Mad World
The Blame Game
By Mark Madden

I once wrote that Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli could throw a football through a car wash without getting it wet.

Morelli might be advised to learn the inner workings of his local auto laundry. Given recent examples of his abject stupidity, it could offer one of Morelli's strongest possibilities for sustained post-graduate employment.

Morelli recently went on a well-publicized tirade regarding his supposed mistreatment at the hands of his high school coach, Neil Gordon of Penn Hills. Morelli accused Gordon of sabotaging his recruiting, of withholding recruiting letters, and of spreading rumors about his lack of smarts, football and otherwise.

Just about every football college that matters recruited Morelli. So as saboteurs go, Gordon probably isn't Al Qaeda material.

As for Morelli putting the "duh" in dumb, consider this: Morelli says Gordon bashed him during the telecast of this year's WPIAL Quad-A championship game. Gordon is supposed to have said that Penn Hills sophomore quarterback Tom Fulton was ahead of Morelli at this stage of his development.

But Gordon didn't give that interview. It was Woodland Hills coach George Novak.

So Morelli, while trying to defend his intelligence, failed to recognize a man he saw on TV as not being the coach he had seen every day throughout his scholastic career. That's not really making a strong case, counselor.

Morelli also called Fulton a "little kid" who will "never get my records." I don't know if the college football big-timer belittling the high school sophomore is a sign of stupidity. But it undoubtedly shows a lack of class.

Fulton may never get Morelli's records. But he got Penn Hills to a WPIAL final. Morelli never did. Fulton may not have Morelli's arm or athleticism. But it's easy to imagine him being a better teammate and leader, to say nothing of more cerebral.

Morelli says Gordon tortured him. But many say Morelli-and his family-often made Gordon's life miserable.

Morelli's father was/is a Little League dad to the extreme. Morelli's section of supporters would verbally abuse Gordon at Penn Hills games for not throwing more, demanding aerial pyrotechnics regardless of score and situation. Personal achievement mattered more than team goals to Morelli. As a result, Penn Hills underachieved during Morelli's tenure at quarterback.

Morelli didn't throw a ton at Penn Hills. Did Gordon have Morelli throw less out of spite? Some say yes. Some also say Gordon merely repaid like with like.

Morelli is currently Penn State's starter. The offense sputtered badly during his first year on the job as the Nittany Lions went a disappointing 8-4 without a signature victory. Can Morelli use his last year of college eligibility to play his way into the NFL?

Probably not. But when the man with the million-dollar arm and the 10-cent head fails, he'll know exactly who to blame.

Somebody else.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.