DANNY HOPE-Penn Week 

 
Q. How difficult has it been just to deal with that situation where -- with the quarterbacks? 

 COACH HOPE:  Well, it's been a challenge just kind of the way it's all happened.  We went through a lot of quarterbacks in a short period of time.  We had five different starting quarterbacks, I think, in 13 or 14 games.  That's unheard of in some ways.  It was hard to get a quarterback developed and keep a quarterback in -- the same guy in there and create some continuity for a football team.  It's been a challenge for the last couple of years. 
 

We're in good shape now.  We have Caleb TerBush, who's playing very well.  He's going to get his sixth start this Saturday.  He's doing all the little things.  He's doing all the little things to improve.  And we also have Robert Marve, who's competing to be the number one quarterback.  He didn't get as many reps last week, but he probably played as well as he has at any point in time, the time that he was out there, as far as his throws and management of the offense.  We're in good shape now.  It's been rough sledding to get to this point. 
 

We don't have a quarterback that's a two or three-year guy that's an accomplished guy.  I like the improvement at  the quarterback position, and I like the way these two guys are playing, and I think we can win with these guys. 
 

Originally, we had a two-quarterback system that was a schematic thing.  It was a game plan thing.  Then we had a rash of injuries, and that changed my thought processes on how much we might run or play some of these quarterbacks or use them as runners  or other positions on the field.  Now we want to have two quarterbacks ready to play.  That's the difference now compared to two years ago and prior to going into the season. 
 

Two years ago, when Robert Marve was number one and Rob Henry was number two, I was really excited about a two quarterback system.  That's different than two quarterbacks playing and two quarterbacks ready.  I think that's what a lot of people have misinterpreted all along the lines.  I never did figure out how they could.

 Q.  Coach, I just wanted to ask you about a team preparing for two quarterbacks. 
What about Penn State and the constantly changing quarterback situation? 

 COACH HOPE:  Of course, last week we had to prepare for two quarterbacks.  You have to assume that both the quarterbacks should be able to run somewhat of the same system so that everybody on the football team doesn't have to change just because which quarterback's in the game.  Both the quarterbacks can run the same offense in a lot of ways, and then there's some things that one quarterback might do a little bit better than the other quarterback.  And you have a plan, and you identify those guys when they're in there on the field just like you would any other personnel adjustment. 

 But it's not two completely different game plans based on who's in there.  You have a game plan based on what Penn State does, and a game plan based on what Minnesota does, and then certain things that each one of those quarterbacks might bring to the table, you might have a little wrinkle for.  It's not as big or colossal as some might imagine.