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7A
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Starting quarterback for Penn State still not decided
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
Joe Paterno has been at Penn State so long, his coaching career could be a course offering for history majors. Hey, the 83-yearold icon arrived on campus in 1950 and replaced Rip Engle as head coach of the Nittany Lions in 1966. If that isn't ancient stuff to your average college student these days, what is?
Since Paterno is downplaying the historic significance of his next milestone — he's going for his 400th career victory on Saturday afternoon, when the Nits (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten Conference) host Northwestern (6-2, 2-2) in sold-out Beaver Stadium — of perhaps greater interest to students and fans is who'll be the starting quarterback. Will it be true freshman Rob Bolden, who is coming off
a concussion that caused him to miss Saturday night's home game against Michigan and much of the preceding contest at Minnesota? Or does redshirt sophomore Matt McGloin, who played well in both games and sparked the previously
it.
sluggish offense in back-to-back victories, have the inside track?
"I would have bet a hundred bucks that would be the first question," a chuckling JoePa responded.
Truth be told, the remainder of the season might not come
Paterno, a creature of habit who prefers to settle on one guy before the season and stick with him
"I think we'll let them compete and decide at the end of the week who's going to start."
JOE PATERNO Penn State Coach
as long as his play reasonably merits it, was uncharacteristically coy when asked who'll take the field for the opening offensive series. Then again, he anticipated what was coming and was prepared for
down to pronouncing one player as the No. 1 QB and the other as No. 2. Paterno is daring to suggest that it might be more a case of No. 1 and No. 1A. A dual-quarterback arrangement at Penn State is somewhat untraditional, but strange times call for strange measures.
"I think we'll let them compete and decide at the end of the week
who's going to start," Paterno said of the unusual in-season duel for playing time. "But I would imagine maybe we'll have to rethink playing one kid. Maybe we'll play both."
Quarterback controversies are, well, kind of sexy. They are the football equivalent of gossip columnists speculating about the identity of Paris Hilton's boyfriend du jour, or which rock group will get the marquee gig at the next Lollapalooaza. And while Paterno is not averse to shuffling starters at other positions, to even consider rotating his quarterbacks, particularly this deep into a season, is a bit of an oddity.
Some of the more notable quarterback battles at Penn State invariably have ended with a winner emerging: Todd Blackledge over Jeff Hostetler, Daryll Clark over Pat Devil. The miffed losers
reacted by transferring.
The closest thing to what's happening now between Bolden and McGloin found Rashard Casey and Kevin Thompson jostling for playing time in 1998 and '99, and Zack Mills and Michael Robinson doing likewise in the early 2000s.
In the past, Paterno has heeded his own counsel when it came to selecting his quarterback. This preseason was different in that he polled his staff to settle a three-way shootout involving Bolden, McGloin and soph Kevin Newsome, with a fourth candidate, true freshman Paul Jones, fitted for a redshirt. The consensus was that the 6-3, 221-pound Bolden, a four-star recruit from Orchard Lake, Mich., gave the Nits the best chance to win now and in the future.
But Bolden has been restricted in part by his inexperience and a
raft of injuries to the offense. After some rough stretches, he was having his best game of the season against Minnesota, completing 11 of 13 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, when he went out in the second quarter with a concussion.
Enter McGloin, the 6-1, 209-pound walk-on from West Scranton High, who is as extroverted as Bolden is quiet and reserved. McGloin passed for two touchdowns against Minnesota, and he followed that up with a 17-for-28, 250-yard, two-TD (one rushing) performance in last week's 41-31 victory over Michigan.
Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, pleased as he was with McGloin's effort against the Wolverines, stressed that Bolden would reassume the starting position this week.
Shoemaker finds place at Boise State
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
BOISE, Idaho — Once in a while, junior wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker's mind flashes back three years to when he was a relative nobody on the Boise State football team.
He was a walk-on — and his classmates included Austin Pettis and Titus Young, a pair of highly touted recruits at his position who played as true freshmen and became All-WAC performers.
The Broncos coaches took a long look at Shoemaker at Mountain
There's no doubting Shoemaker's talent now.
View High in Meridian, Idaho. They just weren't sure how hed fit at the college level.
He has 10 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the past three games going into Saturday's first place WAC showdown with Hawaii (1:35 p.m. MDT, ESPNU).
He has 17 catches for 25.9 yards and three scores on the season — averaging 17.1 yards per catch, nearly as much as the speedy Young. All three of his touchdown catches have covered more than 20 yards.
"We feel like he's taken the next step" coach Chris Petersen said.
"They treat you just like another player on the team, but as far as you're concerned you're not,"
"They treat you just like another player on the team, but as far as you're concerned you're not."
TYLER SHOEMAKER Junior Boise State wide receiver
Shoemaker said. "There's definitely something to prove there. Even today, coming in, I still try to think about it sometimes."
He's really been a consistent guy, making tough catches with guys hanging on him. That needs to be his game. He's deceptively fast, but he's also a big target."
Shoemaker (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) was a role player last year, getting 15-20 snaps a game.
