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football Edit

Relief decision

Matt McGloin was as surprised as Penn State fans and media were when head coach Bill O'Brien announced his starting quarterback selection at last week's Coaches Vs. Cancer Golf Tournament.
Not by the choice, though, just the timing of the announcement.
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Truthfully, he'd already known for weeks as O'Brien sat down with each of the quarterback competitors following spring practice to explain his selection.
"Well, I kind of knew for a little while after the spring, but, whatever happens in Coach O'Brien's office, we kind of keep it a secret," McGloin said. "Then, a couple of weeks later, I knew he was going to announce it. I was kind of surprised he did at the event that he did it at.
"But, I'm real happy and excited that he got it over with."
McGloin had taken most of the team's first-string reps at quarterback throughout spring practice, so, working from O'Brien's assertion that a starter would be named in late-May or early-June, McGloin was the logical choice.
In last year's odd two-quarterback arrangement, while sophomore Rob Bolden struggled mightily, completing just 39.3 percent of his passes, McGloin finished with a respectable 118.3 pass efficiency rating (125 for 231) with just five interceptions. Though he had outperformed Bolden, for the season's first seven weeks, Bolden got the start.
No longer, and for that, McGloin says he's relieved.
"It definitely is great to get it off my mind and just not have to worry about it anymore," he said. "It definitely gives me more time to focus on mechanics, film work, organizing some seven-on-sevens with the guys, going over plays and going over formations. But, at the same time, I definitely do understand that as the starter, I have to work harder than ever to keep that spot."
A large part of that work will be completed this summer.
Though Penn State's quarterbacks traditionally spend the summer months working extensively with their receivers in seven-on-seven drills, there's an understanding now between McGloin, Bolden and Paul Jones, as to which guy gets what amount of reps.
"My main goal is to throw as many balls as I can this summer and just getting consistent with it and just getting consistent with each wideout," McGloin said. "Each wideout runs a route differently, especially in this offense. As tough as it was getting into this offense this spring, we've made some great strides so far this summer and hopefully it only goes up from there.
"We obviously have a long way to go (with the offense). Unfortunately for the fans and the media, you guys only saw a little bit of what we did this spring in the Blue White Game. But, if we can put this offense together, it's going to be very exciting."
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