period, then we'll go to work, and we'll work hard the next week, take a couple days off, and again, hopefully we don't get banged up too much, and then get back in there where we start to get ready to play a football game.
Q. Considering what you have, though, is mobility more important than it has been, a grasp of the offense? Where do you think the winner is going to --
COACH PATERNO: I don't know. You know, I think it's a combination of things. It's not that easy to say, "this kid is going to play here." I always go back every once in a while I tell the staff, years and years ago (Vince) Lombardi grew up in the same neighborhood I did in Brooklyn, and I used to go down when he was assistant coach with the (New York) Giants, used to be up in St. Michael's I think it was up in New Hampshire, I'd go up and spend some time. (Tom) Landry was in the secondary, was the defensive coach. Lombardi used to say all the time, the part of coaching you have to do is you have to get the right guy in the right spot doing the right thing at the right time.
Now, what combination that is, you don't know. I could not tell you what the makeup of this team is going to be because of the fact of what I just said. We've been trying people out. And we're trying to get the best combination of people to react to each other. A couple guys that may not be as good football players, there's a couple guys that we're not playing but who are good leaders and people that can do some things in the clutch, make some things happen when we got to make them happen.
So we're right in the process right now of we're trying to learn from them, really.
Q. Can you talk a little bit more about the quarterback competition? Has anyone stood out and any possibility that you might play a freshman?
COACH PATERNO: Well, there isn't anybody with any experience out there, so when you say you're going to play a freshman or what have you, we may be forced into playing a freshman. I think we have really the (Kevin) Newsome kid is really a freshman. He started in January a year ago.
I know you think I'm bagging the question maybe on this one, but I really don't know who's going to be the quarterback. I don't know right now. We're trying to put them in positions, situations I should say, not positions. We try to put them in situations where they have to make something happen. They have to be able to do some things in the clutch, get a little confidence, get the football team to get some confidence in them so that they can get in the huddle and say to their team, hey, come on, let's go. Let's show these guys we're a pretty good football team and go from there.
I think we're going to we'll probably, before it's all over, not right away, but before it's all over we'll probably have a decent quarterback. Whether we're going to have a great one this year, you know, that's maybe a long shot.
Q. Pete Massaro sat out last year with a knee problem. How is he doing so far in the practice and do you expect him to be in the rotation at defensive end?
COACH PATERNO: So far okay. Now, again, we've only had the pads on once. Yesterday is the only day we've put the pads on, so it's tough to evaluate how he's going to handle maybe being in there 15, 16 plays where we're scrimmaging and he's got a play tired and things like that. We have not tested that thing that way.
But we'll get around to doing it.
He looks as if he's okay. He looks as if he's going to be all right. He's a good athlete, he's a hard worker, he did a great job with his rehabilitation. The doctors were very and trainers were very pleased with how hard he worked to get himself to where he could play, so we're optimistic about it.
But for me to get up here and tell you he's ready to go, I don't think I'm in a position to say yes to that yet.
Q. With all the talent you lost at linebacker, what are you looking for in the competition there this summer?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I'm glad we've got a competition. I don't know what you know, I'm looking for solid play. Hopefully they'll play up to their potential, that a couple guys will come to the front. But I don't have any, "this guy has got to make X number of tackles, this guy has got to make three interceptions," that kind of stuff. Hopefully we have a couple of kids that are going to make some plays in the clutch because of their ability. But we do have four or five pretty good linebackers. You know who they are, so there's no sense me getting into their names.
Q. How has (Doug) Klopacz looked at center so far? What will the evaluation process be to see if he can handle that and maybe if you have to move (Stefen) Wisniewski back?
COACH PATERNO: Well, he's got ability. If he doesn't...he's got to get a little bit more consistent. He has a tendency every once in a while to take a blow, but if he gets a little bit more consistent, he'll be fine. But Wisniewski right now is the second center, and last year he was our first center. So obviously we think Klopacz is pretty good, otherwise we wouldn't move Wisniewski over to guard.
I like Klopacz. He's all business, keeps his mouth shut, works hard, been around. He's a senior. So I think he's going to be okay. Now, whether he's we'll see. But there's three or four kids on that offensive line that are pretty good, and he's one of them. Right now I think we could play with him and do all right.
Then there's a couple other guys that will have to come through.
Q. Continuing on the offensive line, just in general, how do you feel about it, and is there a chance that any of the younger guys like (Eric) Shrive could see action at some point this year?
COACH PATERNO: I doubt if Shrive can. I think a couple kids have to. Shrive one of these days is going to be a pretty good football player, but right now he's he's just inconsistent. He guesses a little bit. He's not quite the disciplined kid you've got to be in this league right now. The kind of people we have to play against. He's not a take charge guy. We're looking for a couple guys that can go out there and dominate some people. He's not there yet. He's a big, strong kid and he's got a chance to be good, but right now he's probably a year away.
But he works hard. He's a good kid, a bright kid, and I think eventually he's going to be pretty good.
Q. During the summer when you were a little bit under the weather, were you relying on your assistant coaches maybe more, and are you delegating more to them at this stage of the game?
COACH PATERNO: I'm not sure whether they would agree that I'm delegating. I don't know. We go into staff meeting, and there are some things that I don't particularly like that I see on the practice field, and I make it known that I think we want to change this or we want to do this or something like that. But on the field, I don't coach on the field as much as I used to. They're doing most of the coaching on the field.
In the old days I used to grab a couple kids and shove them around a little bit. There's two things wrong with that these days: Number one, the first one and the more important one is I don't want to get like the guy at Texas Tech, if you know what I mean. And the second thing is I prefer to wait until I get them in a meeting and say, "hey, I don't like what we're doing there and I didn't like the way he handled that kid or do something like that." But I try to stick my two cents in.
Q. Can you talk about Evan Royster? We didn't get to see him in the spring game. Can you talk about how he's been preparing to get ready to handle the load and how will you use some of the other talented running backs you have to get them in the game with Royster, as well?
COACH PATERNO: Yeah, we were in practice. I don't know whether there's a point that you're making. I apologize for not being able to go along with what you're trying to get.
I think, as I tried to say earlier, spring practice has got to give way to preseason right now. I think the thing I have to do, and that's one of the advantages I have, I've coached so long and I've been around a lot of football players, a lot of football teams, is that I think I can sum up I don't think maybe I'm answering your question. I can sum up where are we this week, "where are we, does this kid have it, how long can we wait, let's put him in a situation where we test him."
I mean, there's a lot of things you've got to do in the putting of a group together. You know, just remember this: We have to put together a group that has to play most of the time before massive crowds, 100,000 people. A kid makes one, two, three mistakes and he's cost you a football game, and you're always trying to in the back of your mind you're trying to get across to your guys that are going to have to make the plays and the guys that are going to be in that, hey, don't be stupid, don't put the ball on the ground.
You take the (2009) Iowa game; we let them block that punt. We fell asleep. I mean, you would have thought we never practiced punting the ball. So I don't know. That doesn't answer your question, I know that.
Q. Brandon Ware is listed at 337. Did he come in the in the kind of shape that you've wanted? I know he's been sort of a little bit in the doghouse in the past because of weight issues, and you've got 13 players over 300. Is there anyone else that when we reported maybe was a little heavy, too heavy?
COACH PATERNO: We had a couple of kids that were too heavy and I wouldn't let them practice until they lost some weight. I won't get into who they are because I don't think that's fair because they've lost the weight. Ware has got other problems. Ware's problems are academic. Ware has been a goof off academically. But he's straightening himself out a little bit. He's not home free yet. Ware is not home free yet. Ware is a guy that can be a really good player. He's about 330 but probably ought to be about 320.
But he knows what he's got to do, but he hasn't done it yet. And it's not necessarily the physical part of it, it's really his he's got to do a better job in the classroom.
Q. Have you found a punter yet?
COACH PATERNO: We've got three kids out there punting, and I think we're going to have a punter, but there again, you never know until he goes out there and punts the ball before a lot of people. It's like the kid taking the foul shot; some guys go out here and can't do it. But I think we're going to have a punter. I think we'll be all right. I'm not sure, but they have potential. The three kids all have good leg...a little erratic right now. We'll get them settled down a little bit and a little bit more consistent, and I think we'll probably end up with a decent punter, maybe not a great one but a decent one.
