With Paterno, Penn State Enjoys a Proven Edge Against Texas

TEMPE, Ariz. — It has become something of a given in college football that if Joe Paterno has two weeks to prepare for a game, he’ll find a way to beat you.

A bowl record of 17-8-1 in 31 seasons as Penn State’s coach is testimony.

“Two weeks? If he has three days, he’ll find a way to beat you,” Texas Coach John Mackovic said Tuesday. “He’s a great coach.”

Paterno has been good enough to win all four of the traditional major bowls: the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Cotton. He is 5-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and seeks a sixth victory tonight against No. 20 Texas (8-4) in a game Mackovic predicts will follow Fiesta precedent and be high scoring and wide open. Paterno hopes Mackovic’s prediction is wrong.

“I’m not comfortable with high-scoring games,” he said.

He’s also not comfortable with the Texas offense, and particularly with the speed of quarterback James Brown, receiver Mike Adams and running back Ricky Williams. Naturally, Brown is a particular concern.

“He’s playing with great confidence,” Paterno said. “He’s not going to be easy to blitz, as Nebraska found out, and he’s the guy who makes the offense go. He has the ability to move around and get the ball to the tight end and the receivers.”

Brown has completed 170 of 299 passes for 2,468 yards and 17 touchdowns, running 48 times for 119 yards and two more scores. He threw for 353 yards against Nebraska.

“But if you spend the whole time preparing for the passing game, they can run the ball down your throat,” Paterno reminded.

Williams rushed for 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns; Shon Mitchell for 625 yards and four touchdowns; and Priest Holmes for 324 yards, but in only 59 carries and for 13 touchdowns, three against Nebraska.

“Because of Brown, you can’t just blitz them all the time,” said Penn State defensive end Brandon Noble. “You have to choose your spots, and when you go after Brown, you’d better get him.”

Said Brown, who has been somewhat subdued in his 11 days here after a few days of brashness before the Longhorns’ 37-27 victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference championship game: “If they just sit back and just play a 4-3 defense, we’re going to go after them.”

Actually, No. 7 Penn State (10-2) sits back and waits on nobody, on offense or defense.

“I think we’re very similar teams,” said Mackovic. “Their quarterback [Wally Richardson] is a little taller than James [6 feet 4 to 6 feet], but they’re both maneuverable. Wally is more of a drop-back guy and James is more of a wiggle guy, but they’re similar.”

“And they wouldn’t be here without the plays [both] made down the stretch.

“And the two offenses are similar, featuring quarterbacks, featuring running backs, featuring receivers, featuring the tight end.”

The teams also trod similar paths to this game.

Texas lost four of five games in the middle of the season and had to win its last five games, including the Big 12 title match, to get here. Penn State lost two of three games at midseason and had to win its final four to reach Tempe.

“Last year, we felt like just getting to a bowl was the reward,” said Longhorn guard Dan Neil. ‘This year, we have been talking about a bowl all season and we’ve been talking about winning it.”

And what of Paterno and his bowl success?

Well, the appreciation for his skill is not universal.

“After I had been coaching at Penn State two or three years, I wrote a book called ‘Football My Way,’ ” Paterno said. “Frank Kush--you remember him from out this way when he coached at Arizona State--wrote me a note: ‘I read your book. You’re not that good.’ ”

Mackovic and Texas hope so.

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FIESTA BOWL AT A GLANCE

* Teams: Penn State (10-2), Texas (8-4)

* Site: Tempe, Ariz.

* Time: 5 p.m. TV: Channel 2