This year, he has become an integral part of the offense. He's played 40-plus snaps in some games and developed into one of quarterback Kellen Moore's most trusted receivers.
"The thing that amazed me with him this year a lot more is he's kind of immersed himself in the game plan," wide receivers coach Brent Pease said. "Instead of making us have to find spots for him, he's become the guy that's open."
Shoeemaker spends most of his time in the slot, which gets him matched mostly against linebackers and safeties. He also has taken a couple snaps at tight end and some on the outside.
He enjoys the sight of a line-backer in 1-on 1 coverage.
"I'm not going to lie," he said, smiling. "I usually know where the ball's going." Those types of mismatches are the reason the ball went to Shoemaker so often last week against Louisiana Tech. He made six grabs for 124 yards and a touchdown _ and topped 100 yards before halftime.
reaping the benefits of a long-term relationship with Moore. They were on the scout team together in 2007 and often connected for big plays when the freshmen scrimmaged.
"It's been a fun relationship to develop." Shoemaker said.
Shoemaker, who moved to Idaho from Tennessee in junior high, was one of the highest-profile high school players in the state in 2006. He earned All-Idaho first-team honors with 37 catches for 505 yards and five touchdowns.
"He always seemed to have about one long touchdown catch or touchdown run in a game," said sophomore wide receiver Mitch Burroughs, who played at Meridian High.
"They kind of had their safeties out, cheating toward me and Titus," Pettis said, "and Shoe tore up the middle of the field." Shoemaker is
Pease watched Shoemaker play several times. He saw him line up at tight end and outside receiver, and neither seemed like the spot for him in college.
He sensed potential — but not enough to offer a scholarship.
"i just didn't know if he had that next gear," Pease said. " ... It was tough to see how he would fit into our offense."
formance.
"This coaching staff said from the beginning that they were going to pound the rock, that they were going to stick with the running game. And I think that's the right style to play," said Thorson.
BUFFS (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Last week, the Kansas offense was able to run the ball on the Cyclone defense, rushing for 119 yards. It was unable to reach the end zone though, which has been an enigma for this year's team.
With Colorado's move to the Pac-10 set for next year, Saturday's matchup will be the
last time these two schools meet for now. The series began in 1903, and the Buffaloes hold an all-time record of 42-24-3 over the Jayhawks.
With three marquee matchups still on the schedule, including Turner Gill's return to Nebraska, Thorson said the players can't afford to look ahead.
"With where this team is at, we have to have everything we've got on Colorado. They are really looking for a win, and we would love to take that from them," said Gill.
Kickoff for the Jayhawks and Buffaloes is set for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Edited by Abby Davenport
VOLLEY (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
"She can play right left, and back row." Tolefree said, "We rely on her not just giving the other team a free ball, but challenging them."
"They're not going to hit at the same angles," he said. "They're not as physical but they're extremely, extremely well-coached. In the system that they use they're very effective.
After hitting just .139 against Nebraska's .431 hitting percentage, Bechard said his team needed a change of game plan.
"This is a time of year where some teams decide to just to kind of hang on. Sometimes some teams are going to make the commitment
to get better. And that's what we're going to do is make the commitment to get better."
With only six games left in her career, Garlington said she wants to make every one count.
Looking toward Colorado, Mayfield said she would change the shots she plans to hit and prepare for anything that the Buffaloes have to put on the table.
"We have only a couple games left and I want to go out strong," she said, "So we've got to start out strong and push till the end."
- Edited by Joel Petterson
Islanders drop sixth Senators win 4-1
He got his third assist when Chris Kelly scored into an empty net with 12.5 seconds remaining, Peter Regin had two assists.
NHL
Brian Elliott made 28 saves in his ninth straight start for the Senators.
Associated Press
defensemen Sergei Gonchar and David Hale before scoring his second of the season to put Ottawa up by three 6:17 into the second.
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OTTAWA — Jason Spezza had a goal and three assists and the Ottawa Senators beat the Islanders 4-1 Thursday night and handed New York its sixth straight loss.
— Ian Cummings
Spezza, held without a point in his first two games back from a groin injury, set up goals by
The Colorado Buffaloes come to Lawrence tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. for a rematch at the Horeisi Family Athletics Center. In their last meeting, the Buffaloes topped the Jayhawks in a five sets.
The CoSIDA nominates, votes on and awards Academic All-District and All-America honors for ESPN The Magazine. Student athletes must have at least a 3.20 GPA, and freshmen are not eligible.
Academic All-District team for the second time. The College Sports Information Directors of America made the
management major and has been a consistent leader on the layhawks' offense with a 3.52 kills per set average. She is also ranked fourth all-time at Kansas for career kills and her career 3.16 kills per set average ranks seventh.
Garlington received third team honors in 2008 and made second team this year for maintaining a 3.77 cumulative grade point average. She is a sports
VOLLEYBALL
Garlington chosen for academic team
ESPN The Magazine has named senior volleyball player Karina Garlington to the
announcement Thursday.