Q. Your Thursday night radio show, I think you said in Chicago you were cutting back on appearing on that. Just curious, what was the reason behind that, and are you cutting back on any other similar responsibilities?
COACH PATERNO: Well, the Thursday night show is a tough show for me because of the fact I've got to come right off the field and go into that radio show. That's always been a problem for me because of the fact that I go in there and you know, well, you guys have seen me. If we have a lousy practice and somebody wants to ask me, I feel like telling them, "go jump in the lake." It's making the adjustment all the time.
And it's a pain in the rear end. I want to get home. I want to start doodling. I want to figure out what we didn't get done so that maybe I can figure out a couple things for the game on Saturday.
So it's really annoying is probably not the best way to put it, but it's something that I would really when I was in a situation where we had to build up the program a little bit, I figured it was something I had to do. I don't really feel as if I have to do it right now, and I may not be I may be overstating that case, but I just don't it's not a it's a tough thing to come off the practice field on a Thursday and hustle over there and get on the radio, and I didn't like it. You know, and I don't get paid a lot of money. (Laughter.)
You know, I do that; I do the Quarterback Club on Wednesdays; I do a pregame (radio) show. There aren't a lot of coaches that do all those things. I do a show with Steve Jones before the game; I go to Quarterback Club every week and get up and answer questions and the whole bit. So I mean, it wears on you a little bit.
I'm anxious to just concentrate on trying to make sure we put everybody get the best arrangement we can in order to have the best football team we can have.
Q. Earlier you talked about the linebackers. I know you've only had one practice, but what are you expecting? Is there any way to know what to expect from Michael Mauti this year, and would you expect him to lead the linebacker corps pretty much?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I think Michael Mauti has a chance to be really good. Now, whether he comes off that knee operation, there again, you don't know. He's like Massaro. He had a tough knee operation, and I've got my fingers crossed that he's going to be fine because he is a very, very fine athlete, as is Massaro. You keep your fingers crossed and hope he's going to be okay, because if he's okay, he's pretty darned good.
Q. Without looking past the opener, can you talk about what it's going to be like to take your team to Alabama and walk on that field down there?
COACH PATERNO: You know, I'd be dishonest if I told you I have not looked at tapes of Alabama; I have. It's pretty tough these days not to turn on the television set and see three, four football games every night almost. So I've seen a lot, and I've looked at a lot of Alabama tapes. But I can't rewind it, I can't do some of the things I will do once we get to the week before we play Alabama.
But right now, if you said to me, "how good is the right offensive tackle of Alabama?" I couldn't tell you, not right now.
Q. Talk about going to Alabama and being involved in an Alabama game.
COACH PATERNO: I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I Alabama is obviously a very gifted football team, and Nick has done a really good job coaching it. When we get around to it, it's going to be a tough football game.
But you mentioned the fact that we open up with Youngstown. A couple years ago Michigan opened up with who did they open up with? (Appalachian State) And they got they blocked a punt and got licked I mean, blocked a field goal and got licked. So I'm really not I'm trying not to get that involved in that. The time will come when I it'll be 14, 15 hours a day looking at them, but I have really not given them a lot.
I'm sure the assistant coaches have looked at more than I have.
Q. What's the latest with Stephon Morris? I heard he got shaken up in practice? Is he practicing? Is he out?
COACH PATERNO: Morris wasn't hurt that badly, but we've had some tough injuries. I don't know why. We've got four or five concussions. We are going to keep some people out, and I'm talking about two or three really good players, and I'm not sure we're trying the medical people and I have spent some time trying to figure out, you know, whether it's the helmet, whether it's some type of blocking. I don't know.
But Morris is going to be all right.
Q. Earlier you were asked about the radio show. You talked about the Quarterback Club and the Saturday pregame show. Do you still plan to do those, the Quarterback Club and the Saturday pregame show?
COACH PATERNO: Well, very few people have the let me put it a different way. You know, I've been through it when we didn't have a fan call, but when you go to the Quarterback Club, and I don't know if any of you ever go, more than half of them are women. Really, there's an awful lot of people who have an interest in it, and I feel a little obligated to respond to that. Whether I want to do it every week, I'm not sure anymore.
Q. There's a lot of guys on this team who haven't proved themselves or haven't had a chance to prove themselves yet. As a coach, do you relish those seasons where it's more you're teaching and you might not know what you have, or is it more frustrating than when you have a team come back that has eight or nine seniors starting?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I like the team. And obviously I'm confident in our coaching staff. I think we've got a really big league coaching staff, and they've done a great job. Somebody had asked me earlier about are they carrying me; yeah, they probably are carrying me. So I'm looking forward to it. I really am. I think we've got a long way to go. I think we've got a tough schedule obviously. We've got to play some good people on the road. And we've got to play some good people, period.
So I think it's you know, you like the competition. If you didn't like it, you ought to get out of it. I mean, that's the way I've always felt about it. I've always felt, hey when I recruit kids, I tell them, "hey, don't be afraid of competition. If you're afraid of competition, don't even look at us because you'll never get good if you don't play against good people and you'll never get good if you don't practice against good people." Until somebody knocks you on your rear end, and pardon me ladies, but unless somebody knocks you on your rear end, you're never going to learn. You get knocked on your rear end, you get back up and you figure out, "how did he knock me down?"
So I like the competition; it doesn't bother me. Now whether we're going to be good enough, you know, that's what it's all about. But it certainly doesn't bother me, competition.
Q. What are your concerns with the offensive line?
COACH PATERNO: Well, we're not very good right now, our offensive line. We've got two or three guys that three anyway, that are that I think can play right now. The others we're going to have to work hard with, and they're going to have to work hard in order to be good enough to handle some of the people we have to play.
Whether they get good enough, that's what we so we've got to coach. We've got to go to work and we've got to get a bunch of guys that kind of we can get them to come together and feel good about themselves and look forward to being a tough bunch of kids. Right now we're not really tough. I think we've got to get tougher, and I think we will. I don't think it's I don't think they know right now how to be tough.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Drake out 6-to-8 weeks; Morris day-to-day
Penn State's wide receiver depth will be tested after news surfaced Monday that speedy Curtis Drake suffered a leg injury that will keep him out of the lineup for 6-to-8 weeks.
The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that the injury may require surgery.
Later in the day, sophomore cornerback Stephon Morris suffered a scare with a neck injury, but the defensive back's father told the newspaper that the injury was just a "stinger" and that the cornerback is "day to day."
CLICK HERE to read the Harrisburg Patriot-News' story.
The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that the injury may require surgery.
Later in the day, sophomore cornerback Stephon Morris suffered a scare with a neck injury, but the defensive back's father told the newspaper that the injury was just a "stinger" and that the cornerback is "day to day."
CLICK HERE to read the Harrisburg Patriot-News' story.
Royster, Crawford Named to Award Watch Lists
enn State senior tailback Evan Royster (Fairfax, Va.) and junior defensive end Jack Crawford (Longport, N.J.) have been selected to the watch lists for two national awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
Royster also has been named, for the second consecutive year, to the watch list for the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Player of the Year award. The honor is the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. Royster is among 30 players on the watch list, five of whom are from Big Ten Conference teams.
For the second straight year, Royster is a nominee for the Maxwell Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the outstanding collegiate football player in America. Crawford is one of nine Big Ten players to garner consideration for the Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor bestowed upon the nation's defensive player of the year.
A 2010 third team pre-season All-American by Phil Steele's, Royster has been one of the nation's premier tailbacks the past two years. He enters the season with 2,918 career rushing yards, good for No. 8 in the Penn State record books. He needs 481 yards to break Curt Warner's school record of 3,398 yards, set during the 1979-82 campaigns. Royster needs just 82 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground.
The former Westfield High School All-Met selection ran for 1,169 yards last year to earn first team All-Big Ten accolades. His 5.7 average was best among conference rushers with at least 110 carries. The Doak Walker Award candidate also led Penn State with 1,364 all-purpose yards (104.9 ypg), ranking No. 3 in the conference in the regular season.
