Every year at Big Ten media days, JoePa on dais is one of the biggest highlights.
There is always the token ghoulish question about his health/age. It happened again this year. He has a good time with reporters on it. And I’m not sure how much of his confused old man bit is contrived and how much of it is genuine.
-JoePa when asked about his contract: “Is this the last year of my contract?”
I asked him about the secondary, which is supposed to be really good this year. Paterno’s response was fun:
“I don’t like to get into personalities right now. I think we got a lot of work ahead of us. We haven’t had any pre-season practice yet. I think we have a chance to have some people that can play well. I don’t think we played very well last year. I don’t think I did a very good job coaching last year, to be frank with you. I’ve got to do a better job. Everybody’s got to do a better job.
We have to set maybe a little higher bar as far as our standard goes. I’m not really going to get into some of that stuff.”
For the Penn State basketball season preview go here
2010 was: 7-6 with an ugly bowl loss to Forida. The defense was stellar, but they could have a little better stopping the run and generating sacks. Offense was blah at best, as they were just 74th in rushing. Usually, the tailback position is at PSU what the Jesse hyped up on metamphetamines singing “I’m so Excited” is to the “Saved by the Bell,” franchise.
BMOCs: WRs Derek Moye and Justin Brown are the best tandem in the league. Too bad the QB position is unsettled, and very uninspiring at the moment. Rob Bolden started the season, got hurt, and lost his job to Matt McGloin, who played well at the beginning, but slumped and then threw 5 picks in bowl game. Michael Mauti becomes the next in line at Linebacker U. Great LBs and PSU football go together like fat white girls and black guys.
2011 will be fruitful if: Both lines get it together and they generate a pass rush to complement the stellar secondary led by D’Anton Lynn.
2011 will be awful if: the QB can’t get the air attack working enough in conjunction with new tailback Silas Redd. His 5.7 yards per carry average will help Lions fans relax about the loss of Evan Royster, the school’s all time leading rusher.
Bottom Line: 7-9 wins?
Penn St. Rankings: #36 Athlon, #32 Lindy’s, #23 Phil Steele
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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