There have been a ton of “Joe Paterno is too old to recruit” columns written lately. It’s probably the easiest column to write for PSU reporters this time of year. As Frank Bodani points out, Paterno’s age isn’t the issue — not the main issue, at least. Penn State just can’t seem to recruit offensive skill players, especially quarterbacks and wide receivers. Ask yourself these two questions:
1. Who was the last quarterback recruit that Penn State landed?
2. Who will be Penn State’s starting three wide receivers next year?
The answers, of course, are “Pat Devlin in January, 2006″ and “OH MY GOD WE HAVE NOBODY”.
Again, recruiting is about effort and energy. When your head coach and offensive coordinator don’t recruit and your “passing game coordinator” (or whatever Jay’s title is these days) isn’t very well respected, this is what happens.
It’s not so much a matter of the number of years each coach has lived, it’s about the number of hours each coach is putting into recruiting. Sure, those two things are related, but they don’t necessarily have to be intertwined. It’s nice to be able to turn lowly-rated and walk-on receivers into legitimate college players, but this isn’t the type of coaching staff that should be seeking out extra points for degree of difficulty on a yearly basis.
Otherwise, a quiet weekend except for the revelation that Jay Paterno plays bocce. No five yard outs in that game!
10 responses so far ↓
Cock D // June 30, 2008 at 9:13 am
at :01 of the video - “Penn State Nittnay Lions”
At least it was some other team that lost….
PSUFlyers // June 30, 2008 at 9:17 am
I have tried so hard to remove that game from my memory. Now the wounds have been re-opened.
Plus, Avalon is really nice this time of year. You can’t blame the head coach for wanting to be there rather than being on campus during the most important recruiting week of the summer, can you?
psu1313 // June 30, 2008 at 9:48 am
I remember standing by my gf after it was 6-4 and saying there is no way this game can end like this. It was the most embarrassing display of football i’ve EVER witnessed. The student section was awesome that day and the D was the immovable force. Unfortunately, Mills and the kicking game were well…..
Run Up The Score! // June 30, 2008 at 9:59 am
That game was the same day as my brother’s wedding. We kept getting updates at the church throughout the day, and couldn’t believe any of them. 6-2? 6-4? What the hell?
There was even a Nittany Lion ice sculpture at the reception, which looked like it was crying as it melted. Rather fitting.
Monday Morning Hangover // June 30, 2008 at 10:03 am
[...] Penn State fans are nervous about the lack of offensive skill players. Oh, and Jay Paterno plays bocce. Interesting. (Run Up The [...]
M1EK // June 30, 2008 at 10:38 am
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Run Up The Score! // June 30, 2008 at 10:46 am
I know, Mike. Me too.
veblen // June 30, 2008 at 10:54 am
Ha Mace at OTR has a good catch. According to the Altoona Mirror, at least one PSU recruit has been told that the next Penn State coach will come from within the current coaching staff.
Run Up The Score! // June 30, 2008 at 10:55 am
They’ve been telling recruits that for years, though. There’s nothing else they really can tell them.
Cock D // June 30, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I just can’t imagine that change will be easier when forced by the grim reaper than it would be if forced by the graham spanier.
Buzzkills both they are, however, and I can see where they are easily confused.
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