Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By JERRY KELLAR; Times Leader Sports Writer
Wednesday, September 21, 1994 Page: 1B
The fact that things have gone so effortlessly for Penn State’s football
team this season has given coach Joe Paterno something new to fret about.
Apathy!
“They could get bored, that’s what I worry about,” Paterno said Tuesday
during his weekly press teleconference. “They’ve got to keep in their minds
the goals that they have set for themselves as individuals and as a team.”
Paterno’s fifth-ranked Nittany Lions have cruised in their first three
games, outscoring the opposition 155-38 in the process. State, one would
assume, has met all of its early objectives thus far in 1994, and is on course
to challenge a number of school records, including at least three held by the
talented 1971 squad.
The Lions are averaging 51.7 points per game; the school record is 41.2 ppg
by the ’71 team.
They’ve scored 21 touchdowns; the record set in ’71 is 63.
They’re averaging 552.0 yards in total offense, more than 100 yards above
the record of 451.1 ypg set by the ’71 group.
Paterno, however, cautioned fans not to expect the good times to last
forever.
“They’re not as good as some people might think they are at this stage,” he
said. “I hope we can prevent that, but I worry about it. We’ll have a lot more
competitive football games coming down the road, starting this week.”
State hosts Rutgers at noon Saturday at Beaver Stadium. For the second week
in a row the game will be televised by ESPN 2 .
The Scarlet Knights (2-1) are coming off a disheartening 37-36 defeat to
Syracuse last week at the Carrier Dome. Rutgers failed to convert on a
potential game-winning two-point conversion pass with 39 seconds left in the
game.
Still, Paterno came away impressed.
“This is probably the best offensive team I’ve seen at Rutgers,” he said.
Another cause for concern, the coach said, is that Penn State’s offensive
and defensive starters have played only a half of each of the first three
games.
“You get ahead and you don’t want to embarrass anybody, but you want to
make sure your kids get enough playing time and stay in shape.”
For now, players have been getting their work in on the practice field.
“We’ve asked the kids to practice harder because of the fact that they’re
not playing that much on Saturday,” Paterno said. “They have to maintain their
condition during the practice session.”
Practices, he noted, have been intense, but short.
“I think that’s a tribute to the kids themselves,” Paterno said. “That’s
why they get better.”
Notes: Defensive tackle Eric Clair is expected to be ready for Saturday’s
game. Clair has missed all three games with a knee sprain. … Cornerback
Brian Miller was named the Big Ten’s Special Teams’ Player of the Week.
Miller, a redshirt sophomore, had five tackles (four solo), two pass
break-ups, and a blocked punt against Iowa. He also made a key stop on a fake
field goal attempt. … Paterno praised State’s demonstration team Tuesday for
doing an excellent job in practice. … Hanover High School grads John Bleich
(center) and Robert Barr are starters on Rutgers’ offensive line. … A
limited number of tickets are available for the game. Visa and Mastercard
orders will be accepted by calling 814-865-7567.
Joe Paterno