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.
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