Royster delivered six 100-yard rushing games a year ago, led by 137 yards in a 20-0 win over Minnesota. Penn State has posted a perfect 12-0 record when he breaks the 100-yard barrier.
A nation's best seven Penn State players, including tailback Larry Johnson in 2002, have been honored with the Maxwell Award. Quarterback Daryll Clark was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award in 2008.
Crawford was a mainstay among the Nittany Lion front four in 2009, starting all 13 games at defensive end and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He was among the Big Ten leaders in minus-yardage plays, ranking ninth in tackles for losses (14.5 for minus-67 yards) and 10th with 5.5 sacks (minus-44). With at least one minus-yardage play in 10 games, Crawford was second on Penn State in minus-yardage hits. The former St. Augustine High School standout totaled 31 tackles, was tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries, had one forced fumble and three pass break-ups.
Crawford, a native of London, England who moved to the United States in 2005, saw action in every game as a true freshman in 2008 despite having played organized football for just two years.
Penn State leads the nation with four Chuck Bednarik Award winners. The Nittany Lions' last recipient was All-America linebacker Dan Connor, who earned the honor in 2007, giving Penn State three consecutive honorees after Paul Posluszny became the just the second-time two-time winner in 2005 and 2006. Linebacker LaVar Arrington received the Chuck Bednarik Award in 1999. Navorro Bowman was a semifinalist for the award in 2009.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the nation's top defensive player since 1995. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced on November 8 and three finalists for each award will be announced on November 22. The winners of the 2010 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be revealed as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be held on December 9. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 4, 2011.
Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions are 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. Penn State returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for this season, as well as 10 players that have starting experience. No. 14 Penn State began practice last Thursday and opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium.
Royster also has been named, for the second consecutive year, to the watch list for the Walter Camp Football Foundation's Player of the Year award. The honor is the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. Royster is among 30 players on the watch list, five of whom are from Big Ten Conference teams.
For the second straight year, Royster is a nominee for the Maxwell Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the outstanding collegiate football player in America. Crawford is one of nine Big Ten players to garner consideration for the Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor bestowed upon the nation's defensive player of the year.
A 2010 third team pre-season All-American by Phil Steele's, Royster has been one of the nation's premier tailbacks the past two years. He enters the season with 2,918 career rushing yards, good for No. 8 in the Penn State record books. He needs 481 yards to break Curt Warner's school record of 3,398 yards, set during the 1979-82 campaigns. Royster needs just 82 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground.
The former Westfield High School All-Met selection ran for 1,169 yards last year to earn first team All-Big Ten accolades. His 5.7 average was best among conference rushers with at least 110 carries. The Doak Walker Award candidate also led Penn State with 1,364 all-purpose yards (104.9 ypg), ranking No. 3 in the conference in the regular season.
Royster delivered six 100-yard rushing games a year ago, led by 137 yards in a 20-0 win over Minnesota. Penn State has posted a perfect 12-0 record when he breaks the 100-yard barrier.
A nation's best seven Penn State players, including tailback Larry Johnson in 2002, have been honored with the Maxwell Award. Quarterback Daryll Clark was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award in 2008.
Crawford was a mainstay among the Nittany Lion front four in 2009, starting all 13 games at defensive end and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He was among the Big Ten leaders in minus-yardage plays, ranking ninth in tackles for losses (14.5 for minus-67 yards) and 10th with 5.5 sacks (minus-44). With at least one minus-yardage play in 10 games, Crawford was second on Penn State in minus-yardage hits. The former St. Augustine High School standout totaled 31 tackles, was tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries, had one forced fumble and three pass break-ups.
Crawford, a native of London, England who moved to the United States in 2005, saw action in every game as a true freshman in 2008 despite having played organized football for just two years.
Penn State leads the nation with four Chuck Bednarik Award winners. The Nittany Lions' last recipient was All-America linebacker Dan Connor, who earned the honor in 2007, giving Penn State three consecutive honorees after Paul Posluszny became the just the second-time two-time winner in 2005 and 2006. Linebacker LaVar Arrington received the Chuck Bednarik Award in 1999. Navorro Bowman was a semifinalist for the award in 2009.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the nation's top defensive player since 1995. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced on November 8 and three finalists for each award will be announced on November 22. The winners of the 2010 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be revealed as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be held on December 9. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 4, 2011.
Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions are 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. Penn State returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for this season, as well as 10 players that have starting experience. No. 14 Penn State began practice last Thursday and opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium.
Paterno Nominated for Presidential Medal of Freedom
Penn State's Joe Paterno has been nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. The nomination was made by U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA, 5th), who sent President Barack Obama a letter with 17 additional signatures asking that Paterno be rewarded for his efforts serving his team, school and community.
The award recognizes individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
"The Medal of Freedom has always stood for those who make a contribution to making our nation a better place to live," said Thompson, in a news release. "I believe Joe Paterno represents an ideal of what student and college athletics should be."
In his letter to Obama, Thompson stated, "Rarely has the award been made to someone who has personified sportsmanship on the field of play and academic achievement in the classroom. It is our hope, that this year the Medal of Freedom does just that by honoring Joe Paterno for his contribution to the coaching of football, his commitment to the academic integrity of the young men under his charge, and his deep dedication to education in general."
Additionally in the letter, Thompson listed off many of Paterno's accomplishments including his 394 wins, more than any coach in the history of Division I football. He also stated that Paterno's program has never been on probation and that his players stay in school and graduate. The letter also mentioned that Paterno supports the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, his fundraising and donations to libraries and need-based scholarships for Pennsylvanians.
President Harry S. Truman created the The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1945. Among some of the recipients in 2009 were: Stephen Hawking, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Harvey Milk, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Notable sports figures who have earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom include: Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Billie Jean King, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jackie Robinson and John Wooden.
In his 45th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Paterno owns a 394-129-3 (75.2) record. In his 61st year in Happy Valley, the Hall of Fame coach is the all-time victories leader among major college coaches and is six victories away from becoming just the third coach in NCAA history with 400 career wins. Paterno has led Penn State to two national championships (1982, '86), five unbeaten and untied seasons (1968, '69, '73, '86, '94) and is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (36) and wins (24-11-1).
Paterno has produced more than 350 NFL players, 77 first team All-Americans, 44 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 15 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his illustrious career. He has been selected the AFCA Coach of the Year an unprecedented five times, most recently in 2005. Paterno has been named Big Ten Dave McClain Coach of the Year three times, including 2008, when he led the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 mark, the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Joe and Sue Paterno have contributed more than $4 million to Penn State for building projects and to endow faculty positions and scholarships. In 2009, the Paternos announced a $1 million pledge for an expansion of the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Centre County's primary healthcare facility.
The No. 14 Nittany Lions are 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. Penn State returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for this season, as well as 10 players that have starting experience. Penn State began practice last Thursday and opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium and then visits 2009 BCS national champion Alabama on Sept. 11 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN).
The award recognizes individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
"The Medal of Freedom has always stood for those who make a contribution to making our nation a better place to live," said Thompson, in a news release. "I believe Joe Paterno represents an ideal of what student and college athletics should be."
In his letter to Obama, Thompson stated, "Rarely has the award been made to someone who has personified sportsmanship on the field of play and academic achievement in the classroom. It is our hope, that this year the Medal of Freedom does just that by honoring Joe Paterno for his contribution to the coaching of football, his commitment to the academic integrity of the young men under his charge, and his deep dedication to education in general."
Additionally in the letter, Thompson listed off many of Paterno's accomplishments including his 394 wins, more than any coach in the history of Division I football. He also stated that Paterno's program has never been on probation and that his players stay in school and graduate. The letter also mentioned that Paterno supports the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, his fundraising and donations to libraries and need-based scholarships for Pennsylvanians.
President Harry S. Truman created the The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1945. Among some of the recipients in 2009 were: Stephen Hawking, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Harvey Milk, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Notable sports figures who have earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom include: Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Billie Jean King, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jackie Robinson and John Wooden.
