STATE COLLEGE — In just his first season as Penn State starting quarterback, Anthony Morelli has heard a lot of criticism. Sometimes he's heard a little bit too much.

Morelli said he has received death threats via e-mail from fans upset with his play this season.

"It's definitely tough. It's part of my position. When things aren't going well it's always going to come back to the quarterback," Morelli said at the school's Outback Bowl media day this week.

Last year's starter, Michael Robinson, took similar heat and got threats from fans. But Robinson also won the hearts of the Penn State faithful after leading the Lions to a 2005 Big Ten title and a win in the Orange Bowl in his senior season.

"I kind of expected it," Morelli said. "Mike Robinson told me last year before he left that you have to take the good with the bad and just roll with it."

Morelli said that he received one e-mail from an irate fan this season comparing his play to that of former Penn State quarterback Zack Mills and that he should "kill himself."

He said he wants to prove critics wrong, starting with the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 against No. 17 Tennessee.

"It's something that you just have to deal with. It pushes me," Morelli said Thursday. "Every day when I walk into the weight room, walk onto the practice field I just know that all the negative talk is going on and I just have to prove everyone wrong."

Famed for his rifle arm coming out of high school, Morelli has struggled getting the Nittany Lions' offense on track, throwing for 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. At times he's looked out of sync with receivers and rushed throws. The offensive line has been inconsistent.

The typically reserved Morelli also used media day to talk about what he called his rocky relationship with former high school coaches at Penn Hills. He felt relieved to talk about his frustrations.

"You have to let people know where it came from. I work my butt off just like any other player here," he said. "I do everything, go the extra mile to be the best player I can be. I use it as extra motivation."