psu football
DEREK LEVARSE dlevarse@timesleader.com
STATE COLLEGE - The head trainer doesnât wish to speak about it. The quarterback isnât authorised to speak about anything.
Naturally, that quarterback was all people longed for to listen to about on Saturday.
That would be Rob Bolden, who became the initial loyal beginner to open the period at quarterback for Penn State in 100 years.
And he incited in the most appropriate opening by a rookie signal-caller in college history, going 20-of-29 for 239 yards, two touchdowns and a interception in a 44-14 win over Youngstown State.
Penn State typically doesnât enable media access to loyal freshmen, however, so the hum of Happy Valley wasnât existing to speak about claiming a mark in module history.
And Joe Paterno, ever heedful about what hype, cameras and microphones can do to an 18-year-old athlete, wasnât about to say ample to fuel the situation.
"I think on the whole he played a good, plain game," was about the border of the viewpoint Paterno was prone to give.
He greeted serve questions about Bolden, or the quarterback incident in general, with a furrowed brow and an raw tone.
"Aw, do you gotta go over that a more time? I am so sleepy of it," Paterno mentioned when asked about Boldenâs astonishment zenith to the starting purpose in only 4 months on campus. "All those kids are great prospects. I done a preference on a -- heâs got an arm, heâs got poise, he did a few things a small improved than the other guys on more occasions.
"Youâve been around long enough, and Iâve been around a few kids in 60 years, and he only seemed to be the correct man at the correct time."
After a messy beginning by the entire team, Bolden valid to be the correct man for at least a week.
The Orchard Lake, Mich., local created a rapid good dialog with comparison skipper Brett Brackett, who frequency saw the margin in 2009, infectious only 3 passes all period for 13 yards and a touchdown.
He blew that divided in the initial diversion of 2010, finishing with career-highs in catches (eight), yards (98) and touchdowns (2).
Bolden, unanimously lauded by teammates for his composed demeanor, showed it off in front of 101,000 worried fans at Beaver Stadium.
The FCS Penguins had taken a overwhelming 7-6 lead interjection to an 80-yard grasp and run for a touchdown with 2:09 left in the initial quarter.
Then came Boldenâs initial vocation interception on a bad break, as Derek Moye appeared to slip, permitting Penguins linebacker David Rach to collect off the pass nearby the ground.
Unfazed, Bolden came out on the next expostulate and led the Lions (1-0) on an eight-play, 68-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard scoring set upon over the center to Brackett -- his initial vocation touchdown.
He went 4-for-4 for 56 yards and the measure on the drive.
"Heâs only well-spoken similar to that," left plunge into Quinn Barham said. "Heâs been similar to that all by camp. Weâve all been learning to only put mistakes at the back us."
"Early in camp, he had a lot of success and he didnât see a lot of adversity," quarterbacks trainer Jay Paterno said. "Then you had a struggle about eight, 9 days ago where nothing went correct twice in a quarrel (for him). And I said, âWell, letâs see what he does tomorrow in practice.â
"He came out and it was similar to it never happened."
Bolden, Brackett and Chaz Powell helped make it appear similar to a muted initial half against Youngstown State never happened. Three Collin Wagner margin goals (44, 48 and 49 yards) gave Penn State a 16-7 lead at the half, but it wasnât until Powell returned the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown that things began to feel comfortable.
Another Bolden-to-Brackett measure done it 30-7, whilst fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Stephfon Green and quarterback Kevin Newsome put the diversion away.
Though Bolden wasnât able to speak about his performance, his teammates were only as well cheerful to expand in for him."Heâs as great as advertised," mentioned starting ensure DeOnâtae Pannell, a associate Michigan product who had listened of Boldenâs high college exploits back at Orchard Lake St. Maryâs.
"Heâs going to break all the fleeting archives you have," boasted Green.Well, that might be a bit much. Especially after a diversion against an FCS challenger and the No. 1 group in the nation in Alabama forthcoming up next week in Tuscaloosa.
"Coming in and learning a new network as a quarterback is similar to learning a new language," Jay Paterno said. "(This week), he schooled Spanish. Next weekâs heâs gotta pick up Mandarin Chinese."
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