In his 45th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Paterno owns a 394-129-3 (75.2) record. In his 61st year in Happy Valley, the Hall of Fame coach is the all-time victories leader among major college coaches and is six victories away from becoming just the third coach in NCAA history with 400 career wins. Paterno has led Penn State to two national championships (1982, '86), five unbeaten and untied seasons (1968, '69, '73, '86, '94) and is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (36) and wins (24-11-1).
Paterno has produced more than 350 NFL players, 77 first team All-Americans, 44 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 15 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his illustrious career. He has been selected the AFCA Coach of the Year an unprecedented five times, most recently in 2005. Paterno has been named Big Ten Dave McClain Coach of the Year three times, including 2008, when he led the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 mark, the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Joe and Sue Paterno have contributed more than $4 million to Penn State for building projects and to endow faculty positions and scholarships. In 2009, the Paternos announced a $1 million pledge for an expansion of the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Centre County's primary healthcare facility.
The No. 14 Nittany Lions are 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. Penn State returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for this season, as well as 10 players that have starting experience. Penn State began practice last Thursday and opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium and then visits 2009 BCS national champion Alabama on Sept. 11 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN).
Friday, August 6, 2010
Penn State Places 14th in Preseason Coaches Poll
The Nittany Lions have plenty of question marks -- which will be addressed in this space during the weeks ahead -- heading into the 2010 football season, but pedigree and promise proved to be in their favor as the coaches poll placed them 14th in the preseason rankings.
Penn State's schedule will include several speed bumps, including a second-week primetime tilt at preseason No. 1 and defending national champion Alabama. Also on the docket are road games at No. 2 Ohio State and 10th-ranked Iowa.
CLICK HERE for the Associated Press' story on the preseason rankings.
Penn State's schedule will include several speed bumps, including a second-week primetime tilt at preseason No. 1 and defending national champion Alabama. Also on the docket are road games at No. 2 Ohio State and 10th-ranked Iowa.
CLICK HERE for the Associated Press' story on the preseason rankings.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Big Ten tabs Indy to Host 2011 Football Championship
The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has been chosen as the proposed site for the inaugural football championship game in 2011.
The conference office will begin a 30-day window to negotiate a one-year agreement with Indiana Sports Corp and the stadium to host the title game.
"We are excited to work with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to finalize an agreement to hold the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game in the city of Indianapolis," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. "We felt at this time it was important to identify a site for the first championship game and then spend more time with other cities and venues with respect to both our basketball tournaments and the football championship in the future."
The Big Ten was among the many conferences that recently helped change the landscape of collegiate athletics, adding perennial power Nebraska to the fold back in June, the first new member since Penn State joined 20 years ago. The move comes into effect on July 1, 2011.
The 115th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Thursday, September 2 as Indiana hosts Towson, Minnesota plays at Middle Tennessee State and Ohio State hosts Marshall.
The conference office will begin a 30-day window to negotiate a one-year agreement with Indiana Sports Corp and the stadium to host the title game.
"We are excited to work with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to finalize an agreement to hold the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game in the city of Indianapolis," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. "We felt at this time it was important to identify a site for the first championship game and then spend more time with other cities and venues with respect to both our basketball tournaments and the football championship in the future."
The Big Ten was among the many conferences that recently helped change the landscape of collegiate athletics, adding perennial power Nebraska to the fold back in June, the first new member since Penn State joined 20 years ago. The move comes into effect on July 1, 2011.
The 115th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Thursday, September 2 as Indiana hosts Towson, Minnesota plays at Middle Tennessee State and Ohio State hosts Marshall.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Paterno's Aging For All To See
It's sad. But it happens.
Life turns even the most vigorously young of mind into weathered representations of more youthful selves. The salt and pepper locks bred from a pure Italian heritage, the strong jaunt that paved Beaver Stadium's home sidelines for nearly a half century are no more.
The hair is now prominently gray. A metal cane is now needed at times to handle steps or long distances. The speech once pronounced with a think dialect equal parts Bologna and Brooklyn is now slurred, slow, barely audible more times than not.
We had always hoped that when age finally broke down the barrier of Penn State head coach Joe Paterno's pride and purpose he or someone very close to him would realize it. We would never have to witness a frail facsimile of a coaching giant spend the first 10 minutes of his media conference during Monday's session at Big Ten Media Days talking about his ability to control his bladder.
Yet, that is what we were subject to, as Paterno tried his damnedest to make light of an embarrassing medical issue instead of discussing his new quarterback, a mix-match defensive backfield or the ability to replace Navarro Bowman.
He rarely goes on recruiting trips, barely works from his posh office--mainly working from home out of necessity and convenience--and has far less control of the program's day-to-day operations than even just five years ago.
Rumblings from Chicago's Big Ten showcase connected the dots to discussions of a succession plan--which Paterno brushed off--the head coach's ability to walk the sidelines this season, and his handle on the program as a whole.
It took nearly half of the media session to begin discussions of his football team. You know, one of college football's all-time winningest programs, the lifeblood of Pennsylvania sports, and a moderately successful resemblance of its former self in the last seven years.
Yet, the media's priorities were well founded. Especially when the head coach is beginning to look like the 83-year-old man he is. We all hope our icons never grow old, but when they do, we as fans hope for a quick, yet celebratory exit.
It is surely approaching on too late for that. And that fact was on full display with each word, each painful step Monday.
In typical Paterno fashion, he referenced Mark Twain, mocking that rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated. I wanted to believe him. But my eyes, despite their best efforts, could not ignore the stark aging of an iconic giant.
It happens. But it's sad.
Life turns even the most vigorously young of mind into weathered representations of more youthful selves. The salt and pepper locks bred from a pure Italian heritage, the strong jaunt that paved Beaver Stadium's home sidelines for nearly a half century are no more.
The hair is now prominently gray. A metal cane is now needed at times to handle steps or long distances. The speech once pronounced with a think dialect equal parts Bologna and Brooklyn is now slurred, slow, barely audible more times than not.
We had always hoped that when age finally broke down the barrier of Penn State head coach Joe Paterno's pride and purpose he or someone very close to him would realize it. We would never have to witness a frail facsimile of a coaching giant spend the first 10 minutes of his media conference during Monday's session at Big Ten Media Days talking about his ability to control his bladder.
Yet, that is what we were subject to, as Paterno tried his damnedest to make light of an embarrassing medical issue instead of discussing his new quarterback, a mix-match defensive backfield or the ability to replace Navarro Bowman.
He rarely goes on recruiting trips, barely works from his posh office--mainly working from home out of necessity and convenience--and has far less control of the program's day-to-day operations than even just five years ago.
Rumblings from Chicago's Big Ten showcase connected the dots to discussions of a succession plan--which Paterno brushed off--the head coach's ability to walk the sidelines this season, and his handle on the program as a whole.
It took nearly half of the media session to begin discussions of his football team. You know, one of college football's all-time winningest programs, the lifeblood of Pennsylvania sports, and a moderately successful resemblance of its former self in the last seven years.
Yet, the media's priorities were well founded. Especially when the head coach is beginning to look like the 83-year-old man he is. We all hope our icons never grow old, but when they do, we as fans hope for a quick, yet celebratory exit.
It is surely approaching on too late for that. And that fact was on full display with each word, each painful step Monday.
In typical Paterno fashion, he referenced Mark Twain, mocking that rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated. I wanted to believe him. But my eyes, despite their best efforts, could not ignore the stark aging of an iconic giant.
It happens. But it's sad.
Penn State Opens Pre-Season Camp on Thursday
The time has come. Full release from PSU athletics below.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; August 4, 2010 - The early morning workouts in the dead of winter, the informal summer workouts and all the hard work and efforts in between are over. On Thursday, the Penn State football team returns to the practice field to resume preparations for the Nittany Lions' 124th season.
Joe Paterno welcomes 36 returning letterwinners and 13 starters for his 45th season as head coach and 61st year on the Penn State coaching staff. Ten additional players with starting experience also return for the Hall of Fame coach, who joined the Nittany Lions' staff in 1950.
The coaching staff will schedule practices around the last seven days of classes and final exams for Penn State's second summer academic session. Final exams are August 13.
