Paterno Not Planning to Bench Quarterback

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno plans to play quarterback Rashard Casey, the senior charged with assaulting an off-duty police officer earlier this year.

“I’m gonna play Rashard Casey until something convinces me I shouldn’t,” Paterno said during the annual Big Ten Conference Kickoff Luncheon.

Penn State plays USC on Aug. 27 in East Rutherford, N.J., in the Kickoff Classic.

Paterno evaded further questions about his troubled quarterback, who pleaded not guilty to the aggravated assault charge in the May 14 incident in his hometown of Hoboken, N.J.

“I’m not a lawyer,” Paterno said several times when asked about Casey’s legal troubles. Clearly frustrated by the questions, Paterno later said, “There’s nothing I can do about anything right now.”

Police say Casey punched Officer Patrick Fitzsimmons, 34, as he was walking to his car outside a Hoboken bar.

Casey and former high school teammate Desmond Miller kicked the officer in the head after he fell and kept kicking him after he lost consciousness, police said.

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Julius Peppers, North Carolina’s sack leader last season, who also plays on the basketball team, has been charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery.

Peppers was allegedly involved in a fight early last Friday outside a 24-hour barbecue restaurant on Franklin Street near campus in Chapel Hill, according to police reports.

Andre Harris, 18, of Mebane, reported the incident to the Orange County magistrate, and police served Peppers with a warrant several hours later.

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Boise State was the huge favorite among media and coaches to repeat as champion of the Big West Conference. The Broncos received 26 of 29 first-place votes from reporters and five of six first-place votes from coaches.

New Mexico State received two first-place votes and Idaho one from reporters.