THE BOWLS DAILY REPORT : ROSE : Some Lions and Ducks Visit Disneyland

Penn State tailback Ki-Jana Carter praised the university’s move to the Big Ten because “if you win the championship, you go to Disneyland free.” That’s what players from this year’s Rose Bowl teams, Penn State and Oregon, did Tuesday, although some chose to remain on the sideline.

“I’m not a rides man and I’m especially not too crazy about those roller coasters,” Oregon cornerback Herman O’Berry said. “I’d rather stay on the ground.”

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Carter, who finished second in Heisman voting, said he would have voted for a teammate, quarterback Kerry Collins, who was fourth. “We wouldn’t have been 11-0 without him,” Carter said.

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While Collins has that Central Casting quarterback look, someone mentioned to Penn State Coach Joe Paterno that Oregon’s quarterback, Danny O’Neil, might be confused with a punter.

Paterno said: “Danny Marino looks like a lover until he throws the football. Don’t let looks confuse you. I’ve watched O’Neil play. He’s a tough son of a gun. I know that much about him.”

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Collins didn’t look like a Heisman candidate in Tuesday morning’s practice at UC Irvine, throwing two interceptions and drawing Paterno’s wrath. Nor did Penn State look like an 11-0 team.

“We weren’t very good today,” Paterno said. “We’ve got to get better than that.”

The only Penn State player questionable for Monday’s game is defensive tackle Eric Clair, who broke his right foot in a Nov. 1 workout and hasn’t played since. Questionable Ducks are two reserves, offensive tackle Mike Klews (knee) and safety Jaiya Figueras (ankle), a freshman from Glendale.