Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Associated Press
STATE COLLEGE, PA.
Uncertainty rules at quarterback for Penn State.
Freshman starter Rob Bolden needs more tests on a possible head injury suffered last week against Minnesota to determine if he’ll be available for Saturday night’s contest against Michigan.
Coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday that Matt McGloin will compete with Kevin Newsome, who has a minor left knee injury, in an open competition to start if Bolden can’t go.
Don’t rule out JoePa going with multiple quarterbacks either.
“Play it by ear. I hope I’ve got options,” Paterno said. “The more options I’ve got, the better I’ll like it.”
Penn State historically has also been conservative in limiting players with concussion symptoms. JoePa hasn’t definitively called Bolden’s injury a concussion, though he did say Bolden “still had some memory problems” after a test Sunday.
Bolden failed that concussion test, his mother, Tonia Williams, said Tuesday in a phone interview from her Detroit-area home. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the test result earlier Tuesday.
“If you ask me, if I had to make a guess, I’d guess he’s not going to make it,” Paterno said. “But that does not mean I know what I’m talking about it. I don’t have an M.D. after my name.”
But the 45-year coaching veteran has been around long enough to hold a graduate degree in gamesmanship. The uncertainty may pose another headache for Michigan as coach Rich Rodriguez prepares his Big Ten-worst defense (441 yards allowed per game) for what is expected to be a raucous crowd of more than 100,000 unfriendly fans in Happy Valley.
Bolden dressed for practice but didn’t do much during Monday’s normally scaled-back session. He was listed as “probable” on Penn State’s injury report released Monday night.
Then, Tuesday at Beaver Stadium, Paterno said the team wasn’t going to take chances with Bolden — but didn’t rule him out entirely.
About 20 minutes later on the Big Ten coaches teleconference, Paterno said it was “very doubtful” that Bolden could play.
Bolden was having the best game of his young career after going 11 of 13 for 130 yards and a touchdown versus Minnesota before getting hurt.
Despite some struggles, Bolden overall has shown poise in the pocket and mobility if needed. McGloin, a former walk-on, appears to be more of a stay-at-home passer, and threw for two scores against the Gophers.
Newsome, who played a series against Minnesota, is more of a running threat who has been inconsistent with his throws in limited action.
“We still have all our plays in there, all our throws,” right guard Stefen Wisniewski said. “I really don’t think we’re limited.”