Another week, another couple of Penn State football players in trouble.
In this week’s edition of the police blotter — er, Morelli OnLion — we’ll look at the latest news surrounding the Penn State football team. We’ll also look at the latest verbals, break down the linebacking unit and have our No. 2 moment of the year in Penn State athletics. Let’s start with the big news.
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(Andrew Quarless is in trouble with coach Joe Paterno following an underage drinking citation. Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
Double Trouble
It was bad news for a couple of PSU players over the weekend. Tight end Andrew Quarless and cornerback Willie Harriott were cited by campus police for underage drinking late Thursday night/early Friday morning.
I talked to a source close to the team, and here’s what went down: After finding out about the incident, Penn State coach Joe Paterno booted both Quarless and Harriott from the squad.
Although some Internet reports say that Quarless and Harriott are gone for good, gantnews.com’s source confirmed late Sunday that both players were back on the team. They are, however, suspended. For how long? We’re just not sure.
Truth be told, Harriott is expendable. Quarless isn’t. Quarless made 21 receptions for 288 yards as a freshman last season. He will help the offense run a lot more smoothly. Although we’re not impressed with what Quarless had to say at media day (the kid appears to have an ego as large as the Lasch Building).
More Verbals
The Penn State football team got three more verbals since our last update.
The new players are: Michael Shaw, a running back from Trotwood, Ohio; Deon’tae Pannell, an offensive lineman from Birmingham, Mich; and James Terry, a defensive tackle from Brandywine, Del.
Shaw is a 6-foot, 185-pound back that the Lions desperately need. With Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw set to graduate, Shaw could get some serious playing time as a freshman — if he’s as good as advertised. He’s been clocked at 4.4 in the 40. He’s ranked as the No. 9 prospect in Ohio, according to rivals.com. As a junior he racked up 975 yards on 180 carries.
Pannell is a 6-5, 300-pound lineman, who is a three-star prospect, according to rivals.com. He’s been a three-year starter in high school and will probably play offensive tackle at Penn State.
Finally, there’s Terry. The 6-3, 310-pound defensive tackle selected the Lions over Temple, Towson and Delaware State. He’s the No. 2 prospect in Delaware, according to rivals.com. Some say that he’s a project, but he certainly has the numbers: 54 tackles, eight sacks and
15 tackles for loss.
The Lions now have eight verbals.
(Dan Connor will lead PSU’s linebacking corps.
Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated.)
Breaking It Down: Linebackers
Despite the loss of All-American, two-time Bednarik Award winner and the all-time leader in tackles in Paul Posluszny, the Penn State linebacking corps should be OK.
Poz, of course, is playing for the Buffalo Bills. If he stays healthy, he will probably be the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. So how do you replace a guy like that?
Well, he may not be Poz, but senior Dan Connor is the man. Like Posluszny, Connor moves inside after playing for three years outside.
Connor has totaled 274 tackles in his career, just 98 short of Posluszny’s record of 372.
Sean Lee, who started a year ago as a sophomore, anchors one of the outside spots. Redshirt freshman Navorro Bowman said at Lift for Life in July that he had won the other outside job, beating out junior Tyrell Sales. No matter who wins that spot, this unit figures to be the equal of any in the Big Ten, maybe the country.
Top Moment No. 2
After 27 years and 606 victories, Penn State women’s basketball coach Rene Portland resigned late on the evening of March 21. It became official at a news conference on March 22 at the Beaver Stadium Media Room.
The resignation came shortly after the Lady Lions ended their season at 15-16, just the second losing season during the Portland Era.
Portland was not at the news conference. The university released a statement announcing Portland’s resignation. She had come under fire in recent seasons because of allegations that she discriminated against lesbian players.
Most recently, Portland and Penn State settled a lawsuit in February by former player Jennifer Harris, who claimed Portland had a “no-lesbian” policy on her team.
“This was obviously a difficult decision,” Portland said in a statement. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Penn State, which has become a special place for me and my family. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish with the Lady Lion program through the years.”
Portland compiled an impressive 606-236 record at Penn State, was just the ninth women’s basketball coach to win 600 games at one school.
When she resigned, she had two years remaining on her contract.
Athletic director Tim Curley read from a statement at the news conference.
“All of us in this room know of her many coaching accomplishments and the impact that she has made on the sport of basketball, Lady Lion basketball, women’s athletics and the many outstanding student-athletes she has positively impacted during her coaching career here,” he said.
Portland was replaced by Coquese Washington, an associate head coach at Notre Dame.
In addition to writing for gantnews.com, Chris Morelli is the editor of Blue White Illustrated, a sports publication devoted to Penn State sports. He is also a regular on “Front and Center,” which airs on ESPN Radio in State College and Altoona. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.