Penn State opens the season on Sept. 4, hosting Youngstown State at 12:00 p.m., as Beaver Stadium begins its 50th Anniversary season. The contest will air on the Big Ten Network, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions then visit 2009 BCS National Champion Alabama on Sept. 11, as the national powers meet for the first time since 1990. Kickoff in Tuscaloosa is 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Penn State will become the nation's first squad to play three road games against winners of a Bowl Championship Series game from the previous season. The Nittany Lions visit Alabama, Iowa (FedEx Orange) and Ohio State (Rose) this fall. The Nittany Lions will join Kentucky (2007) and Auburn (2008) as the only teams to play three winners of a BCS game from the previous season (regular season games only).
Penn State will face seven teams this fall that played in a bowl game during the 2009 season.
The Nittany Lions have posted back-to-back 11-2 records and finished No. 8 in the 2009 USA Today Coaches poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, earning their 23rtd Top 10 finish under Paterno. Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span, winning four of its past five bowl games.
Among the returnees are two Nittany Lions who have earned pre-season All-America and 2009 All-Big Ten recognition. Senior tailback Evan Royster (Fairfax, Va.) earned first-team all-conference accolades in 2009 and was a 2008 semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. Royster enters this season with 2,918 career rushing yards, good for No. 8 in the Penn State record books. He needs 481 yards to break Curt Warner's school record of 3,398 yards, set during the 1979-82 campaigns. Royster needs just 82 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground. During the 2009 season, he started all 13 games, gaining 1,169 yards, second-highest in the Big Ten, on 205 carries and scored six touchdowns. His 5.7 average was best among the Big Ten rushers with at least 110 carries.
Senior guard Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville) also was a first-team All-Big Ten choice last year and was selected a 2009 third-team All-American by Collegefootballnews.com and Pro Football Weekly. Wisniewski has been named a 2010 first team pre-season All-American by Sporting News, Phil Steele's College Football Preview and Lindy's Football Preview. He also is a candidate for the Rotary Lombardi and Outland Trophy. Wisniewski was selected a 2009 first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American®, as he added to his 2008 second-team honor. Owner of a superlative 3.92 grade-point average, the squad's highest mark, Wisniewski will have an opportunity in 2010 to become Penn State's first three-time Academic All-American®. The Schreyer Honors College student has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA the last three semesters.
The Nittany Lion offense returns seven starters, as well as five other players with starting experience. The most pressing needs will be finding replacements for record-setting quarterback Daryll Clark, tight ends Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler and tackle Dennis Landolt, a third-team All-American. Penn State was second in the Big Ten in total offense at 406.9 ypg and was the only team to rank in the top five in the conference in rushing, passing, scoring and total offense.
Starting wide receivers Derek Moye, Chaz Powell and Graham Zug return, but Powell spent spring practice working at cornerback. Three offensive line starters are back as well: Lou Eliades, DeOn'tae Pannell and Wisniewski, who was moved back to guard in the spring after playing center last year.
Five starters return from a defensive unit that was ranked in the Top 10 nationally in rushing and scoring defense for the fifth consecutive year and in the Top 15 in total defense for the sixth straight season.
Senior defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu (Staten Island, N.Y.) is a two-year starter and will anchor the line. Junior defensive end Jack Crawford (Longport, N.J.) started every game last season and emerged as a playmaker. Three junior starters return in the secondary in cornerback D'Anton Lynn (Celina, Texas) and safeties Drew Astorino (Edinboro) and Nick Sukay (Mount Pleasant).
Five additional defensive players return that have starting experience, including fifth-year senior linebacker Bani Gbadyu (Gaithersburg, Md.). The unit also will welcome the return of sophomore linebacker Michael Mauti (Mandeville, La.), who missed the 2009 season with a knee injury.
Among the top priorities will be replacing first-team All-America defensive tackle Jared Odrick and all three linebackers from arguably the nation's top unit - Navorro Bowman, Josh Hull and Sean Lee. The trio earned All-Big Ten honors last year, giving "Linebacker U." three of the six spots on the all-conference teams. Bowman was a second-team All-American.
Penn State was one of only three teams that finished in the top 15 nationally in rushing, total and scoring and pass efficiency defense, as well as sacks and tackles for loss in 2009, being joined by Oklahoma and Texas.
The Nittany Lions permitted just 12.2 points per game to rank No. 3 in the nation last season. Penn State led the Big Ten, trailing only Nebraska (10.4 ppg) and Alabama (11.7 ppg) nationally. The Lions held 10 opponents to 17 or fewer points, including five Big Ten opponents.
Penn State was No. 6 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 89.8 yards per game. The Lions held eight opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this past season and have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 16 games, the nation's third-best streak, behind only Alabama (34 games) and Ohio State (23).
Penn State ranked No. 9 in the nation in total defense at 274.5 ypg for its sixth consecutive Top 15 finish. The Nittany Lions were No. 15 in pass efficiency defense (105.62 rating), tied for No 6 in tackles for loss (105, 8.08 avg.) and tied for No. 10 in sacks (37, 2.85 avg.).
Tickets are on sale for Penn State's seven home games. Fans can purchase tickets directly through the Penn State Ticket website at http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/psu-tickets.html. Pre-paid parking passes for the general parking lots also are available at www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State has won 33 of its last 37 games in Beaver Stadium dating to a Senior Day win over Michigan State in 2004.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; August 4, 2010 - The early morning workouts in the dead of winter, the informal summer workouts and all the hard work and efforts in between are over. On Thursday, the Penn State football team returns to the practice field to resume preparations for the Nittany Lions' 124th season.
Joe Paterno welcomes 36 returning letterwinners and 13 starters for his 45th season as head coach and 61st year on the Penn State coaching staff. Ten additional players with starting experience also return for the Hall of Fame coach, who joined the Nittany Lions' staff in 1950.
The coaching staff will schedule practices around the last seven days of classes and final exams for Penn State's second summer academic session. Final exams are August 13.
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Penn State will become the nation's first squad to play three road games against winners of a Bowl Championship Series game from the previous season. The Nittany Lions visit Alabama, Iowa (FedEx Orange) and Ohio State (Rose) this fall. The Nittany Lions will join Kentucky (2007) and Auburn (2008) as the only teams to play three winners of a BCS game from the previous season (regular season games only).
Penn State will face seven teams this fall that played in a bowl game during the 2009 season.
The Nittany Lions have posted back-to-back 11-2 records and finished No. 8 in the 2009 USA Today Coaches poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, earning their 23rtd Top 10 finish under Paterno. Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span, winning four of its past five bowl games.
Among the returnees are two Nittany Lions who have earned pre-season All-America and 2009 All-Big Ten recognition. Senior tailback Evan Royster (Fairfax, Va.) earned first-team all-conference accolades in 2009 and was a 2008 semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. Royster enters this season with 2,918 career rushing yards, good for No. 8 in the Penn State record books. He needs 481 yards to break Curt Warner's school record of 3,398 yards, set during the 1979-82 campaigns. Royster needs just 82 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground. During the 2009 season, he started all 13 games, gaining 1,169 yards, second-highest in the Big Ten, on 205 carries and scored six touchdowns. His 5.7 average was best among the Big Ten rushers with at least 110 carries.
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The Nittany Lion offense returns seven starters, as well as five other players with starting experience. The most pressing needs will be finding replacements for record-setting quarterback Daryll Clark, tight ends Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler and tackle Dennis Landolt, a third-team All-American. Penn State was second in the Big Ten in total offense at 406.9 ypg and was the only team to rank in the top five in the conference in rushing, passing, scoring and total offense.
Starting wide receivers Derek Moye, Chaz Powell and Graham Zug return, but Powell spent spring practice working at cornerback. Three offensive line starters are back as well: Lou Eliades, DeOn'tae Pannell and Wisniewski, who was moved back to guard in the spring after playing center last year.
Five starters return from a defensive unit that was ranked in the Top 10 nationally in rushing and scoring defense for the fifth consecutive year and in the Top 15 in total defense for the sixth straight season.
