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Northwestern Vs. Penn State: Quarterback Race Open Again

After Matthew McGloin's big night against Michigan on Saturday, Joe Paterno says Penn State's starting quarterback job is up for grabs this week.

We are going to let them have a little fun this week, let them compete, and then we'll make a decision later on in the week.

We are fortunate in that all of a sudden we have got a couple of kids that can get the job done for us, and for themselves, obviously.

So, I think we let them compete and at the end of the week, and decide who is going to start. I would imagine that maybe we'll probably have to re-think as far as only playing one kid; maybe that we would want to play both, since they are both young kids to try to get them some experience.

So there you have it.

In one corner is the fiery former walk on McGloin who, in addition to completing 17 of 28 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown against Michigan, showed a little on-field leadership by waving off the kicking team on a key fourth down and visibly mixing it up with Paterno.

In the other corner is the true freshman Robert Bolden, who has had the reins to the offense since the Nittany Lions' home opener against Youngstown State. With experience against tough defenses like Alabama, Iowa and Illinois, Penn State has invested a lot of very valuable playing time in Bolden, which would make it a little surprising if he actually loses the starting job this week.

Nevertheless, a little competition among friends never hurt anyone, and it certainly has to be reassuring for Penn State fans to know that the Lions have not one, but two fairly competent young quarterbacks to lead the team through the next few years.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.