Report: QB Bolden leaving Penn State

TAMPA, Fla. - More than a few Penn State partisans did a slow steam as quarterback Matt McGloin threw an Outback Bowl-record five interceptions in the Nittany Lions' 37-24 loss to Florida on New Year's Day and never got pulled by coach Joe Paterno.

But McGloin's backup, true freshman Rob Bolden, and his father, Robert Bolden Sr., might have been more ticked off about the situation than anyone else.

Some time after the game, Bolden, a heralded recruit who played his high school ball in Orchard Lake, Mich., informed Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno that he intended to transfer out of the program, the Harrisburg Patriot-News reported. It is a decision endorsed by Bolden's father.

If the younger Bolden - who as of yesterday had yet to convey his intentions to coach Joe Paterno - remains adamant about becoming an ex-Nittany Lion, he would become the second Penn State quarterback within a matter of weeks to seek playing time elsewhere. Kevin Newsome, last season's primary reserve behind All-Big Ten quarterback Daryll Clark, had been projected as the starter this season, but he played sparingly and had dropped to third on the depth chart. He is expected to transfer.

Contacted at his Tampa hotel by Harrisburg Patriot-News columnist Dave Jones, the senior Bolden said his son's transfer is "100 percent sure as far as I'm concerned, and Rob feels the same way . . .

"Rob had his ups and downs just the same as anybody would have had," the father continued. "But he was never allowed to rebound from that. He was never, in my eyes, coached through that."

Rob Bolden suffered a concussion Oct. 23 at Minnesota and was replaced by McGloin, who played well and led Penn State to a victory. Bolden didn't play the following week, a home game against Michigan, although his father said he was medically cleared to do so. He did get the start Nov. 6 against Northwestern, a game in which the Lions fell behind, 21-0. McGloin came in and rallied Penn State to a 35-21 victory. Bolden never saw the field for any significant period after that.