Newsome talks about Penn State

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Kevin Newsome needs a fresh start and he'll get that this season at Temple University.

In 2011, the Chesapeake native did not win the starting quarterback position at Penn State and walked away from Happy Valley in August.

"I learned a lot under coach Joe. He told us to call him Joe," said Newsome.

He played at Western Branch before heading to Hargrave Military Academy his senior year. There he became one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation.  The late Joe Paterno landed Newsome at Penn State and left a strong impression on him.

"He said in his voice, if you take care of the small things, the big things will work. Your gonna be great! That's how he talked. So I think my biggest lesson there was focus on the small things a little bit more and they'll add up to the big picture," said Kevin.

And while the Jerry Sandusky child molestation trial continues to shed a negative light on the Penn State athletic program, Newsome feels the Paterno legacy will lift the University out of its darkest moment.

"Oh definitely,. Joe Paterno may have died physically, but he will never die spiritually at Penn State. Legends never die," said Newsome.
   

Newsome is taking classes at Tidewater Community College, but got a tough education in big time football at Penn State when he was not named the starting quarterback.

"At Penn State it was a little tough with football. I learned a lot. I was young. I think going thru the Penn State deal, that really helped me to mature."

A fresh start awaits Newsome at Temple where he has one thing in mind.

"I'm a quarterback. All I want to do is score points, get first downs on every drive and win. That's all we have to do as a team is to take it one play at a time."