Penn State Football: Paterno Lists Bolden as Doubtful

Although he insists the final decision is up to the Penn State team physicians, Nittany Lion Coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday afternoon he thinks it doubtful that freshman quarterback Rob Bolden will play Saturday against Michigan.

“They tested him Sunday and he still had memory problems,” Paterno said. “They’ll test him again tomorrow (Wednesday).

“If you ask me, if I had to guess, he would not be able to make it. We don’t want to take any chances. I just don’t know.”

The Nittany Lions (4-4, 1-2 Big Ten) will play host to Michigan (5-2, 1-2) at 8 p.m. Saturday in Beaver Stadium. ESPN will televise the game nationally, and the contest has been dubbed a “Student Whiteout.”

Penn State has won the past two games against the Wolverines, breaking a nine-game losing streak against Michigan. Paterno, in his 45th season as head coach at Penn State, has 398 victories, just two from an historic 400.

Bolden suffered a concussion in the second quarter last Saturday at Minnesota, and was relieved initially by redshirt sophomore Matt McGloin and then by sophomore Kevin Newsome. Bolden was in the midst of his best game for the Nittany Lions, completing 11 of 13 passes – including his first nine throws – for 130 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Brett Brackett.

McGloin came in to throw a pair of TD passes to Derek Moye, for 42 and nine yards. He finished six of 13 for 76 yards, the two touchdowns and an interception. The first touchdown was McGloin’s first career completion.

Both Newsome and McGloin took snaps with Penn State’s first team offense on Monday. Paterno would not name a starter at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

“We’re going to let the two kids compete and see what happens,” said Paterno.

“I will not make a decision until we see these kids practice this week, and we’ll see where we go from there.”

Paterno had plenty of praise for McGloin, a former walk-on now on scholarship. McGloin entered the Minnesota game with only two career passing attempts, both incomplete against Eastern Illinois in 2009.

“I thought Matt went into the game with little preparation, but did a great job,” Paterno said. “I thought he did well under the circumstances and will get better if he has to play more.”

There was some concern that Newsome had hurt his knee against Minnesota, against whom he ran three times for four yards.

But, Paterno said, “I assume he’s going to practice the rest of the week and go from there. … I don’t think the knee injury is serious. …”