Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli did not show up for yesterday's Alamo Bowl media session, even though the senior captain was expected to be among the attendees.
According to team spokesman Jeff Nelson, Anthony Morelli said he would not be able to make it.
Anthony Morelli has not met with reporters since the Nittany Lions beat Temple, 31-0, on Nov. 10. He missed his scheduled conference call before the Nov. 17 Michigan State game for what were deemed "academic reasons." He also skipped postgame interviews after the Spartans beat Penn State.
Anthony Morelli completed 16 of 35 passes for 188 yards in that game. This season, he has thrown for 2,508 yards, with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
"Anthony Morelli's been kind of an unsung hero on this football team," head coach Joe Paterno said.
At last year's Capital One Bowl media day, Anthony Morelli sounded off at critics who had labeled the former five-star recruit slow to understand the quarterback position.
"I'm tired of people thinking I'm this idiot quarterback," he said then.
Anthony Morelli went on to have his best game of the season when Penn State beat Tennessee, 20-10.
"I don't think he's hiding from the media," wide receiver Deon Butler said yesterday. "I think he's more just trying to clear his head and focus" on the Alamo Bowl.
Disciplinary update
Joe Paterno said that defensive tackle Chris Baker, linebacker Navorro Bowman, and special-teams contributor Knowledge Timmons would make the trip to San Antonio, Texas.
The three were suspended for the Michigan State game after charges were filed against them for their alleged roles in an October on-campus fight that left a man bloodied.
"They're going to make the trip," Paterno said. "What I'm going to do, we'll see."
Baker and Bowman, who were charged with assault, have an April trial on several misdemeanor charges. A more serious felony count was dropped at a preliminary hearing.
Timmons was issued misdemeanor citations for his actions after the fight.
Coaching change
Safeties coach Brian Norwood left to become the defensive coordinator at Baylor last week, but Joe Paterno isn't expecting any future departures from his assistants.
"Nobody's given me any indication they're going," Paterno said.
Kermit Buggs, coordinator of player personnel the last two seasons and a graduate assistant before that, replaces Norwood.
"You hate to lose a guy like Brian," Paterno said, "but I'm glad we had a guy like Kermit waiting in the wings."
