STATE COLLEGE, PA. (AP) - Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden’s father says coach Joe Paterno has denied his son’s request to transfer.
Robert Bolden, Sr., said he wasn’t expecting Paterno to turn down the quarterback after a meeting Tuesday in State College. It’s unclear what Bolden will do next, with spring semester classes starting Monday.
Bolden was the first true freshman to open the season at quarterback in Paterno’s 45-year head-coaching tenure. He started eight games, but suffered a concussion vs. Minnesota. He then lost the job two weeks later to sophomore Matt McGloin after getting pulled vs. Northwestern.
Bolden, Sr., said his son was only interested in playing at the FBS level.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) _ Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden could seek a transfer following a freshman year in which he started the first half of the season before being benched for sophomore Matt McGloin.
Bolden’s mother, Tonia Williams, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Bolden and his father were traveling to Happy Valley to speak with the coaching staff. The school is on break, and players could go home after last week’s 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl.
Williams said by phone her son told her he was looking to transfer, but wasn’t sure of plans. Williams says she doesn’t agree and hopes Bolden will stay, but she stands by her son.
“It’s his decision. I had to stand by his decision,” she said from her Detroit-area home. “I’m hoping he’ll have a change of heart.”
The quarterback’s father, Robert Bolden, Sr., was quoted Sunday as saying his son intended to transfer.
It has been an eventful year at quarterback for the Nittany Lions (7-6).
Bolden showed glimpses of promise after becoming the first true freshman to open the season at quarterback in Joe Paterno’s 45 years as head coach.
Then, Bolden suffered a concussion at Minnesota at midseason and was replaced by Matt McGloin, who bypassed second-stringer Kevin Newsome on the depth chart.
The following week, McGloin got the nod against Michigan, becoming the first former walk-on to start at quarterback for Paterno.
Bolden started the next week against Northwestern but was pulled after fumbling the ball away on a sack on his second series. McGloin came off the bench to help spark the come-from-behind victory for Paterno’s 400th career win.
He started the rest of the year, and the offense played better overall. But the sophomore threw five interceptions against Florida, and Paterno never inserted Bolden into the game.
Newsome also spoke with coaches about his future last month, and did not travel to Tampa for the bowl. A team spokesman said Tuesday both Bolden and Newsome were still on the roster, and that there was no change in status for either player.
Penn State also has another touted quarterback recruit in freshman Paul Jones on the roster. Jones redshirted this season.
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