During his Zoom conference call with reporters Tuesday, Penn State special teams/outside linebackers coach Joe Lorig talked about two of his favorite topics — kickers and fishing.
Lorig said senior Jordan Stout will replace punter Blake Gilliken. But he’ll also handle his accustomed kickoff and long field goal duties and hold for regular kicker Jake Pinegar, who was 11 for 12 inside the 50 last season.
“It’s going to be making sure we manage (Stout) being able to do kickoffs, the long field goals and the punts,” Lorig said. “A lot of people don’t do that. What’s the right pitch count, per day?”
He said Stout will hold when Gilliken is instructed to kick field goals.
“You know how I develop a holder? I ask the kicker who he wants. The No. 1 thing is they are comfortable with that guy,” Lorig said.
On the topic of throwing a fishing line in the water once in a while, Lorig would welcome it — but not as much as going back to work in the office.
“Fishing and all that stuff is fun, but right now, I’d kill to go back to work,” he said. “Just to around the office, be around the players, be around the guys. You really miss that stuff more than I ever thought I would.”
Lorig said he also would give up his traditional summer vacation with the family, if necessary.
“Whatever it takes for us to get back and have a season and get things back to normal,” he said. “While I hope we have vacation, if we can play football in the fall and it means sacrificing something, I’d be the first one in line to do it. I promise you that.”
But he also was fishing for a day off from his boss.
“Hopefully, coach (James) Franklin will give me a little bit of break one of these weekends and I’ll get out and fish around here,” he said. “I heard it’s awesome.”
