Daryll Clark looks like a linebacker throwing a pass.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The season opener went pretty much as expected. Here's this morning's story. And here's a story on local boy, Pat Devlin, and his putting aside his disappointment in being named the backup.

Here are some post-game notes provided by the Penn State Athletic Department:

- Penn State is now 101-19-2 in season openers, (winning its last seven and 16 of 18). The Nittany Lions are 36-7 in season openers under Joe Paterno and 109-12-1 in home openers overall.
- The Nittany Lions have won 32 of their last 41 games, tied for eighth-best in the nation over that span.
-Penn State is now 6-2 all-time in the month of August.
-The Nittany Lions are now 53-11 in non-conference games since starting Big Ten play in 1993.
-Penn State’s 66 points today are the most in a game for the Lions since scoring 67 against Louisiana Tech in 2000.
- The Lions’ margin of victory was the most since the 59-0 win over Florida International in the 2007 season opener and tied for sixth-largest under Joe Paterno.
-The Nittany Lions are now 4-1 against teams from South Carolina (2-0 vs. South Carolina, 1-0 vs. Furman, 1-0 vs. Coastal Carolina and 0-1 vs. Clemson.)
- Penn State’s 594 yards of total offense are its most since gaining 661 yards in a 59-34 win vs. Rutgers at Giants Stadium in 1995.
- The Lions’ 334 rushing yards are their most since gaining 389 yards on the ground vs. Youngstown State in 2006.
-The 24 points scored by the Nittany Lions in the second quarter are the most points scored by Penn State in a quarter since recording 28 in the third stanza of last year’s season opener against Florida International.
-Penn State scored 38 points in the first half today, the most points in a half for Penn State since the Nittany Lions scored 56 in the first half at Illinois in 2005.
-The Nittany Lions scored seven rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time since rushing for seven scores against Michigan State in the 2002 regular season finale.
-Evan Royster’s three rushing touchdowns today are a career-high and the first time that a Nittany Lion has had three rushing touchdowns in a game since Tony Hunt recorded the feat against Temple in 2006.
-Daryll Clark threw his first career touchdown pass in the second quarter, a 5-yard toss to Jordan Norwood.
-Stephfon Green notched his first career touchdown on a 7-yard rush in the second quarter.
-Derek Williams’s 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the first kickoff return for a touchdown of his career. Williams also has two punt returns for touchdowns in his career (Temple ’06 and Notre Dame ’07). It was the first kick return for a touchdown by a Nittany Lion since A.J. Wallace had a 97-yard kick return for a touchdown against Ohio State last season.
- Redshirt freshman Chaz Powell scored the first touchdown of his career on a 55-yard rush in the third quarter.
-True freshman Brandon Beachum scored the first touchdown of his career late in the fourth quarter.
-Bani Gbadyu’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career.
-Pat Devlin’s 40-yard pass completion to Jordan Norwood, on his first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, marked the first completion of his career. Devlin was 0 for 1 passing in 2007.
-Derek Moye, Joe Suhey, Andrew Szczerba, Stephfon Green and Brent Carter all recorded their first career catches today.
-Aaron Maybin tied a career-high with two sacks today. He had two last year against Buffalo.
-First-time starters for Penn State included QB Daryll Clark, TB Evan Royster and WR Brett Brackett on offense and MLB Josh Hull and OLB Bani Gbadyu on defense.
- True freshmen who played for Penn State today included Brandon Beachum, Jack Crawford, DeOn’tae Pannell and Michael Mauti.
- Penn State will take on Oregon State next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC, with coverage on ESPN or ESPN2 outside of the ABC coverage area.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Here are a few first-half observations from the press box:

1. On the run out from the tunnel, coach Joe Paterno ran with a noticeable limp and stopped "sprinting" around the 35-yard line. He didn't look as swift as he did in last year's opener, but nevertheless, that's better than most 81-year-olds can do.
2. Wide receiver Brett Brackett earned his first career start. The Lions went with four wideouts in place of a tight end and handed off to Derrick Williams for a seven-yard gain. Brackett then left and was replaced by tight end Mickey Shuler. Still, it looks like Brackett has won the fourth receiver spot.
3. Running back Brandon Beachum was the first true freshman to play this season. He was in on the Lions' opening kick.
4. Jared Odrick (broken ankle) and Jerome Hayes (torn ACL) saw their first action early in the game since suffering injuries last season. Both the defensive tackle and the stand-up defensive end came in off the bench. Odrick picked up a sack in the first quarter.
5. Aaron Maybin is still one of the backup defensive ends despite the fact that he was missing from this week's depth chart. He, too, had a sack in the first half.
6. Quarterback Daryll Clark looked sharp in the early going, completing five of his first six passes for 79 yards. Most were of the short variety, however. In the second half, he made two very nice throws to wide receiver Jordan Norwood -- first on a third-and-19 for a 23-yard pick up and then on a 5-yard TD throw in the corner.
7. Evan Royster looks like he's picked up right where he left off last season. The running back ran for the Lions first two TDs, from seven and two yards out.
8. Williams' 89-yard kick return for a touchdown showed flashes of the Williams we remember as a freshman. He said a few weeks ago we would see the "real Derrick Williams" this season. This is a good start.
9. Running back Stephfon Green saw his first career action when he ran 22 yards midway through the second quarter. He scooted through the line and downfield for 22 yards. He finished with 68 yards on a TD on six carries.
10. Quarterback Pat Devlin checked in with 7:31 left in the half and the Lions ahead, 28-7. The Downingtown High product promptly tossed a 40-yard strike to Norwood. The Lions went on to score after Green scored from 7 yards out. On his next series, Devlin missed a screen, but twirled a 27-yard strike to wide receiver Derek Moye on an out. The drive ended with a Kevin Kelly field goal when tight end Mickey Shuler dropped an over-the-middle pass from Devlin.
11. As good as Clark and Devlin looked it makes you wonder how they both sat behind Anthony Morelli last year. Granted, it's still early and this is Coastal Carolina, but ...

