JoePa
Highlights of the article:
Armed with a contract extension, a smothering defense and a monster recruiting class, Paterno is way more rejuvenated than retired entering his 40th year as head coach.
One look at the field and it seems like one or two decades away. While the defense (No. 10 nationally) was up to Penn State standards, the offense was a root canal in cleats -- 110th out of 117 in I-A in scoring. In any age where speed rules the game, Paterno had yet to grasp the rules.
Derrick Williams, a receiver/returner type who has been clocked from 4.28-4.32 in the 40, topped off a top 25 recruiting class. Paterno so desperately wanted the kid who was widely regarded as the best recruit in the country, he sent him gushing letters proclaiming "WE NEED DERRICK WILLIAMS."
Paterno also landed No. 1 defensive back Justin King out of Pittsburgh and athlete-type Lydell Sargeant all the way from California. They're all speedsters.
Fifth-year senior Michael Robinson goes into spring as a slight favorite at quarterback. But in his career he has been all over the field, never really mastering any position. Penn State Nation no doubt hopes that highly touted sophomore Anthony Morelli eventually takes over.