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Paterno says Andrew Quarless, Willie Harriott have finished their discipline.
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno answers questions during a news conference in State College on Tuesday. No. 12 Penn State plays at home against Buffalo on Saturday and will be a heavy favorite to improve its record to 3-0.
AP photo
Temporarily barred from playing on the field, Andrew Quarless was making sure he was still near it.
Quarless wasn’t hard to miss on Saturday’s Penn State-Notre Dame telecast, as he spent most of the game at the front of the sideline crowd, taking everything in.
This weekend, he may not have to be just a cheerleader.
Coach Joe Paterno said both Quarless and Willie Harriott have finished out their team-imposed suspensions and could see action in Saturday’s game against Buffalo.
Both players were cited for underage drinking in the early morning of Aug. 17, and Paterno, who was upset that the pair was out late while camp was under way, held them out of the first two games of the season. Paterno said he initially considered kicking them off the squad, but team captains Dan Connor, Terrell Golden and Anthony Morelli convinced him otherwise.
“Both Willie Harriott and Andrew — we asked them to go over on the scout teams, make a contribution to the football team that way — have done a really good job. Both of them will have a chance to play this week,” Paterno said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
“I’m not sure how much either one of them will play. But if they don’t play, it will not be because of the fact there’s any disciplinary background to it. I think I’ve told the squad right after the game, if they’re ready to play, we’re going to play ’em.”
All eyes have been on Quarless particularly, as the sophomore was projected as the starting tight end coming into the season. Harriott was expected to be a reserve at cornerback and likely figure in on special teams.
Quarless’ spot has been manned by sophomore Mickey Shuler in wins over Florida International and Notre Dame to begin the season. Shuler will in all likelihood get his third start on Saturday against the Bulls and Quarless will have to earn the starting job back from him.
Shuler was held without a catch against the Fighting Irish after hauling in four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in the opener.
“They’ve got to make their place now,” Paterno said of Quarless and Harriott. “I think for me to come in here and say, ‘Hey, Quarless is all set,’ and with the way Mickey Shuler has played, (Jordan) Lyons has played, I think it would be unfair to them.
“But Andrew, both he and Willie did a great job and went at it, tried to make us a better football team. Now I think they can compete to play.”
The 6-foot-5 Quarless had a strong showing as a true freshman year ago, staking his claim to the first-team tight end spot with a touchdown in the final two games of the season, including a score against Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
Hurt in the trenches
Right guard John Shaw, the lone senior starter on the offensive line, had his share of trouble against Notre Dame, eventually heading to the sidelines in the fourth quarter in favor of junior Mike Lucian.
According to Paterno, Shaw is playing with an injured knee. Although it has hampered him on the field, Shaw isn’t expected to miss a game.
“He’s really not a hundred percent,” Paterno said. “And sometimes he can’t do some things as well as you’d like him to do it because he favors the knee. He knows what he’s doing. He’ll play this week. I’d love to be able to keep him out for a while, but I don’t know who to put behind him right now.”
Part of the reason the Nittany Lions won’t hold Shaw out is that top reserve Lou Eliades suffered a concussion last week and wasn’t able to suit up against the Fighting Irish.
Eliades is listed as “possible” on Penn State’s injury report this week, while Shaw’s name is not listed.
On the other side of the ball, Paterno said defensive tackle Abe Koroma will be out longer than expected after fracturing his foot in preseason practice.
“They’re telling me three, four more weeks with Abe,” Paterno said.
up next
University of Buffalo at
No. 12 Penn State
noon Saturday
Beaver Stadium at University Park
TV: Big Ten Network
ON THE WEB
For more Penn State coverage, read Derek Levarse’s blog at www.timesleader.com.