Source: Associated Press
Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 3:40:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 11:16:06 PM EST
Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 3:40:00 PM EST
Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 11:16:06 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Off-the-field issues are mounting at Penn State.
Less than a week after running back Austin Scott was suspended for violating a team rule, coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday that he was looking into the possibility that some Nittany Lions may have been involved in a fight.
The fight comes months after Paterno, angry about an April fight involving football players, decide to force the entire team to pick up garbage the day after games at Beaver Stadium.
"I've been alerted there might have been a couple football players involved in a fight. To what extent, to what degree, what happened, I'm not quite sure yet," Paterno said when asked whether players were involved in a weekend altercation.
"Until I find out what's going on, I think I'd be better off just not getting into that," Paterno said Tuesday at his weekly news conference.
Tyrone Parham, the assistant university police director, declined to comment on whether any football players were under investigation for any weekend incidents.
"We can't confirm anyone's affiliation with Penn State," Parham said. "We don't confirm anything until a person is charged."
A university police log shows the agency is investigating a call early Sunday from the student union that concerned an alleged assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The call came in at 1:45 a.m. -- nearly seven hours after Penn State (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) defeated Iowa. One person suffered a bloody nose and was treated at the scene, Parham said.
Between five and 10 people may have been involved in an altercation at a party sponsored by a student organization and attended by several hundred people, Parham said.
One person suffered a bloody nose and was treated at the scene, and police were trying to identify "who was pulling people off of one another, who was involved in the fighting and who was just standing around being a witness," Parham added.
University police were handling that investigation in normal fashion, Penn State vice president Bill Mahon said.
Paterno grew agitated after being peppered with questions about off-field concerns. Asked if he was concerned about the image of the program, JoePa immediately said, "No. I don't think there's anything wrong with the image of the program. We have a bunch of great kids."
Paterno said "85 to 90 percent" of his players graduate. "Eighty-five to 90 percent of them are great people. I have no problem with that," he said. "Again, you guys are trying to create some problem that I don't believe we have, period. ... It's a waste of my time and your time."
A 2006 NCAA report said Penn State's football graduation rate of 83 percent was seventh-best among the 119 Football Bowl Division institutions, and the best in the Big Ten.
Paterno said there was no change in status with Scott, the tailback suspended the day before the win over the Hawkeyes. Scott is listed as the third-string tailback for this weekend's game against No. 19 Wisconsin, though Paterno said he would not play. The coach declined to say what rule Scott had broken.
There was no formal investigation into Scott by the university's judicial affairs office, according to two school officials. Scott is still enrolled at Penn State, Mahon said Tuesday.
Also this weekend, two reserve freshmen -- punter Ryan Breen and tailback Joe Suhey -- were cited by police for underage drinking. Neither has seen game action this season.
"I'd like to know anybody in this room, when they were in college, who weren't sitting around in a party where underage drinking wasn't going on," Paterno said. "I'm not condoning it or anything like that, but you always have to be a little bit careful in evaluating what kids do, in relationship to what their obligation is to their football team and themselves."
Tight end Andrew Quarless and backup defensive back Willie Harriott had been suspended by Paterno for a few games earlier this year after university police cited them for underage drinking.
"Can we talk about Wisconsin?" Paterno asked, interrupting a reporter when the news conference opened with questions about off-field issues. "We're fine. Let me handle the football team and as soon as I know enough to make some decisions, I'll make them and that'll be it."
The rash of legal woes comes about six months after authorities said several players were involved in a fight at an off-campus party in which two people were hurt and treated at a hospital. Ten players were disciplined by the university for their roles in the April 1 altercation.
Two of the players, safety Anthony Scirrotto and defensive lineman Chris Baker, are scheduled to stand trial in December on related criminal charges.
Less than a week after running back Austin Scott was suspended for violating a team rule, coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday that he was looking into the possibility that some Nittany Lions may have been involved in a fight.
The fight comes months after Paterno, angry about an April fight involving football players, decide to force the entire team to pick up garbage the day after games at Beaver Stadium.
"I've been alerted there might have been a couple football players involved in a fight. To what extent, to what degree, what happened, I'm not quite sure yet," Paterno said when asked whether players were involved in a weekend altercation.
"Until I find out what's going on, I think I'd be better off just not getting into that," Paterno said Tuesday at his weekly news conference.
Tyrone Parham, the assistant university police director, declined to comment on whether any football players were under investigation for any weekend incidents.
"We can't confirm anyone's affiliation with Penn State," Parham said. "We don't confirm anything until a person is charged."
A university police log shows the agency is investigating a call early Sunday from the student union that concerned an alleged assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The call came in at 1:45 a.m. -- nearly seven hours after Penn State (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) defeated Iowa. One person suffered a bloody nose and was treated at the scene, Parham said.
Between five and 10 people may have been involved in an altercation at a party sponsored by a student organization and attended by several hundred people, Parham said.
One person suffered a bloody nose and was treated at the scene, and police were trying to identify "who was pulling people off of one another, who was involved in the fighting and who was just standing around being a witness," Parham added.
University police were handling that investigation in normal fashion, Penn State vice president Bill Mahon said.
Paterno grew agitated after being peppered with questions about off-field concerns. Asked if he was concerned about the image of the program, JoePa immediately said, "No. I don't think there's anything wrong with the image of the program. We have a bunch of great kids."
Paterno said "85 to 90 percent" of his players graduate. "Eighty-five to 90 percent of them are great people. I have no problem with that," he said. "Again, you guys are trying to create some problem that I don't believe we have, period. ... It's a waste of my time and your time."
A 2006 NCAA report said Penn State's football graduation rate of 83 percent was seventh-best among the 119 Football Bowl Division institutions, and the best in the Big Ten.
Paterno said there was no change in status with Scott, the tailback suspended the day before the win over the Hawkeyes. Scott is listed as the third-string tailback for this weekend's game against No. 19 Wisconsin, though Paterno said he would not play. The coach declined to say what rule Scott had broken.
There was no formal investigation into Scott by the university's judicial affairs office, according to two school officials. Scott is still enrolled at Penn State, Mahon said Tuesday.
Also this weekend, two reserve freshmen -- punter Ryan Breen and tailback Joe Suhey -- were cited by police for underage drinking. Neither has seen game action this season.
"I'd like to know anybody in this room, when they were in college, who weren't sitting around in a party where underage drinking wasn't going on," Paterno said. "I'm not condoning it or anything like that, but you always have to be a little bit careful in evaluating what kids do, in relationship to what their obligation is to their football team and themselves."
Tight end Andrew Quarless and backup defensive back Willie Harriott had been suspended by Paterno for a few games earlier this year after university police cited them for underage drinking.
"Can we talk about Wisconsin?" Paterno asked, interrupting a reporter when the news conference opened with questions about off-field issues. "We're fine. Let me handle the football team and as soon as I know enough to make some decisions, I'll make them and that'll be it."
The rash of legal woes comes about six months after authorities said several players were involved in a fight at an off-campus party in which two people were hurt and treated at a hospital. Ten players were disciplined by the university for their roles in the April 1 altercation.
Two of the players, safety Anthony Scirrotto and defensive lineman Chris Baker, are scheduled to stand trial in December on related criminal charges.
