Some PSU veterans question commitment of their teammates
Friday, September 28, 2001
By Ronnie Christ
Of The Patriot-News
"It's Joe's way or the highway."
That's the message some Penn State football players are getting from their angry and frustrated teammates.
Defensive tackles Michael Haynes and Anthony Kennedy said they are tired of hearing people blame their coach for the problems in an 0-2 season.
"It just has to be the commitment of the players," Kennedy said. "We have to question the level of commitment. You have to question guys' personal lives, their dedication."
The two juniors said they were talking about the attitude of some players on and off the field.
This would seem to be similar to the problems the Lions had a year ago when they finished at 5-7, the worst record in Paterno's 34 years as coach.
It was only after the season was completed that players began to come forward to talk about the internal problems the team had for much of the season. By then, it was too late to salvage what had been expected to be a fairly good team.
"I definitely feel there are some guys who have not made the right commitment," Haynes said. "We have a minority of players not putting forth the right level of commitment and some of them are starters."
Coach Joe Paterno, who delivered a stinging talk to his players after the loss to Wisconsin, appeared to be caught off guard. It was obvious he didn't want players who had been cleared for interviews to spend that time talking about team matters.
"I'm not sure they are right," Paterno said. "Obviously, they feel that way. If they do, it's a problem. For some players to say that is disturbing. We're not a bad team. We played good teams and we didn't play well enough to win."
Kennedy said when he sees his team going into the tank, he has to question the commitment.
"If it's Thursday night and I'm up partying or studying, either way I'm not getting a good rest. Every chance I get free, I study so I won't be up late.
"If I don't play up to the level I'm capable of playing, I'll tell Joe to pull me. I refuse to blame it on the coaching staff.
"The talent is there, and so is the coaching. Players have to watch film and take better care of their bodies and not stay up playing video games."
"I refuse to watch this program go into the tank. I love Penn State too much. I love Joe Paterno too much. I'm tired of hearing Joe is too old. I don't believe it."
Linebacker Shamar Finney said he hopes the comments will make every player take a close look at what is happening.
"It's not up to me to say that, but we are telling everybody to look in the mirror and then it won't be such a big problem," Finney said. "If we all do our part, we won't have to worry."
Quarterback Matt Senneca said he wasn't ready to start pointing fingers.
"I'm not sure," he said. "I wouldn't be comfortable saying things because I'm not positive about some things."
Ronnie Christ may be reached at 255-8250 or rchrist@patriot-news.com.
If this stuff happens two years in a row don't you think the players no longer respect/fear the head coach? |
