PIGSKIN
14 I Friday, Nov. 5,2010
I®*' Northwestern vs. Penn State, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Wh'\ winning the starting job in the summer; Rob Bolden was supposed to he Penn State's
oeedHii k lot the next tout years. But with Matt McGloins play over the last two
end file unkown mystery that is Paul Jones, Penn State fans are wondering who wi
QB OF THE FUTURE?
By Andrew J. Cassavell
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
The competition was over.
Rob Bolden had supposedly
won.
Following one of the most high
ly publicized quarterback compe
titions in his 45 years, Joe
Paterno had chosen the first true
freshman to start a season at
quarterback, and everyone
those in the program and those
who follow it hastily dubbed
the next four years the Bolden
era.
Then came the Minnesota
game, where Bolden was
knocked out and backup Matt
McGloin led Penn State to its first
win in three weeks. A week later,
in his first career start, McGloin
directed an offense that put up 41
points in a crucial win against
Michigan.
Now, Paterno has said Bolden
is healthy, but the coach nonethe
less reopened the competition for
starter following McGloin’s per
formances. On his radio show
Thursday night, Paterno didn’t
name a starter, though it wasn’t
clear if that was because he has
n’t chosen one or if he’s simply
keeping his hand close to his
chest.
Paterno said he hopes to go
with his typical one-quarterback
system, and sources with direct
knowledge of the situation said
Daily Collegian Predictions
that quarterback will likely be
Bolden.
Since the win against
Michigan, Paterno and his play
ers have been hounded for their
insight to the “who will start”
question for this Saturday’s
game, a 3:30 p.m., kickoff at
Beaver Stadium against
Northwestern. At his Tuesday
press conference, it was the first
thing inquired, and Paterno sim
ply laughed, saying, “I would’ve
bet a hundred bucks that’s the
first question.”
But the question that hasn’t
been posed with nearly the same
vigor is one that may be more
pressing for the program as a
whole: “Who is the quarterback
of the future?” Bolden was set to
be that guy after the summer, but
McGloin filled in very nicely dur
ing the last two weeks. Even
freshman Paul Jones, who is red
shirting this season, has drawn
rave reviews as scout team quar
terback in practice for his athleti
cism and his arm.
Paterno deflected thoughts
about that, pointing to the strides
Bolden made in the Minnesota
game before he went down. In a
quarter and a half, Bolden was
11-for-13 with a touchdown.
“He was getting better all the
time,” Paterno said. “When he
got hurt, he was having a good
day ... I think Bolden has got a
very promising future.”
Andrew J. Cassavell
Score: Northwestern 27, PSU 23
What’s good: Exciting game comes
down to the final drive.
What’s bad: Letdown after a big
win; no 400 for Joe.
What to look for: Persa's purple
posse from Bethlehem.
But before that game. Bolden
was making very little progress.
He got out of the gate well in his
first two home games but record
ed his worst start in his last full
game against Illinois. He strug
gled on the road against top
notch opponents Alabama and
lowa, leading the offense to a
total of six points.
But even if Bolden were to lose
his spot for now, Paterno isn't
concerned at all about his
demeanor.
“He’s a mature guy.” Paterno
said. “I think he's a very good
team man. I think he under
stands he's not anywhere near as
good as he can be someday. He'll
go into practice and try to get
better.”
Former Penn State quarter
back Wally Richardson may com
prehend the plight of Bolden bet
ter than anyone. Along with Tony
Sacca in 1988 and Bolden this
season, Richardson is one of
three quarterbacks who has
started as a true freshman under
Paterno.
In Richardson's case, he
entered the mix because of
injuries as a freshman in 1992,
eventually losing his spot to
Kerry Collins for the next two
years. He earned the job in 1995-
96 after Collins graduated.
“I was the last man standing."
Richardson said of being insert
ed as a freshman. “I was put in
Audrey Snyder
Score: PSU 23, Northwestern 21
What’s good: The Lions become
bowl eligible.
What’s bad: Defensive line strug
gles to pressure Persa.
What to look for: A loud celebra
tion for Paterno's 400th win.
out of necessity. For Rob to be
named starter on opening day
with everyone else on campus
before him. that’s a lot different
of a situation and a lot to handle
for a freshman."
Richardson, who is now the
Associate Director of Academic
Services at Georgia, noted the
difficulties of being a true fresh
man starter, coupling football
with learning how to deal with
campus life. He also added how
hard it could be on Bolden if he
loses the job down the road.
"Once you get to run the show,
it s not something you want to
just give up," Richardson said.
"Back then it was hard for fresh
men to break into the lineup. We
did a lot of paving dues, and once
you got to the point where you
were the guy. you earned it."
Richardson cited the old cliche
that a quarterback can t lose his
job because of injury. But at the
very least, McGloin said he felt
he "performed well enough to
believe I was going to be able to
open the competition."
"When that opportunity arises,
you've gotta make the most of it,"
McGloin said.
He did just that Saturday.
McGloin went 17-for-28 for 250
yards and a touchdown in a
nationally televised White Out
game, firmly cementing himself
as an option, along with Bolden,
for quarterback of the future.
East Jte
The Daily Collegian
weeks
I be the
Throw Paul Jones into that
mix. and it gives the Lions three
options for that title. Jones was
by far the best passer in April’s
Blue-White scrimmage (played
before Bolden had even arrived
on campus). He tossed the
game's only two touchdown pass
es.
When asked how Jones has
handled being relegated to the
second-tier of quarterbacks,
McGloin said aside from the red
shirt, which delegates him to
scout team quarterback, he did
n't see Jones that way. McGloin
hinted he expects Jones, a five
star recruit from Sto-Rox High
School, to be in the thick of the
competition for the starting spot
next spring.
Sophomore Kevin Newsome
figured to be the lead candidate
for the spot heading into the off
season last year, but he has
dropped to third on the depth
chart this season, mostly relegat
ed to mop-up duty.
With the departure of Daryll
Clark after last season’s Capital
One Bowl, fans and media alike
vocally wondered who would be
the quarterback of Penn State’s
future.
Eleven months, eight games
and two starting quarterbacks
later, those same questions still
linger.
To e-mail reporter: ajcs23B@psu.edu
Brendan Monahan
Score: PSU 24, Northwestern 20
What’s good: Joe’s 400th win.
What’s bad: Persa attacks PSU
secondary.
What to look for: Possible snow
showers.