Coastal Carolina 10 - 66 13Penn State
Final
  for this game

Paterno starts 43rd season at Penn State

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:14 AM Coastal Carolina at No. 22 Penn St, 12:00 pm EDT

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Ticker) -- At 81 years old, Penn State coach Joe Paterno remains as defiant as ever.

Following a turbulent offseason that included numerous player arrests, the 22nd-ranked Nittany Lions begin Paterno's 43rd season as coach when they host Coastal Carolina of the Football Championship Subdivision.

According to an ESPN "Outside the Lines" report, 17 Penn State players were arrested in 2007 and charged with 27 crimes, leading to nine guilty pleas.

Penn State president Graham Spanier said the arrests were "embarrassing," but Paterno, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this month, accused ESPN of conducting a "witch hunt" and scoffed at the notion that the university's image has been tarnished.

Despite the problems off the field, Penn State (9-4 last season) expects to contend for the Big Ten Conference title with 16 returning starters, including its top three receivers. However, the Nittany Lions did lose quarterback Anthony Morelli and Butkus Award finalist Dan Connor, the school's all-time leader in career tackles.

Taking over for Morelli will be senior Daryll Clark, who rushed for a touchdown in the Nittany Lions' 24-17 victory over Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl last year, Paterno's 500th game as Penn State coach. Still, Clark has attempted only 36 passes in his career.

Paterno enters the season with a 374-124-3 career record, tied with Florida State's Bobby Bowden for the most wins among major college coaches.

Coastal Carolina, 5-6 last season, was picked second behind Liberty in the Big South Conference's preseason poll.






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