Senior defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu (Staten Island, N.Y.) is a two-year starter and will anchor the line. Junior defensive end Jack Crawford (Longport, N.J.) started every game last season and emerged as a playmaker. Three junior starters return in the secondary in cornerback D'Anton Lynn (Celina, Texas) and safeties Drew Astorino (Edinboro) and Nick Sukay (Mount Pleasant).
Five additional defensive players return that have starting experience, including fifth-year senior linebacker Bani Gbadyu (Gaithersburg, Md.). The unit also will welcome the return of sophomore linebacker Michael Mauti (Mandeville, La.), who missed the 2009 season with a knee injury.
Among the top priorities will be replacing first-team All-America defensive tackle Jared Odrick and all three linebackers from arguably the nation's top unit - Navorro Bowman, Josh Hull and Sean Lee. The trio earned All-Big Ten honors last year, giving "Linebacker U." three of the six spots on the all-conference teams. Bowman was a second-team All-American.
Penn State was one of only three teams that finished in the top 15 nationally in rushing, total and scoring and pass efficiency defense, as well as sacks and tackles for loss in 2009, being joined by Oklahoma and Texas.
The Nittany Lions permitted just 12.2 points per game to rank No. 3 in the nation last season. Penn State led the Big Ten, trailing only Nebraska (10.4 ppg) and Alabama (11.7 ppg) nationally. The Lions held 10 opponents to 17 or fewer points, including five Big Ten opponents.
Penn State was No. 6 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 89.8 yards per game. The Lions held eight opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this past season and have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 16 games, the nation's third-best streak, behind only Alabama (34 games) and Ohio State (23).
Penn State ranked No. 9 in the nation in total defense at 274.5 ypg for its sixth consecutive Top 15 finish. The Nittany Lions were No. 15 in pass efficiency defense (105.62 rating), tied for No 6 in tackles for loss (105, 8.08 avg.) and tied for No. 10 in sacks (37, 2.85 avg.).
Tickets are on sale for Penn State's seven home games. Fans can purchase tickets directly through the Penn State Ticket website at http://www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/psu-tickets.html. Pre-paid parking passes for the general parking lots also are available at www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State has won 33 of its last 37 games in Beaver Stadium dating to a Senior Day win over Michigan State in 2004.
Official Release on PSU Football Parking
It turns out our source was correct after all. Below is a carefully worded release from the PSU athletic department on the parking situation at Beaver Stadium this fall.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Penn State football fans planning to make the drive to Beaver Stadium this fall can alleviate some extra time and expense by planning ahead a bit and buying their single game parking passes in advance.
For those fans purchasing parking at least 10 days prior to the game, a savings as considerable as $30 per car can be realized versus pulling into the lot and purchasing that same pass on game day. Even larger savings will be realized on the advanced purchase of RV and bus parking.
"This step allows us to reward fans who plan in advance, as well as allowing our game day staff to improve managing the traffic and parking loads that come with a football Saturday," explained Greg Myford, Associate Athletic Director. "The more cars approaching Beaver Stadium with that colored sticker in their window, the better chance we have of moving those cars into the right lane, the right lot and the right space -- all without having to stop them to collect money or provide directions. The net goal is for fans to spend less time on the road and more time safely parked and having fun with family and friends."
In 2009, the advanced game day parking fee was $10 per car -- the same price being offered in 2010. The cost for purchasing car parking upon arrival at the lot entrance last season was $20, which this season moves to $40. RV game day parking passes will be $40 in advance and $80 on game day.
"We want all fans to understand that there is a significant benefit and savings to purchasing your game day parking well in advance of the game. As a matter of fact, fans who take this step will not experience any increase in parking their cars for this season," explained Myford.
Advanced parking -- single game or seasonal - for cars, RVs and busses can be ordered online at GoPSUsports.com or by calling the Athletics Customer Relations Center at 1-800-NITTANY (648-8269).
Orders must be placed at least 10 days in advance of the game and a fee will be added to allow for processing and mailing ($2/game or $5/season).
Advanced parking can also be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryce Jordan Center until 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon before each home game.
Fans are also reminded that shuttle services to Beaver Stadium from various points throughout State College are also available on each home game date. For further information, visit Game Day Central at www.GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Coach Joe Paterno's squad returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for the upcoming campaign. The Nittany Lions host Youngstown State on Sept. 4 (12:00 p.m., Big Ten Network) to open the season and visit 2009 BCS National Champion Alabama on Sept. 11 (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN).
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Penn State football fans planning to make the drive to Beaver Stadium this fall can alleviate some extra time and expense by planning ahead a bit and buying their single game parking passes in advance.
For those fans purchasing parking at least 10 days prior to the game, a savings as considerable as $30 per car can be realized versus pulling into the lot and purchasing that same pass on game day. Even larger savings will be realized on the advanced purchase of RV and bus parking.
"This step allows us to reward fans who plan in advance, as well as allowing our game day staff to improve managing the traffic and parking loads that come with a football Saturday," explained Greg Myford, Associate Athletic Director. "The more cars approaching Beaver Stadium with that colored sticker in their window, the better chance we have of moving those cars into the right lane, the right lot and the right space -- all without having to stop them to collect money or provide directions. The net goal is for fans to spend less time on the road and more time safely parked and having fun with family and friends."
In 2009, the advanced game day parking fee was $10 per car -- the same price being offered in 2010. The cost for purchasing car parking upon arrival at the lot entrance last season was $20, which this season moves to $40. RV game day parking passes will be $40 in advance and $80 on game day.
"We want all fans to understand that there is a significant benefit and savings to purchasing your game day parking well in advance of the game. As a matter of fact, fans who take this step will not experience any increase in parking their cars for this season," explained Myford.
Advanced parking -- single game or seasonal - for cars, RVs and busses can be ordered online at GoPSUsports.com or by calling the Athletics Customer Relations Center at 1-800-NITTANY (648-8269).
Orders must be placed at least 10 days in advance of the game and a fee will be added to allow for processing and mailing ($2/game or $5/season).
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Advanced parking can also be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryce Jordan Center until 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon before each home game.
Fans are also reminded that shuttle services to Beaver Stadium from various points throughout State College are also available on each home game date. For further information, visit Game Day Central at www.GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Coach Joe Paterno's squad returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for the upcoming campaign. The Nittany Lions host Youngstown State on Sept. 4 (12:00 p.m., Big Ten Network) to open the season and visit 2009 BCS National Champion Alabama on Sept. 11 (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Joe Pa at Big Ten Media Day
Below is a full transcript. Some opinions on Joe Pa's verse and jovial disposition a little later!
COACH PATERNO: I'm all set, I hope. It's good to be here. And I don't want to give a long statement because I'm sure you've got some questions, rather than hear me talk. I'll take questions.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Coach Paterno, I've followed your career for a long time. And I'm thinking you're going to be Penn State's coach until the day you die. What do you think about that?
COACH PATERNO: Is that wishful thinking or what? Oh, I really don't think about that. I just -- I'm enjoying it. I like to coach. I had a little bought earlier in the year, nothing serious. Didn't make a big deal out of it.
I'm feeling really good. And as long as I enjoy it, I'll continue to coach, unless I don't think I can do a good job or anybody else doesn't think I can do the job. But we'll talk about that later. But right now I have no plans whatsoever as far as whether I'm going to go another year, two years, five years or what have you. We're just going to hopefully have a decent year this year.
Q. You've had intestinal issues this last spring that you were dealing with?
COACH PATERNO: I won't get into that.
Q. I understand, too, that you're not on the road as much --
COACH PATERNO: It was a little bit below the intestines.
Q. Ouch.
COACH PATERNO: I didn't want to get into it, but...
Q. I have another question. I understand, too, you're on the road less for recruiting. And at what point do these types of things hurt recruiting for your program?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I don't know whether it's hurt our recruiting, to be frank with you. We're still in the middle of trying to get a couple of key people which would make a difference.
Our problem with numbers, and that's what people look at, is we don't have that many scholarships available. As you look at our roster, you find out that we have a lot of walk-on kids. But as far as the scholarship kids, the kids who were on grant and aid, we don't lose a lot of kids. So we really couldn't go out and get 18, 19, 20 kids this year.
