Nittany Lion notebook: Lowry still has Paterno's confidence
Heather A. Dinich
hdinich@centredaily.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Despite three fumbles this season, Penn State coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday he hasn't lost faith in sophomore punt returner Calvin Lowry.
Blunders on special teams cost the Nittany Lions a 30-23 loss to Wisconsin last Saturday. Lowry fumbled a punt return late in the first half that led to a Wisconsin touchdown and gave the Badgers a 17-9 halftime lead. He also fumbled a kickoff return that put Wisconsin in field goal range.
"Part of his problem is he's trying to make things happen," Paterno said. "I'd hate to discourage him. He's one of the best kids we have on this football team and the way he practices and tries to do things, I'm always challenging the coaches about how many plays he's playing. He's only playing 12-16 plays.
"He'll work his way out of it," Paterno said. "I really am pulling for him."
"Paterno" to air on ESPN
A one-hour documentary, "The Season: Joe Paterno" on the life and career of the Nittany Lions' 76-year-old coach will at 7 p.m. Friday. It will re-air at 4 p.m. Oct. 16.
Paterno, in his 38th season as head coach, owns a 338-103-3 record and a winning percentage of 76.4.
Paterno said he probably won't watch it.
"Geez, I can hardly wait," Paterno said. "Maybe somebody will watch it for me and see if it's worth my watching, whether it's fact or fiction.
"... Now, that doesn't mean if they say a lot of nice things about me and I'm depressed next week I won't look at it to hear I'm better than everybody thinks I am," he joked. "I know they came up here and spent some time with Sue (Paterno). They wanted to spend more time with me than I gave them. Maybe I'll look at it, maybe I won't."
Robinson on Limbaugh
As an African-American, backup sophomore quarterback Michael Robinson said he was taken aback by commentator Rush Limbaugh's comment that the media "has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," but he wasn't offended by it.
"When I first heard it, it took me by surprise," Robinson said. "When somebody told me, I thought they were lying to be honest with you. But we still have people out there in the world who believe that way. Some people you just can't change."
