April 22, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA (UWIRE) --

The shirts stood out along the sideline Saturday afternoon. Almost as if they had traded their Penn State jerseys for uniforms for a bigger cause, a group of former Nittany Lions showed their support for today's vote.

Former players Michael Robinson, Levi Brown and Justin King all sported similar shirts by showing their support for the democratic primary.

The shirts' message was simple: "Obama's Playmakers."

The group started Saturday morning at a tailgate aimed at encouraging voter participation and informing the public on Obama's platform.

Players posed for pictures and played football with children. Robinson said the turnout for the tailgate was promising and felt it could have an effect on today's primary.

The "Playmakers" then found their way into Joe Paterno's pregame press conference.

During a lighthearted conversation, the outspoken conservative Paterno asked if his son, Jay, or wife, Sue -- both Democrats -- had put the players up to coming to the press conference.

"Nah, we're here for votin' man," Robinson told Paterno.

Paterno jokingly gestured for the players to leave and in his nasally Brooklyn accent told them to, "Get outta here."

They then left the press conference and headed to the field where they were mobbed by autograph seekers.

Children in blue and white jerseys waved footballs and programs at the "playmakers." The players obliged the requests, but also had a higher message in mind.

Taking a break from the football hoopla, Robinson's face turned serious when asked about his support for Obama.

"It's a time for change," Robinson said. "He's a little bit more charismatic, and I think he'll be good for foreign relations.

"Everybody wants peace in the world and the war to stop.

"But you need somebody to represent that's charismatic and who is believable when they talk to you."

Even Robinson's former quarterbacks coach, Jay Paterno, got involved with the tailgate.

Jay Paterno has been a spokesperson for the Obama campaign since it arrived in State College and was on stage when the presidential candidate visited in March.

Obama spoke in front of more than 20,000 Penn State students and supporters on the Old Main Lawn.

He said he didn't ask the "Playmakers" to show up at the press conference, adding the team keeps politics out of the locker room. But he said he wanted to remind students to vote because this is an important election.

"I support Sen. Obama because I have five young children and I want them to grow up in a better America," Jay Paterno said.

While the elder Paterno is personal friends with former Republican president George H.W. Bush, he still supports his son.

"It's his responsibility to make sure this country is as good as it can be when his kids grow up," Paterno said. "That's all I've ever told him."

(C) 2008 Daily Collegian via UWIRE