Paterno Seeks Solutions

Penn State freshman Zack Mills was on target with his first pass as a starter, a bullet to Eddie Drummond on the sideline. It was dropped.

Then Mills tried Bryant Johnson along the sideline. Dropped. Then, tight end John Gilmore over the middle. Dropped.

“Those were three great passes that were catchable,” Gilmore said. “Even though they were great passes, we have to make the play.”

If they don’t, Coach Joe Paterno might have to find someone who will.

Although Paterno long has been known for favoring upperclassmen, an injury to quarterback Matt Senneca made Mills the first freshman to start for Penn State since Wally Richardson against Temple in 1992.

But after Saturday’s 20-0 drubbing by then-No. 15 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 in the Big Ten)--Penn State’s first shutout loss at home since 1965 and first 0-4 start in school history--Paterno said he’s going to have to consider putting in more young players.

“The freshman kid goes in there and throws three perfect passes to start the game. All were dropped,” Paterno said.

“We hate to give up on them,” Paterno said of his receivers, “but I suppose we have to start looking around. If they can’t catch, we have to get someone who can.”

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Florida State defensive end Eric Powell, who was shot in the back during a robbery attempt last month, said he will ask the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver so he can play for the Seminoles next season.... Marshall wide receiver Darius Watts turned himself in to police Monday on a malicious wounding charge stemming from a Sept. 29 fight. Watts, who was released on bond, has denied the charge.... Hawaii Coach June Jones said there’s a chance quarterback Timmy Chang will start against Texas El Paso. Chang, second in the nation in total offense with 349.7 yards per game, missed Saturday’s game against Southern Methodist with a sprained wrist on his throwing arm ....Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen returns to Atlanta on Thursday when the first-year coach leads the 22nd-ranked Terrapins (5-0) against No. 15 Georgia Tech (4-1). Friedgen used to be the Yellow Jackets’ offensive coordinator.