Penn State played like they practiced

When Daryll Clark heard a whistle from Joe Paterno near the end of Wednesday's practice last week, he knew something was wrong...

Subscribe to Penn State Clips via Email

"Everyone jogged off and I'm still looking around like, 'What's going on?,'" Clark said. "'Oh, it's time to go.' We all got in and me and Sean [Lee] and Dennis [Landolt] had some things to say about the way we practiced."

Not happy with his team's effort in practice, coach Paterno decided to kick his football team off the field last Wednesday, with Clark saying that the 82-year-old does this when he feels the team is lackadaisical and doesn't practice with emotion.

Clark, who has been with the team since 2005, said Paterno has kicked the team out of practice about three times since becoming a Lion. Lee said it has been four to five times and that it happens whenever Paterno feels there's no intensity.

"'Get off the field. You guys look terrible,'" Clark described Paterno's declaration.

Clark, Landolt, and Lee - three seniors - wasted no time in taking control of the situation by holding a team meeting in the locker room.

"We can't practice the way we practiced today, or we're going to get our ass kicked. Period," said Clark, summing up the conversation.

"Joe has sat me and Sean down a couple times before and just like, 'Look, you guys have to be the ones to say what you have to say at certain situations. You guys have to be the leaders of all leaders, you're not just captains. You guys got to do it all. They're going to be looking up to you, and you have to deliver.'"

Lee said he could tell from the beginning of practice that some of the players weren't into the practice as much as they needed to be.

The linebacker said as players get older, they start to cherish practice, and he is no exception. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Lee wants to be out on the field every day going full speed.

"He goes 'If you're not going to practice hard and practice details and keep your focus there's no reason to be out there,'" Lee said. "And so he just let the leaders and the older guys take care of it."
Kindle: Amazon's 6" Wireless Reading Device