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Penn State's two starting quarterback candidates agree: They'd rather not have to share the job.
Now it's up to coach Joe Paterno to pick either Rob Bolden or Matt McGloin, and he's not quite ready to make that choice with about two weeks left in preseason camp.
''I think the team and everyone would prefer to have one guy in the huddle and in the clutch, you always know what you're going to get from him,'' the Nittany Lions Hall of Fame coach said this week. ''And sometimes that doesn't work out.''
Like last year, when Bolden started the season as a true freshman, but lost the job to McGloin in November after struggling and suffering a concussion. The offense improved under McGloin, though his five-interception performance in a 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl seemingly threw the race wide open again.
Which brings us to this summer, a time when Penn State's fans had been fully concentrating on the quarterback race until Paterno injured his shoulder and pelvis after an accidental hit from a player in practice.
JoePa's back, and so the spotlight again returned Bolden and McGloin at preseason media day on Tuesday.
''Sometimes you get a couple guys that are good enough that either one of them can do it,'' Paterno said. ''You sit as a staff and they all feel the same way about each one of them.''
First-string reps so far have been split 50-50, and Bolden and McGloin are fine with that - though they both would rather not have that arrangement stretch into the season.
''Two guys on the field, obviously in Florida, it was successful. But I don't like it,'' Bolden said in his first meeting with reporters since saying in April he pondered leaving the program. ''I don't think it is beneficial to the team. One guy (should) be the leader of the offense, and run the program the way it should be (run).''
Of course, Bolden thinks that should be him.
''Absolutely I feel like I've won it already,'' Bolden said. ''Matt, he probably thinks the same thing.''
Pretty much.
But the verbose McGloin wasn't as vocal about his candidacy as in the offseason.
''It's good for him, I'm glad that he has that confidence. He's been playing really well, I've been playing really well,'' McGloin said. ''Whatever decision (the coaches) make, I'm happy with it, and I'll accept my role.''
Paterno said both have progressed in camp. McGloin is a gunslinger from Scranton, a former walk-on whose earnest confidence rubs off on his teammates.
Bolden was quieter as a freshman. He said this week he has erased any thoughts of transferring, and that he was working on building better relationships with teammates.
''I think the year of experience was huge. They were both in games, and really tough games, where they stepped up,'' fullback Joe Suhey said. ''It's exciting to see them kind of coming in their own. Whoever the coaches decide to put in, we're going to get behind them.''
