Penn State's Bolden to get start at quarterback

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In a tradition at Penn State, the starting quarterback is the first to get off the lead team bus once it arrives at the stadium on game day.

And for the second consecutive year in a season opener at Beaver Stadium, that first guy will be Rob Bolden.

A source confirmed multiple reports Friday that Bolden, a sophomore, will take the season's initial snap for the Nittany Lions on Saturday against FCS member Indiana State.

As he deflected questions all week about which player would start, coach Joe Paterno emphasized that Bolden and redshirt junior Matt McGloin, who had been battling for the No. 1 job since last spring, would play about an equal number of snaps against the Sycamores.

"We have two good quarterbacks, both of whom have done well, both of whom have made great progress, both of whom I think can get the most out of this football team," Paterno said.

Of course, one can't help but think that Saturday's game will serve as an audition for the pair. A much bigger decision for the 84-year-old Paterno, who is beginning his 46th year at the helm, will be choosing the starter for next week, when the Nittany Lions welcome No. 2 Alabama to Happy Valley.

Asked about looking ahead, Paterno responded, "I don't have a crystal ball, or the good Lord doesn't come down and tell me to do this or that.

"I can't answer that question. I don't know the answer. All I know is this week I think that both the kids have done very well and both are going to play, and we'll see what happens."

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound Bolden last year became the first true freshman to start a season opener under Paterno when he took the field against Youngstown State. He started the next six games before a concussion put him out against Minnesota in the second quarter.

McGloin took over and led the Nittany Lions to a win. Bolden started just once after recovering from his injury, on Nov. 4 against Northwestern, and played only two series before he was replaced by McGloin.

Except for a few snaps taken by Bolden in mop-up duty against Ohio State and Indiana, the 6-1, 211-pound McGloin played the rest of the season. He went the distance in the Outback Bowl but threw five interceptions in a loss to Florida that ended a disappointing 7-5 season.

Unhappy with his lack of playing time, Bolden asked Paterno to release him from his scholarship the week after the bowl game so he could transfer. But Paterno denied the request.

"The kid had used up a year, and his parents were concerned about the fact that he might not get to play," Paterno said Tuesday. "I tried to get that across to the boy and his family that spring practice would be a very important part of his future as a college football player."

After spring practice, Bolden indicated he hadn't given up the idea of transferring, but he did return for the start of the preseason and split reps with McGloin.

The quarterback issue has overshadowed just about everything else going into the new season, even speculation over whether Paterno, injured in an Aug. 7 collision on the practice field, will coach Saturday from the sideline or the press box.

The coach's biggest concern is depth on the offensive line. Some other question marks are in the kicking game, at defensive end, and at tight end, but Paterno hasn't seemed too worried compared to previous years about areas of uncertainty.

Part of the optimism for the Lions going in may be because of the opponent. Indiana State is just two years removed from having ended a 33-game losing streak, and last year it finally broke a 36-game road losing streak that extended from 2004.

But the Sycamores were 6-5 last season and established a school record for points scored. Senior quarterback Ronnie Fouch, who threw for 20 touchdowns last season, once started eight games at Washington while future NFL pro Jake Locker was nursing an injury.

Coming off a preseason in which he demanded more of his team, Paterno won't stand for any complacency or looking ahead to Alabama.

"I think we're in much better shape right now getting ready to start the season than we were at this time last year," the coach said. "So I'm hopeful we're going to be mature enough and understand how games are won and lost and do the things that it's going to take to win, and go from there."

Paterno will be counting on the four seniors selected as captains by the team: safety Drew Astorino, tackle Quinn Barham, wide receiver Derek Moye, and defensive tackle Devon Still.

When: Saturday at 12:01 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College (Big Ten Network; WNTP-AM 990, WNPV-AM 1440).

Series: The two teams are meeting for the first time.

Coaches: Indiana State, Trent Miles (fourth season, 7-27); Penn State, Joe Paterno (46th season, 401-135-3).

Five Things to Watch

Paterno said Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin will take an equal number of snaps, or close to it. But someone's got to start, and he selected Bolden.

With punter/kicker Anthony Fera being punished for offseason indiscretions, the Nittany Lions turn to junior wide receiver Evan Lewis to handle the kicking chores, and to sophomore Alex Butterworth to punt.

The forecast - muggy, with temperatures in the low 80s - will test players who were put through a tough preseason camp.

The 84-year-old head coach hasn't completely recovered from injuries suffered when wide receiver Devon Smith ran into him during an Aug. 7 practice, so he could be coaching from the press box.

If the Nittany Lions jump out to a big, early lead, they could be thinking ahead to next week's matchup against No. 2 Alabama.

Five things you might not know

Indiana State gets $450,000 for its trip to Happy Valley. When the Sycamores were going through a 33-game losing streak not so long ago, their coaches weren't permitted to recruit out-of-state players for budgetary reasons.

Fans may not recognize junior defensive tackle Jordan Hill, who went from 318 pounds right after the Outback Bowl to 291 for this week's game.

With 25 coaching changes in the Football Bowl Subdivision since the end of the 2010 season, there now have been 885 such moves at the highest level of college football since Paterno took over as head coach in 1966.

True freshman Adrian Amos has moved up to second team at one of the cornerback positions.

Fans arriving at Beaver Stadium will see some improvements, including a new entry gate (Gate F), eight new restroom facilities, and more spacious areas for spectators with disabilities, and their companions.

- Joe Juliano

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