Penn State Picking Up the Pieces

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno is struggling to find answers to his team’s 0-2 start.

“I’ve got to be careful whether the other guys are that good, or are we that bad?” he said. “I’m not sure.”

The Nittany Lions’ stunning 24-6 loss to Toledo on Saturday has even led to finger pointing.

Tailback Larry Johnson, who scored the team’s only touchdown this season, questioned the play selection, and called the offense “too predictable.”

Paterno wouldn’t comment on Johnson’s remarks, but said there’s enough blame to spread around.

“I would hope we keep our dirty laundry to ourselves,” he said. “We’re all frustrated. That’s why I kept my mouth shut so I didn’t say anything I’d be sorry about.”

The Nittany Lions have gained only 308 total yards--36 rushing--and scored 11 points in two games.

“That’s the worst thing you can do,” Paterno said about changing the offensive system. “When you get licked, it’s easy to try to find a cure-all. There aren’t any. Whether they saw the same plays we ran five years ago on tapes doesn’t make a difference. We had opportunities. We just didn’t execute.”

After starting 0-2 in 1990, Penn State finished 9-3. In 1983, the Nittany Lions went 8-4-1 despite an 0-3 start.

“Everything is different,” Paterno said. “It has a lot to do with the caliber of team you play.”

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Oregon State running back Ken Simonton broke the Beavers’ career rushing record with a 200-yard effort in a 21-19 victory over Eastern Washington, but didn’t show up to answer reporters’ questions afterward.

On Tuesday, Simonton explained that his legs were cramping so badly after his exhausting 40-carry game that he wasn’t physically able to climb the stairs to the interview area.

“My groins and stuff were so tight, I was like, ‘No way I’m getting up there,’ ” he said. “Couldn’t do it. For real.”

It took Simonton only 24 games to break the record that the late Dave Schilling held for 29 years. Schilling ran for 2,563 yards from 1969-71. Simonton now has 2,714 yards.

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J.P. Losman will take over as Tulane’s quarterback after starter Patrick Ramsey injured his throwing shoulder in a 49-20 season-opening loss to then-No. 18 Mississippi.

Ramsey is expected to miss at least two weeks, including the Green Wave’s Sept. 16 Conference USA opener against East Carolina.

Losman, a transfer from UCLA, replaced Ramsey in the Green Wave’s loss to Mississippi and played six series. He completed five of 10 passes for 35 yards.