si.com
Making amends
Paterno conciliatory with media, mum on Conner
Posted: Tuesday September 20, 2005 6:45PM
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Tuesday struck a conciliatory tone with reporters over remarks he made two weeks ago that he didn't like the media anymore.
During his news conference on Sept. 6, Paterno said he missed the off-the-record chats he had with reporters on Friday nights before football games, a practice that ended last year.
"I can't trust you guys anymore," he said at the time. "I am just being honest with you. It is no fun." He said he loved coaching and working with players, though "I don't like you guys anymore."
After joking with reporters near the end of his news conference on Tuesday, Paterno brought the subject up again. "Hey, we've got to have a little fun," he said. "A lot of you guys I think took my remarks about not being around you ... I feel bad about that."
"I know what kind of job you guys got. It's a tough job," Paterno said Tuesday. "I got a tough job, you got a tough job. And once in a while, you write things that I think you're jerks, and once in a while I say things and you think I'm a jerk. OK? But that's the way it works out."
CONNER'S STATUS
Linebacker Dan Conner's status has been one of those topics that has miffed Paterno in recent weeks.
"I'm not sure yet what to do with Dan. Dan has got to earn his job," Paterno said.
Paterno suspended Conner indefinitely after the school alleged that the linebacker made harassing phone calls to a retired assistant coach. Conner had been temporarily barred from the team by university administrators, but was allowed to practice again last week.
Under conditions of that university punishment, Conner wasn't eligible to play again until after last Sunday, meaning he could technically be available for this week's game against Northwestern. Conner, last year's second-leading tackler, isn't listed on the depth chart this week.
"He practiced yesterday, he'll practice the rest of the week and we will go from there," Paterno said. He praised Tim Shaw, who was moved from the middle to outside linebacker after Conner was suspended, for his play. Shaw leads the team with 30 tackles and three sacks.
Paterno said Shaw currently plays inside in some schemes, and outside on others. "He is a good athlete and we are trying to get the most as we can out of him," he said. I don't see any reasons for us to change up on him."
EZ DOES IT: E.Z.
Smith appears to be emerging ever so slightly from Paterno's doghouse after an incident in January in which the Penn State center shot arrows through a dormitory wall.
University police said the arrows caused no injuries but did about $700 in damage. He had been booted from campus temporarily, but was allowed to return to campus at the start of the fall semester.
Paterno said Smith, who was last year's starter at center, would play this week but would not start. Lance Antolick has started the first three games at center this year and Patrick Weber is listed as the top reserve.
"Right now E.Z. Smith's situation is strictly whether he is good enough and I am not sure he is better than the guys ahead of him," Paterno said.
TURF ISSUES
Penn State is replacing the natural-grass turf at Beaver Stadium after divots popped up on the field over the team's first three games.
Workers began removing the old turf on Monday and the new sod is expected to be in place later this week, spokesman Jeff Nelson said. Penn State plays its first road game of the season on Saturday against Northwestern.
The Nittany Lions' next two home games are Oct. 1 versus Minnesota and Oct. 8 against Ohio State.
Chunks of turf began to pop up on the field during Penn State's season-opener against South Florida three weeks ago. Over the last couple weeks, during timeouts, workers have run out on the field to put them back into place.
"In so many cases, [opposing head coaches] say to me, 'We love to play on this field," Paterno said. "All of a sudden we have three games where the field has been ripped up. I don't know why.
"Has it had an impact on the game? I doubt it," Paterno said.
JIM SHAW BACK
Defensive tackle Jim Shaw, who missed the last couple of weeks with a right knee injury, should be back for the Northwestern game, Paterno said. That should add some depth to a defensive line that manhandled Central Michigan last week.
