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Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden's father says coach Joe Paterno has denied his son's request to transfer.
Robert Bolden Sr. said he wasn't expecting Paterno to turn down the quarterback in a meeting Tuesday. It's unclear what Bolden will do next, with spring semester classes starting Monday.
Bolden was the first true freshman to open the season at quarterback in Paterno's 45-year head-coaching tenure with the Nittany Lions (7-6). He started eight games, but suffered a concussion vs. Minnesota. He then lost the job two weeks later to sophomore Matt McGloin after getting pulled vs. Northwestern.
Bolden Sr. said his son was only interested in playing at the FBS level.
"We were under the impression he would get a release and find himself in a better situation," Bolden Sr. said. He also said he was wary of talk by coaches that there would be an open competition for the job come spring practice.
Earlier Tuesday, Bolden's mother, Tonia Williams, said she hoped her son would change his mind on transferring, but stood by him.
McGloin, the first former walk-on to start at quarterback for Paterno, helped revive the offense in the second half of the season. But he threw five interceptions in the 37-24 loss to Florida at the Outback Bowl last week.
The future of a third Penn State quarterback, Kevin Newsome, is also unclear.
The former top recruit and second-stringer was skipped over on the depth chart by McGloin after Bolden got hurt. Newsome met with Paterno a couple times last month and did not travel for the bowl. He was expected to meet with coaches again this week.
A team spokesman said earlier Tuesday that Bolden and Newsome were still on the roster, and that there was no change in status for either player.
Penn State also has another touted quarterback recruit in freshman Paul Jones on the roster. Jones redshirted this season.
