STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Joe Paterno’s record 43rd season on the sideline will begin with a new starting quarterback, and, most likely, another milestone.
The Hall of Fame coach picked Daryll Clark to start No. 22 Penn State’s season opener Saturday against Coastal Carolina, a contest in which Paterno could tie Florida State’s Bobby Bowden atop the career wins list for major college coaches.
The Seminoles don’t open their season until Sept. 6 against Western Carolina. Paterno, a win behind Bowden’s 373, could draw even with his good friend if Penn State beats the heavily overmatched Chanticleers, a Championship Subdivision school.
“Bobby is a good friend of mine. Who cares?” the 81-year-old Paterno said Tuesday when asked about the milestone. “When they bury me are they going to put on my gravestone, ‘You’re one win ahead of Bobby Bowden?’ ”
Clark, a senior, was the backup the past two years behind Anthony Morelli, who’s now in the NFL. Paterno said Clark beat out sophomore Pat Devlin, in part, because of his experience.
Footnotes.
Sean Glennon will be Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback this year while sophomore Tyrod Taylor redshirts. Cory Holt will begin the season as the nominal backup, and Taylor could be called on if Glennon can’t play.
• Sophomore Colin Kaepernick will start at quarterback for Nevada in Saturday’s home opener against Grambling State.
• Florida’s Percy Harvin (heel) participated in 7-on-7 drills, but coach Urban Meyer said he was not sure if the receiver would play in Saturday’s game against Hawaii.
• Coach Skip Holtz and East Carolina agreed to a contract through the 2013 season. The Associated Press
