IS LEARNING THE PRINCETON OFFENSE
While the Penn State coach is mostly cordial in response to reporters' questions, there are occasions when he bristles at a query or simply won't answer.
At this point in his career - after 58 years at State College, 42 as the Nittany Lions' head coach - Paterno believes he has earned the right to make decisions his way without explanation to anyone other than maybe Penn State president Graham Spanier and God (or vice versa).
And in many ways he has.
"As a coach at the university, he's done a whole lot in terms of philanthropy," guard Rich Ohrnberger said. "He's been an influential person for this university. And as far as the off-the-field stuff goes, this guy works hard for not only football but to make this place a better place to be. I do think he's earned it."
So maybe Paterno should be given the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it would be wise to view his between-the-lines choices through his blue-and-white glasses. To put things in perspective, he has, after all, won more Division I-A college football games than any other coach.
Here is a look at some of Paterno's hottest topics:
Anthony Morelli. After the quarterback had perhaps the best game of his career Saturday against Wisconsin, Paterno had the right to crow during his teleconference yesterday.
"I think overall he's been pretty darn good," Paterno said. "So it's not just a question of sticking up for him. It's just trying to be fair about what kind of a player he is. . . . I have a tough time agreeing with people that are critical of him."
Who knows? Maybe Morelli's critics were wrong. Maybe the senior simply needed 19 starts before he finally became the can't-miss prospect he was considered as a five-star recruit coming out of high school.
Or maybe Paterno has accepted Morelli for what he is: an average quarterback with an above-average arm.
Offensive play-calling. In the last two games, the Lions have done things a little differently.
Against Iowa, they switched sides for Ohrnberger and Mike Lucian at guard, and the running game exploded for 256 yards. Against Wisconsin, they completed eight straight first-down passes, and Morelli looked like Kerry Collins, circa 1994.
But Paterno says the offense is the same; it's just working now. If you asked Paterno why the play-calling of Galen Hall and Jay Paterno looked prehistoric in two road losses to Michigan and Illinois, he'd just point to the team's six turnovers.
"I've been here defending Morelli and defending other parts of our offense almost week in and week out because I have felt we're doing a pretty good job," the elder Paterno said.
It's hard to argue with him. The offense did not turn the ball over against Wisconsin and looked nearly indestructible.
The running backs. Aside from Austin Scott's legal problems, there had been serious concerns about whether Scott would become the consistent go-to guy that Tony Hunt had been in the previous two seasons.
But Paterno did stick with redshirt senior Rodney Kinlaw, and that patience has paid off. Kinlaw has rushed for 662 yards on 119 carries (a 5.6-yard average) and has five touchdowns. He also has run for more than 100 yards in each of the last two games.
Paterno played it cautiously in waiting to name redshirt freshman Evan Royster the backup to Kinlaw because his hand was forced by Scott's suspension.
Royster is a star, and there should be no holding him back.
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