Paterno names captains, but not starting quarterback

FIVE DAYS after the Penn State football team voted on the naming of team captains, the results of that election finally were announced yesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the Nittany Lions were to launch their 125th season against Indiana State today at noon in Beaver Stadium (Big Ten Network).

Why the delay? Maybe hanging chads, or some absentee ballots that hadn't arrived in the mail on time.

Coming out to midfield for the opening coin toss will be strong safety Drew Astorino, left tackle Quinn Barham, wide receiver Derek Moye and defensive tackle Devon Still. All are fifth-year seniors.

Officially unannounced is the identity of the quarterback who has been designated as the "starter" at that all-important position - at least for today. The candidates are sophomore Rob Bolden, who opened eight games last season, and redshirt junior Matt McGloin, who started five. Coach Joe Paterno has said the competition between them has remained too close to go all in with one or the other. He suggested that he intends to use both on roughly a 50-50 basis, or until such time as one gains enough separation to earn a larger share of the snaps.

It has been reported by several media outlets that Bolden was tabbed for first dibs on the position. But Jeff Nelson, Penn State's assistant athletic director for communications, would neither confirm or deny that, saying there was "no update on who will take the first snap." The suspense will end when either No. 1 (Bolden) or No. 11 (McGloin) trots onto the field to take that first snap from center Ty Howle, although the decision seems to have been made that it will be Bolden.

Even though Bolden and McGloin both should see ample game action against the Sycamores, a Football Championship Subdivision team, much attention will be paid on how that playing time is split up, especially since second-ranked Alabama rolls into Happy Valley next Saturday. If one quarterback clearly outperforms the other today, it could impact on the quarterback rotation against the Crimson Tide.

Paterno always has relied on his team captains to provide the sort of locker-room leadership that can augment coaches' instructions, and the four captains chosen would seem to have earned that right by their experience. Astorino, from Edinboro, Pa., has started 24 games the past two seasons, and 27 overall; Barham started all 13 games in 2010, as did Moye, from Rochester, Pa. Still started 12 games a year ago.