David Roberson is settling in his new job as Savannah State’s linebackers coach after a 1 ½-year stint as offensive quality control coach at Penn State.
So how many days go by that people don’t ask him about the problems at Penn State?
“Absolutely none,” Roberson says, a wry smile recognizing the questioning about to follow the Tigers’ Saturday morning workout.
Roberson, less than two months removed from Penn State, said he was never interviewed by investigators last summer when the legal process began to uncover the child sexual abuse case against former Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Ultimately, the scandal led to the firing of key Penn State officials, including legendary coach Joe Paterno.
Roberson, 31, retained his job when Bill O’Brien took over as head coach. The coaching shakeup provided Roberson with new contacts.
New defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who played at Georgia Tech with SSU defensive coordinator Saeed Khalif, knew of Roberson’s desire to get back to coaching on the field and he knew of the Tigers’ coaching vacancy.
So Roberson left not-so-Happy Valley, where Penn State was recently hit with stiff NCAA penalties that include a reduction of scholarships and a four-year bowl ban.
Roberson didn’t leave the scrutiny entirely.
“The hard part was you saw it on TV all the time,” Roberson said. “You hear people talking about it, ‘Those (coaches and players) knew. Those guys knew.’ All I know for a fact is I didn’t know, and I think the men at work with me didn’t know about the situation either besides Mike McQueary. I don’t think (the knowledge of Sandusky’s acts) was shared among the staff.
“I didn’t know what any of that was about, and I’m glad I didn’t.”
Roberson said he met Sandusky once and said hello from afar. Sandusky was on campus working out because he had access to the facilities similar to the school’s tenured professors.
But Roberson wasn’t sure who he had greeted.
“I didn’t know who the guy was until I saw him on television,” Roberson said.
He underwent a tumultuous year but took some lessons away from his time around Paterno.
“Coach Paterno helped me become a more patient coach,” Roberson said. “Instead of trying to force the way I teach on the players, just teach them what they need to learn.”
Coaching additions
Corey Barlow and Darrell Hackney joined the Tigers coaching staff this summer, along with graduate assistant Broderick Jones.
Barlow, who will coach the cornerbacks, was an All-American corner at Auburn. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and played three seasons with the Eagles.
Hackney, the quarterbacks coach, starred as a quarterback at Alabama-Birmingham and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns in 2006. He was also a member of the Denver Broncos.
“Nothing against the guys who left, but I really feel we’ve added some good coaches to the staff,” SSU head coach Steve Davenport said.
Proctor shines
He’s easy to miss for defenders; hard to miss for those watching practice.
Five-foot-4, 160-pound running back Antonio Proctor jitterbugged his way from one big play to another when the offense and defense scrimmaged at the end of practice.
“It’s been a tough, hot camp so far,” Proctor said. “We’re becoming more fluid. It’s like we’re clicking, but we still have some molding and some fixing to do.”
Proctor is one of only four seniors on the team as the Tigers prepare for their Sept. 1
opener against Oklahoma State.
“My role is to speak from experience, do everything like we’re supposed to,” Proctor said. “I want to help mold the program I want to see in the future.”
LB Allison out
Davenport said highly regarded linebacker Darius Allison, from Nassau Community College, would miss the 2012 football season after having shoulder surgery in the summer. Allison earned All-North East Conference first-team honors as a sophomore at Nassau.
ON THE WEB
Savannah State running back Antonio Proctor talks about Saturday’s practice at savannahnow.com/sports.
SSU CAMP SCHEDULE
Date Time
Today 3:30 p.m.
Monday 9 a.m. (full pads)
Tuesday 9 a.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m.
Thursday 3:30 p.m.
Friday 3:30 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. (scrimmage)