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A quarterback quandary
Penn State prepares for Rose Bowl without Pat Devlin.
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Penn State starting quarterback Daryll Clark, left, and wide receiver Derrick Williams joke around with a microphone as they walk to a Rose Bowl media day football practice in State College, Pa., Friday, Dec. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
STATE COLLEGE — In the end Pat Devlin had to do what was best for Pat Devlin.
No one else.
So the sophomore quarterback, who earlier this week left Penn State and plans to transfer to another school, likely a Division I-AA team, and his parents visited with Penn State head coach Joe Paterno at his home and had an airing of grievances.
“When it was obvious to me that he was going to leave, I said ‘wouldn’t you like to go out to the Rose Bowl,’ which I probably should not have said, and he said ‘well, it’s up to you coach.’ Then when I thought about it I thought it might be a distraction,” Paterno said during Friday’s Rose Bowl media day.
Devlin’s departure has left the Nittany Lions with a quarterback quandary beyond the Jan. 1 date with USC.
Fifth-year senior Paul Cianciolo will back up Daryll Clark while wide receiver Derrick Williams will act as the emergency quarterback for the time being.
Paterno said Friday that “there’s a walk-on we’re going to take a look at,” referring to freshman Matt McGloin from Scranton.
Penn State currently has just one scholarship quarterback for 2009, that being Clark. The Nittany Lions are currently trying to recruit Virginia quarterback Kevin Newsome, who took an official visit to the campus last weekend.
Paterno said that he told Devlin he hoped he was making the right decision and that he has no ill feelings toward the decision to transfer.
Williams heard of Devlin’s decision via word of mouth.
Clark later said that quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno called him before a workout and officially informed him of the news.
“We had a meeting like two days ago saying that Pat was going to leave. But I think that Pat was a good player and he did what he thought was best for him and his family. We still support him and he’s going to do good wherever he goes,” Williams said.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday that Devlin left because he was upset he didn’t have a chance to play against Iowa earlier this season.
It was in that game in Iowa City that Clark played his worst as a starter after suffering a concussion two weeks prior at Ohio State. Devlin directed the Nittany Lions on the game-winning drive against the Buckeyes and thought he would have a chance to play against Hawkeyes according to the paper.
“I really didn’t think of it as him transferring at all,” Clark said. “It was never a thought. I don’t think he was thinking of it. I heard it in the papers and on the Internet but I didn’t think to even ask him about it. Pat made his decision and you have to respect it and we wish him well whatever school he goes to.”
Clark said Devlin’s decision shocked him.
“And he would always tell us no and whoever he talked to on the phone and what not, it’d be in the paper and then it happened and I was just real surprised, didn’t know it was going to go through,” Clark said. “The timing ... I don’t know.”
Clark and Devlin shared a room for every away trip and Clark said they never once talked about it.
“When you’re competing with someone that’s a real touchy subject to talk through if you’re talking to the person you’re competing with,” Clark said.
“I think the only thing I really talked to him about, if he was comfortable enough to tell me he was going to make the decision to leave, was what drove you to it? What was the turning point? Why? You have to respect a man’s decision. If he feels like he is not a fit here, not going to play here, needs to leave, then you’ve got to respect it.”
Clark said he has not heard from Devlin, nor tried to contact him but does plan to talk to him about the situation.
“Once this is all cleared up and practice is over today, maybe I’ll give him a ring,” Clark said.
As for the health of Paterno, he was walking without a cane to the press conference Friday and seemed comfortable for the first time in weeks.
Paterno had hip replacement surgery following the victory over Michigan State last month.
“They keep telling me I am ahead of the game,” Paterno said. “Every time I say ‘if I’m ahead of the game why can’t I do this,’ well go slow. They’re all worried about me going to fast. I feel good. I really do.”
Paterno said when he stands or does things for a long period of time he gets tired, but is waking up pain free these days.
Sometimes he will still use a cane and said he used a walker once after the surgery at doctor’s request.
At practice Friday he still used the golf cart to move around and isn’t sure whether or not he will be on the sideline.
“I can’t tell you,” Paterno said. “I’ve got to wait and see. I’m going to try do some things at practice, not here, when we get out to the coast and figure out just how much stamina I have on my feet. I’m going to try to coach without the motor scooter and (Tom) Venturino telling me what I’m doing wrong.”
Paterno also said he has had some informal discussions with athletic director Tim Curley about a possible deal. Paterno said Friday he wants to return to coach in 2009 and has maintained all along he has no intentions of stepping down headed into the new year.
It’s possible the two sides may meet before departing for California later this month.
“You guys are more concerned about it than I am,” Paterno said. “The university will be fair to me.”
NOTES: Redshirt sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin and junior defensive tackle Jared Odrick both confirmed they have entered paper work for a NFL evaluation, though both have not said whether or not they are considering entering the draft next April. “I already sent in a few papers to be evaluated,” Odrick said. “I’m not going to go anywhere, I’m going to stay here. I want to finish up and get my degree.” Odrick will graduate next December and complete his degree in 3 1/2 years. “That’s my main thing. I want to graduate and win another Big Ten championship and I want a national championship.” Odrick said if he was evaluated as a first round pick it “could raise an eyebrow or two, but I don’t think we’re looking at that right now.” Odrick is currently projected as a third or fourth round pick according to NFLDraftScout.com but his stock is rising. Maybin said he won’t think about the draft Jan. 2.
