Penn State to start freshman at quarterback in opener

Word trickled down from Happy Valley a few times in the preseason that freshman Robert Bolden was looking more and more like a serious contender to become Penn State’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s season opener. Despite those reports, the thought among veteran Joe Paterno watchers was that the 83-year-old coach would never – ever – choose a guy going into his first collegiate game to take the initial snap from center, especially in front of 100,000 people, no matter how friendly. But in an announcement that was, strangely, somewhat surprising but not totally unexpected, Bolden was named Wednesday night by Paterno as the starter for Saturday’s game against Youngstown State at Beaver Stadium. In marking the first time in his 45-year tenure as head coach that a true freshman will start an opener at quarterback. Paterno gave Bolden the nod over sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome, the backup last year to Daryll Clark. “Based on what we have seen to this point, Bolden has a slight edge right now,” Paterno said in a statement, “but we are confident all three quarterbacks are ready to go and hope to give them an opportunity to play until we settle on the one that gives us the best chance to win.” With those remarks, Paterno left the door open for McGloin and Newsome to overtake Bolden as the regular starter. On the Nittany Lions’ depth chart, Bolden, McGloin, and Newsome will be designated 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively. For now, though, Bolden is the first true freshman to start at quarterback in Penn State’s opener. — Philadelphia Inquirer