So we just want to go out there and get some people, fill in where we need them, and hopefully make ourselves a little bit better. And I think we're doing all right. I really do.
Q. I'm sure you remember your first Big Ten Media Days as the new kid on the block with Penn State. I think Tom Osborne is here. What are your thoughts on Nebraska coming in with the conference expansion and your thoughts on them? You have a little bit of history with Nebraska.
COACH PATERNO: We had played Nebraska before we got into the Big Ten, and I had some great, great games with them. And I have tremendous amount of respect for not only Tom but the University of Nebraska. So I think it's a really good addition to the Big Ten.
And we're looking forward to their being part of it. I coached, actually, as an assistant coach long before -- not long before, but before even Bob Devaney or Tom did, when Bill Glassford was coaching out there. They beat us out there and they had a great running back by -- I think (Bobby) Reynolds was his name, one of the best backs in the country.
And that's going back in the '50s, some time in there. So we've had a good relationship with them. So it was good to see them get in the Big Ten. And I'm looking forward to spending a little time with Tom especially since he's here. Maybe we get a chance to visit a little bit.
Q. Joe, do you remain hopeful that the Big Ten will add a couple more teams from the East Coast but some of the teams that have been mentioned earlier?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I could get up here and have a little fun with Commissioner (Jim) Delany and tell him exactly where we ought to go. After all, I have all the answers (laughter).
I think really that the Nebraska thing was a real good move for the Big Ten. Now, whether we needed a couple more schools or not, I think we ought to leave that in the hands of Jim and the people that are going around talking to different people, doing some investigating.
Obviously, if we decide that they're going to -- that it's in the best interests of the Big Ten, I would hope we would be looking at a couple schools maybe in the East. Because it would certainly you know would be a good move for us. It would help us particularly in the recruiting, the television and all those kinds of things, that are pluses that you get when you expand as we have with Nebraska. But I think that's up to some other people right now.
Q. Do you expect to have to change your preparation for fall camp, given your health over the summer, and would you expect to be able to be on the sideline for every game this fall?
COACH PATERNO: Well, you know, again, what did Mark Twain say, the rumor of my death has been overexaggerated or something, I forget. I used to know a little bit more about those.
I really -- I didn't lose any time. I had, as I said, the problem I had was not having control of some things, and I had to be careful that I didn't get myself in a position where I would embarrass myself.
But as far as looking at tapes and talking to kids and knowing what -- getting ready for different things, there was really no difference except I couldn't make as many public appearances as I've had, because of the fact that I could be standing up here and all of a sudden have to leave.
Nobody obviously would want to be in that kind of position. So I don't seem to be any different. I think -- I hope I'm ready to go. I think I am. I've done my homework.
Q. Coach, September 11th game against Alabama. That's a game you don't have to play but you scheduled it. Fans are very excited about it. Can you tell us how you feel about playing that game?
COACH PATERNO: Playing Alabama? We've been down there a couple of times. In fact, we've had a little luck down there when we played them in season. Obviously every year's different. The Alabama team's a good football team, if not the best team around, I don't know.
But I think it's a good game for us. It's a good game early. I have a young team. Obviously we've got some growing up to do. And I think to be able to go with a bunch of kids and go down there and play defending national champion and on the road before a very hostile crowd, I think it would be a good experience. We'll be a better football team for it.
So I am not -- we have to open up with Youngstown State, and even though I know that people will make some kind of remarks about that, it's still a tough opening football game when you've got a young football team and you don't have a quarterback that's played much football, which we'll not have -- we don't have a quarterback that's played much.
So it's going to be interesting. And obviously hopefully we'll be able to play well and learn from it.
Q. What's your opinion as far as divisions go, if the Big Ten chooses to do that and where Penn State would end up in the division?
COACH PATERNO: Boy, you know, obviously when Nebraska got in the Big Ten and we started talking about a championship game, and I think maybe going to try to have a championship game as early as a year or two from now, you start saying well who is going to be here, usually you have some traditional things and things like that. I'm just glad that I don't have to make that decision. I think there's a lot of different combinations that would be good, which put us in a position where we could have a team that would be champions of the Big Ten and be in a position to go on and be national champs.
But what the makeup of each division is, I really haven't had a chance to give that that much thought. And there again, you know, actually the new kids on the block in this thing, there's some old rivalries, some traditions, there's a lot of things that have to go into this.
And I have a lot of confidence that the people who are going to make the decision will give it the thought that it's going to take to do a good job and will come up with something that will be good for the Big Ten.
Q. Joe, coaches are getting younger and younger in all sports, particularly football. College football. In an age when communication is so important, how do you communicate with these young kids on campus? Do you have much one-on-one still, or do you just rely on your capable assistants to do that?
COACH PATERNO: Well, without getting into a recruiting spiel, I think it's easier to do in a town like State College because I'm literally a 15-minute walk from the office. I'm only three blocks away from the campus. Right down from one of the town parks.
And kids walk by my house every day. And always surrounded with them, all of it. And I've tried to stay active in the affairs. My wife has been very active in doing a lot of different things at the university. And I'm around young people all the time. So I don't horse around with them. I have a couple of laughs, have a little fun with them and the whole bit.
And that hopefully keeps you young. So I don't look at it quite that way. I think your point about the coaches being younger these days is probably true. But I don't think that's because it's necessarily that the coaches want to be there, I think it's that people have been allowed to have too much to say about who the coach is, trustees and people like that, people who give you money.
When I first started to coach as a head coach, and I still do when I go around talking to people about money, I said I want your money but I don't want your two cents (laughter). And I've tried to stick by that, and I think that's what's happened to some young coaches. There's got to be money raised and unfortunately there are people who want to have their two cents involved in the thing. So we've had a turnover of some of the really good young coaches.
Q. I wonder if you've considered what it will mean to win 400 when you get there and just to be that close to Eddie Robinson. I'm sure you knew him well. What would he be thinking right now?
COACH PATERNO: Well, there again, I really haven't thought about it. Eddie Robinson was one of the great people I've known in coaching. Eddie and I were down in Washington a couple of times, talked to some government people about some things, some problems we had.
I always felt that the African-American cultures such as Jake Gaither and Eddie and some other guys had never quite got the recognition or the -- they've obviously gotten the financial rewards that so many of us have gotten out of it.
So the Eddie part of it I've thought some of. And as far as -- you know, when I'm down and looking up, are they going to put 399 on top of me or are they going to put 401? Who the hell cares? I won't know (laughter).
Q. I noticed you said to Richie a couple of weeks ago that you would hope when they were going to name your successor they'd come to you with maybe two or three names and say, What do you think? Has any kind of framework been put together that way? And has Dr. Spanier talked to you? Are you optimistic they'll ask your opinion on a successor? Or what do you think will happen there?
COACH PATERNO: I think they would. The question is whether they would ask my opinion about a successor. I would hope they'd sit down with me. I don't expect to name it. If I decide to get out of coaching, whenever it may be, I would hope that when they start looking at somebody to succeed me who may be the head coach, that they would -- if they did nothing but just throw something out to say, hey, we're thinking about so and so, and give me an opportunity to say, well, I think that's a good choice or, hey, you better take a look at this or I'm not so sure he's the best guy, have you thought about this guy.
I would hope there would be some kind of dialogue, but there's no commitment.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.
COACH PATERNO: I'm all set, I hope. It's good to be here. And I don't want to give a long statement because I'm sure you've got some questions, rather than hear me talk. I'll take questions.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Coach Paterno, I've followed your career for a long time. And I'm thinking you're going to be Penn State's coach until the day you die. What do you think about that?
COACH PATERNO: Is that wishful thinking or what? Oh, I really don't think about that. I just -- I'm enjoying it. I like to coach. I had a little bought earlier in the year, nothing serious. Didn't make a big deal out of it.
I'm feeling really good. And as long as I enjoy it, I'll continue to coach, unless I don't think I can do a good job or anybody else doesn't think I can do the job. But we'll talk about that later. But right now I have no plans whatsoever as far as whether I'm going to go another year, two years, five years or what have you. We're just going to hopefully have a decent year this year.
