Former Penn State defensive tackle Phillip Taylor plans to transfer from the university, his father Phil Taylor said yesterday.
Taylor's decision to transfer comes one day after sports information director Jeff Nelson confirmed he and fellow lineman Chris Baker were removed from the team for undisclosed reasons.
Taylor's father said his son has a list of a few schools written down but could not name any of the schools Taylor is considering. He also added other players were considering transferring but could not name those players.
Taylor's father suspects his son was removed from the team because of the negative backlash from the recent ESPN Outside the Lines segment detailing Penn State's recent off-the-field issues.
"I think it was something how the interview went on ESPN," he said. "The way they chewed [Paterno] up, I don't know if it was him getting revenge. He's very disrespectful. He don't wanna talk, he don't wanna listen."
Taylor, his father said, is happy to be leaving Penn State. Although he does not like
the idea of Taylor transfering, Taylor's father said he will let his son pursue his own choices as long as he is happy.
Taylor's father had strong words regarding his relationship with Paterno -- especially since Taylor's son pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge stemming from an incident last year at the HUB-Robeson Center the weekend before the Oct. 13 game against Wisconsin.
"He's already been punished twice," Taylor's father said. "He was suspended for the Wisconsin game, after the season Paterno decided to suspend him for the summer. He only got charged with disorderly conduct, now they wanna punish him again. I talked to Paterno, we talked about him sitting out for the season. If he was sitting out, he won't be at Penn State."
Taylor's father said he would talk regularly with Paterno about his son. Paterno, however, would rush Taylor's father off the phone and tell him he had meetings to attend.
Two hours later, Paterno and Taylor's father would resume talking, but the 81-year-old coach would forget he informed the father about the meetings.
"He was really disrespectful," Taylor's father said. "I was asking him what's bringing this on [my son]? What have we done that makes you treat us this way?
"He couldn't tell me, he's like -- you know how he gets his stutter -- 'These kids' names keep coming up.' "
Joe Paterno could not be reached for comment by press time yesterday.
Taylor's father said both he and his son, who could not be reached for comment, had no problems with any of the other coaches on staff.
Reached by cell phone last night, Baker declined to comment.
Taylor made 20 tackles last year for the Nittany Lions, three of them for sacks. Baker recorded 37 stops last year, including 4.5 sacks. Both played in 12 games for Penn State last year.
