Winless Lions Talking A Good Game Psu Players Like Their Chances Vs. Wildcats Because Of A Good Week Of Practice, Improved Attitude.
By JERRY KELLAR [email protected]
Saturday, October 20, 2001 Page: 1B
Penn State’s football team came back from its short break rested, rejuvenated
and rarin’ to play again.
Whether all or any of that translates to victory remains to be seen.
“I think it benefited everybody. It was one of the best weeks of practice
we’ve had,” senior tackle and Berwick grad Gus Felder says. “We went long
all three days (last week). Everyone was out there motivating each other.”
Nittany Lion fans, increasingly annoyed over the team’s substandard effort
so far this campaign, hope this isn’t just a lot of hot air.
Losers of 14 of its last 20 games – a slide that spans three seasons – Penn
State (0-4) meets defending Big Ten tri-champ Northwestern (4-1) today at 3:30
p.m. EDT at Ryan Field.
The Wildcats, like every other Lion opponent this year, enter the game with
an almost reverent respect for coach Joe Paterno’s squad.
“Watching them on film, there’s a small difference between winning those
games and losing them,” NU senior quarterback Zak Kustok says. “We know what
kind of program Penn State has. We’re not going to have any problem getting up
for this game.”
Likewise, the Lions don’t have to dig deep to find motivation for this
game.
Right at the top of the list: Pride.
“I feel like guys’ attitudes have changed,” junior defensive tackle Jimmy
Kennedy says. “The team is upbeat and ready to go. I’m not saying the
attitude was bad before, but some guys may not have believed or whatever.
Maybe some guys went in the tank, maybe not.
“But the attitude has changed. People are more upbeat now. Everyone is
ready to go out and play.”
The refreshing change in demeanor reminds Felder of better days.
“I saw something that I saw when I first got here: everybody motivating
each other, talking,” he says. “Prior to that, everybody was really quiet,
with blank faces in the huddle. Last week, there was something going on.”
Paterno wants his players to take that attitude into the game. The Lions
have been tentative in their first four games, almost as if they’re
anticipating something bad to happen.
And that’s precisely what’s happened. Receivers dropping passes, linemen
jumping offsides, players forgetting special teams’ assignments ... you name
it, the Lions are guilty of it.
Paterno describes his team as a group of athletes afraid to make mistakes.
“I’m trying to tell them, `If the ball’s out there, go get it. If you miss
it and the guy runs by you and goes for a touchdown, so what!’ I’m trying to
create an attitude that it’s a game. If you take care of the little things,
the big things will take care of itself.”
Notes: Junior offensive tackle Matt Schmitt is expected to be back in the
lineup this afternoon for the Lions. Schmitt came down with mononucleosis the
week of the Iowa game and hasn’t played since. He was replaced by sophomore
Chris McKelvy, who is still listed as the starting right tackle on the team’s
depth chart. Schmitt is listed as backup to Felder and redshirt sophomore
Damone Jones at LT ... Redshirt junior Matt Senneca is ahead of redshirt
freshman Zack Mills on the depth chart, but most analysts contend Mills should
remain the starting quarterback. Mills is 53-of-101 for 646 yards, with five
touchdowns and two interceptions this season. Senneca is just 7-of-23 for 108
yards, with a TD. He has not been intercepted.
