UNIVERSITY PARK — Six familiar players were not present when Penn State started spring football practice this week. Those six players might not be present when the Nittany Lions start their season in September. Either way, the Nittany Lion seniors have no intention
of letting the rest of the team suffer.
“The guys who want to be here are going to be here, and the guys who aren’t, aren’t,” senior linebacker Sean Lee said Saturday. “We’re going to be concerned with the guys who are here playing football and wanting to be part of the team.”
Defensive tackle Chris Baker, wide receiver Chris Bell, linebacker Navorro Bowman, tight end Andrew Quarless, defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive back Knowledge Timmons, all of whom were in Penn State’s two-deep last season, were all indefinitely suspended during the winter by Penn State coach Joe Paterno for various disciplinary reasons.
“I want everything settled down,” Paterno said Saturday. “As I told all of them and their families, let’s wait and see what their grades are, whether there’s (anything) hanging over their heads. They can do the things they’ve got to do, and when the time comes. … I don’t know. I would hope all of them would be out in the fall. But right now, none of them are out.”
Paterno, who joked that there were only one or two players on the remaining squad “that I’d like to hit over the head with a bat,” has liked the leadership and approach he has seen through the first week of drills.
“I’ve been really pleased with the whole attitude of the squad,” Paterno said. “I’m not trying to be a Pollyanna, but I really feel very good about where we are.”
Penn State has at least one senior and two-year starter on each unit but quarterback and tailback. Those seniors have set the early tone for the rest of the team.

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