McGloin has his worst game as Penn State quarterback

TAMPA, Fla. - Matt McGloin's eyes were a little glazed, as if he had taken a few too many haymakers over the course of a 31/2-hour football game. But he was relatively calm and composed as he faced the music after his worst game as Penn State's quarterback.

McGloin threw five interceptions Saturday, including the backbreaking one that Ahmad Black returned 80 yards for the clinching touchdown, in the Nittany Lions' 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl.

It was a terrible day for McGloin, who completed just 17 of 41 passes for 211 yards. The five interceptions could have been worse had Gators defensive backs held on to three more balls that hit them in the hands.

However, although he was frustrated and took the blame for his performance, McGloin didn't beat himself up. He expressed admiration for the ability of the Florida secondary to break on the football.

"You have to give credit to Florida's defense," he said. "They have a lot of athletes playing on their defense. At times I just came to the sideline wondering, 'How'd he make that play?' A couple of interceptions were my fault but on a couple, I couldn't believe the plays they made."

The Gators scored 21 points off the interceptions. In addition to Black's pick-six, two interceptions set up short drives.

"A couple of throws that he took weren't there," quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said. "He made some good plays. He made some bad decisions. A couple of things we could have helped him out with like in that (last) two-minute drill, maybe running the ball a couple of more times. It was a combination of things."

The temptation would be to blame McGloin for the loss but tailback Evan Royster said it wasn't his fault.

"It's tough but it's how the game goes sometimes," Royster said. "I think it's a little bit on everybody. It's not just on Matt. It's not just on whoever. We didn't block well enough for him. He had to make some tough throws."

McGloin said he had no doubt Penn State would drive to the winning touchdown after taking over at its 21 with 3 minutes, 4 seconds to play. He started the drive with an 18-yard pass to Derek Moye, and Royster ran for 24 and seven yards before the stunning game-sealing play.

"Any quarterback would want to take his team down and win the game," McGloin said. "We made a couple of nice plays to get down there but then we called a crossing pattern and (Black) made a great play and that was the game."

McGloin's performance raised questions about how head coach Joe Paterno will conduct the quarterback competition in spring practice. Freshman Rob Bolden started seven games this season, but McGloin started the final four, and six in all.

Paterno didn't shed any light on the subject following the game. But Royster, who leaves to prepare for the NFL draft after reaching 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive season, gave his vote to McGloin.

"Yeah, he's had a great season," Royster said. "You can't look at today as an indicator because it's not all his fault. I feel like he's proven this year that he can start here."

Before preparing for what comes next, however, McGloin must heal from Saturday.

"It's definitely going to hurt right now and when I go back home for the week," he said. "But once I step back on campus, I know it's time to get ready for next year, and it'll start to fade out."