Q. You've had intestinal issues this last spring that you were dealing with?
COACH PATERNO: I won't get into that.
Q. I understand, too, that you're not on the road as much --
COACH PATERNO: It was a little bit below the intestines.
Q. Ouch.
COACH PATERNO: I didn't want to get into it, but...
Q. I have another question. I understand, too, you're on the road less for recruiting. And at what point do these types of things hurt recruiting for your program?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I don't know whether it's hurt our recruiting, to be frank with you. We're still in the middle of trying to get a couple of key people which would make a difference.
Our problem with numbers, and that's what people look at, is we don't have that many scholarships available. As you look at our roster, you find out that we have a lot of walk-on kids. But as far as the scholarship kids, the kids who were on grant and aid, we don't lose a lot of kids. So we really couldn't go out and get 18, 19, 20 kids this year.
So we just want to go out there and get some people, fill in where we need them, and hopefully make ourselves a little bit better. And I think we're doing all right. I really do.
Q. I'm sure you remember your first Big Ten Media Days as the new kid on the block with Penn State. I think Tom Osborne is here. What are your thoughts on Nebraska coming in with the conference expansion and your thoughts on them? You have a little bit of history with Nebraska.
COACH PATERNO: We had played Nebraska before we got into the Big Ten, and I had some great, great games with them. And I have tremendous amount of respect for not only Tom but the University of Nebraska. So I think it's a really good addition to the Big Ten.
And we're looking forward to their being part of it. I coached, actually, as an assistant coach long before -- not long before, but before even Bob Devaney or Tom did, when Bill Glassford was coaching out there. They beat us out there and they had a great running back by -- I think (Bobby) Reynolds was his name, one of the best backs in the country.
And that's going back in the '50s, some time in there. So we've had a good relationship with them. So it was good to see them get in the Big Ten. And I'm looking forward to spending a little time with Tom especially since he's here. Maybe we get a chance to visit a little bit.
Q. Joe, do you remain hopeful that the Big Ten will add a couple more teams from the East Coast but some of the teams that have been mentioned earlier?
COACH PATERNO: Well, I could get up here and have a little fun with Commissioner (Jim) Delany and tell him exactly where we ought to go. After all, I have all the answers (laughter).
I think really that the Nebraska thing was a real good move for the Big Ten. Now, whether we needed a couple more schools or not, I think we ought to leave that in the hands of Jim and the people that are going around talking to different people, doing some investigating.
Obviously, if we decide that they're going to -- that it's in the best interests of the Big Ten, I would hope we would be looking at a couple schools maybe in the East. Because it would certainly you know would be a good move for us. It would help us particularly in the recruiting, the television and all those kinds of things, that are pluses that you get when you expand as we have with Nebraska. But I think that's up to some other people right now.
Q. Do you expect to have to change your preparation for fall camp, given your health over the summer, and would you expect to be able to be on the sideline for every game this fall?
COACH PATERNO: Well, you know, again, what did Mark Twain say, the rumor of my death has been overexaggerated or something, I forget. I used to know a little bit more about those.
I really -- I didn't lose any time. I had, as I said, the problem I had was not having control of some things, and I had to be careful that I didn't get myself in a position where I would embarrass myself.
But as far as looking at tapes and talking to kids and knowing what -- getting ready for different things, there was really no difference except I couldn't make as many public appearances as I've had, because of the fact that I could be standing up here and all of a sudden have to leave.
Nobody obviously would want to be in that kind of position. So I don't seem to be any different. I think -- I hope I'm ready to go. I think I am. I've done my homework.
Q. Coach, September 11th game against Alabama. That's a game you don't have to play but you scheduled it. Fans are very excited about it. Can you tell us how you feel about playing that game?
COACH PATERNO: Playing Alabama? We've been down there a couple of times. In fact, we've had a little luck down there when we played them in season. Obviously every year's different. The Alabama team's a good football team, if not the best team around, I don't know.
But I think it's a good game for us. It's a good game early. I have a young team. Obviously we've got some growing up to do. And I think to be able to go with a bunch of kids and go down there and play defending national champion and on the road before a very hostile crowd, I think it would be a good experience. We'll be a better football team for it.
So I am not -- we have to open up with Youngstown State, and even though I know that people will make some kind of remarks about that, it's still a tough opening football game when you've got a young football team and you don't have a quarterback that's played much football, which we'll not have -- we don't have a quarterback that's played much.
So it's going to be interesting. And obviously hopefully we'll be able to play well and learn from it.
Q. What's your opinion as far as divisions go, if the Big Ten chooses to do that and where Penn State would end up in the division?
COACH PATERNO: Boy, you know, obviously when Nebraska got in the Big Ten and we started talking about a championship game, and I think maybe going to try to have a championship game as early as a year or two from now, you start saying well who is going to be here, usually you have some traditional things and things like that. I'm just glad that I don't have to make that decision. I think there's a lot of different combinations that would be good, which put us in a position where we could have a team that would be champions of the Big Ten and be in a position to go on and be national champs.
But what the makeup of each division is, I really haven't had a chance to give that that much thought. And there again, you know, actually the new kids on the block in this thing, there's some old rivalries, some traditions, there's a lot of things that have to go into this.
And I have a lot of confidence that the people who are going to make the decision will give it the thought that it's going to take to do a good job and will come up with something that will be good for the Big Ten.
Q. Joe, coaches are getting younger and younger in all sports, particularly football. College football. In an age when communication is so important, how do you communicate with these young kids on campus? Do you have much one-on-one still, or do you just rely on your capable assistants to do that?
COACH PATERNO: Well, without getting into a recruiting spiel, I think it's easier to do in a town like State College because I'm literally a 15-minute walk from the office. I'm only three blocks away from the campus. Right down from one of the town parks.
And kids walk by my house every day. And always surrounded with them, all of it. And I've tried to stay active in the affairs. My wife has been very active in doing a lot of different things at the university. And I'm around young people all the time. So I don't horse around with them. I have a couple of laughs, have a little fun with them and the whole bit.
And that hopefully keeps you young. So I don't look at it quite that way. I think your point about the coaches being younger these days is probably true. But I don't think that's because it's necessarily that the coaches want to be there, I think it's that people have been allowed to have too much to say about who the coach is, trustees and people like that, people who give you money.
When I first started to coach as a head coach, and I still do when I go around talking to people about money, I said I want your money but I don't want your two cents (laughter). And I've tried to stick by that, and I think that's what's happened to some young coaches. There's got to be money raised and unfortunately there are people who want to have their two cents involved in the thing. So we've had a turnover of some of the really good young coaches.
Q. I wonder if you've considered what it will mean to win 400 when you get there and just to be that close to Eddie Robinson. I'm sure you knew him well. What would he be thinking right now?
COACH PATERNO: Well, there again, I really haven't thought about it. Eddie Robinson was one of the great people I've known in coaching. Eddie and I were down in Washington a couple of times, talked to some government people about some things, some problems we had.
I always felt that the African-American cultures such as Jake Gaither and Eddie and some other guys had never quite got the recognition or the -- they've obviously gotten the financial rewards that so many of us have gotten out of it.
So the Eddie part of it I've thought some of. And as far as -- you know, when I'm down and looking up, are they going to put 399 on top of me or are they going to put 401? Who the hell cares? I won't know (laughter).
Q. I noticed you said to Richie a couple of weeks ago that you would hope when they were going to name your successor they'd come to you with maybe two or three names and say, What do you think? Has any kind of framework been put together that way? And has Dr. Spanier talked to you? Are you optimistic they'll ask your opinion on a successor? Or what do you think will happen there?
COACH PATERNO: I think they would. The question is whether they would ask my opinion about a successor. I would hope they'd sit down with me. I don't expect to name it. If I decide to get out of coaching, whenever it may be, I would hope that when they start looking at somebody to succeed me who may be the head coach, that they would -- if they did nothing but just throw something out to say, hey, we're thinking about so and so, and give me an opportunity to say, well, I think that's a good choice or, hey, you better take a look at this or I'm not so sure he's the best guy, have you thought about this guy.
I would hope there would be some kind of dialogue, but there's no commitment.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.
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