Penn State goes with walk-on quarterback against Michigan

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The odyssey has been an interesting one for Matt McGloin, beginning with his decision to pass on offers from Division I-AA schools and walk on at Penn State with no guarantee he would see any playing time.

After a redshirt year and a few snaps in mop-up action last season, McGloin challenged for the starting quarterback job in August and entered the 2010 opener as 1B on the depth chart, according to coach Joe Paterno. Yet through six games, he had been on the field for just one play.

But stuff happens. The third-stringer got the call last Saturday against Minnesota and threw a pair of touchdown passes. On Saturday night, in front of a white-clad sellout crowd at Beaver Stadium, the sophomore will make his first career start when the Nittany Lions (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) take on Michigan (5-2, 1-2) in a conference game.

McGloin is believed to be the first quarterback who came to Penn State as a walk-on to start a game in the 45-year Paterno era.

The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder from Scranton is taking the place of freshman Rob Bolden, who suffered concussion symptoms in the win over Minnesota. Bolden apparently passed a medical test Wednesday and took some snaps at practice Thursday but is expected to be held out.

Paterno chose McGloin over sophomore Kevin Newsome, who had been Bolden's backup. It is not known whether Newsome, the better runner of the two, will see action.

Although he hasn't played much in blue and white, McGloin doesn't lack for confidence, and he showed it in the huddle after replacing Bolden.

"He said, 'Let's go, guys. I'm ready for this,' " senior guard Stefen Wisniewski said. "Then he threw a 50-yard touchdown pass. This kid can handle the pressure. He believes he can, and I think he's shown that he can."

McGloin, speaking during a teleconference earlier this week, said the confidence goes back to when he was younger playing sports with his brothers and his friends.

"You can't go into a game saying, 'Maybe we'll win,' " he said. "You have to think you're going to win. When the quarterback is in the huddle, he has to be confident. He has to be able to look at the other guys in the huddle and say, 'We're going to win.' He has to speak loud and look them in the eye."

McGloin threw touchdown passes of 42 and 9 yards, both to Derek Moye. He completed 6 of 13 passes for 76 yards, with one interception. However, since he took the vast majority of snaps in practice this week, the expectations are that his accuracy will improve.

It will be an enormous test for McGloin and the Nittany Lions, who need two wins to become bowl eligible and to give Paterno his 400th career victory.

The offense will be pressed to match Michigan's high-powered offense, led by sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson, point-for-point. The Lions need to be balanced to keep the Wolverines' defense honest against both the run and the pass, and chew up large chunks of time to keep the ball away from Robinson.

An important part of the game for Penn State will be the ability to score in the red zone. The Lions have scored just eight touchdowns - two of them last week - in 22 opportunities inside their opponents' 20.

The defense will be under similar stress trying to control Robinson and an offense that averages 532 yards of total offense and 36 points per game.

"We've got to work on running to the ball and keeping Robinson contained," said defensive end Pete Massaro, a former Marple Newtown star. "We're going to have to adjust our rush lanes and not let him escape the pocket, because he's tough once he gets past the line of scrimmage."

The Penn State offense should be able to move the ball against a defense that is 117th (out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams) in pass defense and 104th in total defense.

An advantage for the Lions should be field-goal kicking. Senior Collin Wagner is 14 of 17 for the season, while two Wolverines kickers have combined to make just two in eight tries.

It should be a good time on a crisp night under the lights in Happy Valley. McGloin is glad to be there.

"It's going to be a great time," he said.