PSU starting QB says he's staying; team issues statement

Penn State starting quarterback Matt McGloin has tweeted that he intends to stay with the Nittany Lions. And the rest of the team issued its own statement Wednesday.

McGloin tweeted that the penalties announced by the NCAA on Monday were ``extremely harsh.''

``I am a Nittany Lion and will remain one.'' he also tweeted. ``I believe in the core values I have learned in this program. It is not Nittany Lion Football. It is Nittany Lion family.''

Penn State players are allowed by the NCAA to transfer to another school without sitting out a year.

The Penn State football team issued the following statement:

"This team is sticking together. We aren’t going anywhere. And we could not be more proud to be Penn Staters now. We look at this as a great opportunity to have the ability to bring back not only a team but an entire university.

This team has taken on more adversity than any team has faced in history which is a testament to our commitment to our teams character, our fans, and our university. One man didn’t build this program and one man sure as hell cannot tear it down. This program was built on the backs of the thousands of great men who put on the Penn State uniform. Today it is no different.

No sanction or politician can tear this team apart. No one can take away what this university means to us. We will stick together and create our own legacy. Our loyalty lies only with our teammates, coaches, fans and families. No one else.

It’s not going to be easy but we know that we have acquired the strength that we have overcome and we will embrace our anger and burn it as fuel this season.

We can’t wait for September 1 and to be back in Beaver Stadium and playing for Penn State in front of the best fans in the nation. We ask everyone to come out, show the support, wear your colors proudly and show that adversity makes the Penn State nation tougher and stronger. Thank you."

See the video statement from the football team here. Senior fullback Michael Zordich and senior linebacker Michael Mauti were the players who spoke, in that order.

McGloin, a former walk-on, was given the starting job last month by coach Bill O'Brien.

He completed just 54 percent of his passes last season, and missed the TicketCity Bowl vs. Houston -- a 30-14 loss -- after sustaining a concussion in a locker-room scuffle with a teammate.