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Block UserJoe Paterno is 81-years-old, but he's still knows something about discipline and character.
Just ask Penn State defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor, who were kicked off the school's football team Wednesday by Paterno.
While no information was provided as to why they were dismissed, both Baker and Taylor had a history of off-the-field problems during their playing days in State College, Pa.
Last year, the two were involved in off-field fights and had to be suspended for a game by the school and Paterno.
Then in May, Baker earned two years of probation in Centre County court for his role in two separate fights, yet was still allowed to work out with the team in preparation for the 2008 campaign.
Taylor, on the hand, received one year of probation for his role in a separate campus fight and wasn't expected to rejoin the Nittany Lions (9-4 overall, 4-4 Big Ten in 2007) until Aug. 16, just two weeks before Penn State's season opener vs. Coastal Carolina at home.
Despite handing down the dismisals, Paterno had said last week that no final decision had been made on the players' status for the regular season, but now a decision has been made, and the Nittany Lions will be moving into a new season without Taylor or Baker.
I guess when it came down to it, their play on the field didn't outweigh their off-the-field antics.
Taylor, after all, recorded 20 tackles (12 solo), three sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2007, while Baker finished with 37 tackles (16 solo) and 4.5 sacks in 12 games.
Maybe, though, Paterno is trying to send a message to his team and more importantly, to those treasured alumni and boosters.
Thanks to a report from ESPN's "Outside the Lines" this week, 46 Penn State football players had criminal charges filed against them since 2002 and 27 have either pleaded guilty or were convicted.
That's not exactly the kind of track record that JoePa wants to be remembered for when he finally does call it quits - whenever that may be - but don't expect a resignation any time soon.
"I don't know," the legendary coach said about the timing of his retirement at Big Ten Media Day. "I don't know. Let me spell it. I, D-O-N-T, and final - I don't know. How many times can I say it?"
Well, once would have been enough for me, Joe.
UConn's Miller leaving StorrsIf UConn coach Randy Edsall thought his defensive line would be that much better in 2008, he thought wrong.
At least not after hearing word that highly-touted defensive tackle Jarrell Miller is leaving school for "personal reasons."
Miller, a redshirt freshman out of Richmond, Va., had hopes of earning a starting spot on the Huskies' defensive unit this season after moving over from linebacker this offseason.
But with Miller now gone, Edsall will have to rely on his other defensive linemen to provide a push up front and disrupt opposing passing games this fall.
Of course, this isn't the first time Miller has decided to back out of a commitment.
In 2006, Miller signed with North Carolina, but shortly after, choose to withdraw and instead attend prep school.
Hoping to play his first year of college football last year with the Huskies, Miller was rather forced by the NCAA to sit out the season as if he were a transfer student.
UConn, meanwhile, will be looking to defend its share of the Big East title, and with West Virginia's arsenal of offensive weapons, South Florida's assurgance over the last two years and Pittsburgh's steady climb under Dave Wannstedt, it'll be merely a miracule if Edsall can lead the Huskies to even a share of the conference championship again.