Joe Paterno not interested in a forfeit win

Penn State may get a forfeit win over Michigan, but the coach is eyeing Iowa.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Winning a game by forfeit doesn’t appeal to Joe Paterno, even if it means a victory over Michigan.

So as the Big Ten sorts out whether the Wolverines should be disciplined for using an ineligible player during last month’s 14-9 win over Penn State, Paterno is concentrating on trying to win games the old-fashioned way.

“I know we got licked,” Paterno said Tuesday. “I don’t have any interest in it. We lost. That’s up to somebody else to make the decision.”

The Big Ten has said a decision on whether Michigan should face any discipline, of which, forfeiture could be an option, may take weeks.

Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) cannot wait that long to correct its offensive problems with a game against Iowa looming Saturday.

Must score when close

Execution in the red zone must improve, Paterno said, after Penn State converted just 3-of-6 trips inside the 20 into scores in last week’s 27-20 loss to Illinois. That game left the Nittany Lions tied for the Big Ten basement with Iowa, Northwestern and Minnesota.

Paterno was in a prickly mood with reporters at times Tuesday.

“I don’t have any problem with my football team, except for the fact that ... we’ve just hurt ourselves, and we’ve played against two teams that have played well against us,” Paterno said.

He stood steadfastly behind starting quarterback Anthony Morelli, whose play has been the subject of vociferous criticism on Penn State Internet message boards.

“Morelli’s our quarterback. I wish everyone would calm down,” Paterno said. “Morelli’s our quarterback.”

Morelli threw for a career-high 298 yards and engineered some nice drives in the first half against the Illini. He also had three interceptions, including two in crucial late-game situations, along with a fumble on a fourth-and-long play that negated a potential first-down inside the 10.

Morelli, a senior captain and second-year starter, did not speak with reporters for the second straight week. He has completed 91 of 156 passes, for 1,095 yards, with 9 TDs and 4 interceptions.

“He’s been doing good. ... Doing what he needs to do despite the criticism,” left tackle Gerald Cadogan said. “They like you one day, they criticize you the next day.”

Quarterback isn’t the only issue on offense.

Morelli needs reinforcement

“I think overall, he needs more help,” Paterno said. “Some people have got to make some catches in the clutch.”

But the deep, talented receiving corps, which has been the most consistent part of the offense, has played well overall, Paterno said.

Other problem areas: the offensive line has been inconsistent in both pass protection and the running game; running backs have had too many fumbles, though JoePa said they’ve “run hard, tough.”

Paterno said Morelli needed to deal with mistakes teammates might make around him.

“He’s got to be able to shake off the fact that sometimes people on the football team aren’t doing the things they should do,” he said.

Of general concern to the coach is how the team responds in pressure situations, which was a key measuring stick for him when the season started.

Team still inexperienced

Inexperience is still an issue for the 80-year-old Paterno. On offense, he’s relying on two senior running backs who were reserves until this year, and four offensive linemen playing in different positions than last year.

On defense, linebacker Dan Connor is the only senior starter.

“I don’t think we’ve done a good job when we’ve had opportunities to win the game, when we’ve had adversity,” Paterno said. “I worry about the fact that we had so many young people who were in key situations. We had not come up with big plays, that part I am concerned about.”