When Joe Paterno hears someone ridicule Michigan's 1-2 start, he wants to jump into the conversation to defend the Wolverines -- and their head coach of 13 years, Lloyd Carr.
After all, Paterno has suffered through 1-2 -- or worse -- starts 10 times in his 42 years as the Nittany Lions coach. Through that, he's learned not to panic when things don't go well early on.
"Sometimes you're here," Paterno said, holding up his hand to demonstrate.
"And then you go here," the coach added, lowering his hand. "If you don't panic, you'll get back up."
Maybe Carr's critics were loud when the Wolverines lost their first two games to start the season, but Michigan got back up last weekend to beat Notre Dame, 38-0, a victory that impressed Paterno.
At his press conference yesterday, Paterno insisted on looking at Michigan's upsides and downplaying its slow start. If the Wolverines didn't have a last-minute field goal blocked by Appalachian State in their opener, they would have won, he said. Oregon's quarterback, Dennis Dixon, just had a great game against the Wolverines in the team's second game, Paterno added.
"I think the hardest part for everybody is to evaluate the team as it plays," Paterno said, dismissing the preseason hype that preceded Michigan's early letdown. "They got preseason polls, you gotta sell magazines, you gotta sell papers."
Paterno praised Michigan's receivers, offensive line and running game, led by senior running back Mike Hart.
But as of press time yesterday, no one, save for those in Carr's inner circle, knew for sure who would play quarterback for the Wolverines on Saturday. Senior Chad Henne started the Wolverines' first two games, but was taken out of the second game with a right leg injury that Carr called a "sprain."
Playing in Henne's place against Notre Dame, freshman Ryan Mallett completed 7-of-15 passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns.
Paterno promised to get the Lions ready for whoever is leading the Wolverines' offense.
"For all I know, they could put Hart at quarterback," Paterno said. "You really gotta just prepare for anything that the other guy might be able to do with the kind of personnel he has."
Running back controversy?
Senior Austin Scott still tops Penn State's depth chart at running back, despite being temporarily pulled from Saturday's game after two early fumbles. Both Scott and senior Rodney Kinlaw will get the ball against Michigan, Paterno said yesterday.
Kinlaw came in after Scott's two fumbles against Buffalo and rushed for 129 yards on 23 carries, scoring a touchdown.
"I think they're both good, solid tailbacks," Paterno said. "I just thought it would be a good idea to sit Austin down a little bit because he gets a little careless with the football. I think it was important to make a point."
Injury update
Junior safety Tony Davis, who left Saturday's game against Buffalo early with a bruised left shoulder, practiced Monday, Paterno said, adding that team doctors think he'll be ready to play Saturday.
Senior offensive lineman John Shaw, however, hasn't practiced since the middle of last week and Paterno doubts if he'll play against Michigan. Junior Mike Lucian and true freshman Stefen Wisniewski shared playing time at right guard in Shaw's place.
Paterno called Wisniewski a "good prospect" but cautioned that the lineman was still young.
"I hope we don't have to use Wisniewski a lot," Paterno said. "But right now it looks like we will."