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Ever wonder how much a Football Bowl Subdivision team like Penn State pays a Football Championship Subdivision team like Coastal Carolina to come play it at its stadium? Here's your answer in today's story.

We're about 45 minutes from kickoff. I'll be back with news and updates throughout the game.

Devlin (foreground) and Clark.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Let me first state that I am not a conspiracy theorist. Let me also state that I don't attend every practice, scrimmage, meeting and workout session that involves Penn State football (In that, I am not alone). But as a beat writer I am privy to certain events and information and thus have some insider knowledge of what occurs behind the iron curtain at the Lasch Building.

I am speaking, of course, about the quarterback decision that was announced earlier this week and the fallout since. One man and his people are happy (Daryll Clark) and another (Pat Devlin) and his people are disappointed -- among other emotions. There have been accusations that the competition was stacked in favor of Clark and that Devlin, a Downingtown product, had no chance despite what was fed to all involved. Before I give my take, let me preface again that I don't know close to everything that occurred during practices, etc., but I do know things and have heard things, in the immortal words of Robert DeNiro's Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull.

Up until the so-called competition began, Clark had played minimally until the Alamo Bowl. People seemed to forget that he was inserted for several plays in the regular season finale against Michigan State. The results were disastrous -- and pretty much not to his fault -- as he was dropped for one loss on a run and tossed an incomplete on another play. Against Texas A&M in the bowl game, he ran very well, scurrying for 50 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Devlin, meanwhile, had yet to play a meaningful down.

When spring practice opened up in March the quarterback race was called a toss up, although writers were already predicting Clark had the job based off the Alamo Bowl and Joe Paterno's penchant for almost always going with the older guy. On March 29, for the first time since anyone could remember, the media was permitted to attend a full practice. It was less than a week into practice, but Devlin clearly looked more polished throwing the ball inside Holuba Hall. Each quarterback took equals reps with the first team, or so it seemed.

Two weeks later, the media again was allowed to attend a practice for the Coaches Clinic scrimmage at Beaver Stadium. Clark, this time, had the upper hand. Devlin had a few errant throws and threw one interception. But he took most of his snaps with the second team against the first team defense while Clark ran mostly with the first team against the second team defense. A week later, when asked about this Devlin said, "I never really said anything to the coaches about it. [The reps] haven't been like that all spring. On Monday, Daryll and I went back to splitting reps. I don't know what went on there."

This was pretty much how it was set up for the Blue-White game, with Clark on the first team going against the No. 2 defense and Devlin with the twos (and sometimes with the ones) against the No. 1 defense. Clark was 9 of 16 for 106 yards and two TDs. Devlin was 12 of 18 for 122 and a TD.

About a month later, Paterno met with the media in King of Prussia for a Nittany Lion Club fundraiser and it appeared that the coach tipped his hand as to who the starter would be. After that, all was fairly quiet until Media Day on Aug. 8 when Paterno said he still wasn't close to deciding. I watched 15 minutes of practice, but the players were mostly running through plays. Devlin, meanwhile, said he expected a fair competition. His father, Mark, knew his son, as a sophomore, would have to do more to supplant an upperclassman. As preseason practice continued, a few of my trusty little birdies told me it was still close, although Devlin had a shaky day in the first scrimmage. Clark, though, wasn't blowing anyone away with his accuracy. Paterno said the decision was essentially made last Friday.

Clark and Devlin were informed of Paterno's decision on Monday. The coach hasn't made it clear what will happen beyond tomorrow's game -- in which both players will run with the first team -- although it appears the starting job is Clark's to lose. Ultimately what should decide who plays -- or if there is a platoon -- is how each performs in game-time conditions. Only then will the coaches really see how each acts under duress. Until there is some clarity -- and maybe there never will be -- this story isn't going to bed. Trust me.

Believe it or not, Coastal Carolina might pose more of a threat than last year's opener against Florida International. Despite their playing in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Chanticleers have some formidable talent and return 17 starters. But there were a few key losses. Wide receiver Jerome Simpson graduated and was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. And freshman quarterback Jamie Childers is out until the midseason after a bout with viral meningitis. William Richardson, the younger brother of former Lions quarterback Wally Richardson, will split duties under center with Zach MacDowell. Coastal Carolina runs a spread offense, but that's not much of an anomaly these days.

With all that being said, in the name of Appalachian State there's no way Penn State loses its opener. With so many returning regulars along both lines, the Lions will wear down a FCS team like Coastal Carolina even if it stays within striking distance through the first half. Expect to see lots of the run game as quarterback Daryll Clark is eased into the position. Plus, Penn State hardly ever digs into the playbook for an otherwise meaningless opener.

Final score: Penn State 45, Coastal Carolina 10

I'm heading up to State College now, but will have another post with my thoughts on the quarterback drama as soon as I'm in Happy Valley.

Here's this morning's story looking at the team's lineup of regulars filled with a slew of seniors. It's the most experienced group of players the Lions have had since the 2005 season. And we know how that year turned out.

Also, here's a story with 5 Big Questions for the season that was in this morning's paper, but not online:

1. Who's the long snapper? Just kidding. We already know that Daryll Clark is the starting quarterback and that backup Pat Devlin will see his share of snaps tomorrow, but it's what occurs thereafter that will likely dictate the ebb and flow of the season. If Clark seizes his opportunity and reaches Michael Robinson heights, the calls for Devlin will be muted. But if he struggles or is inconsistent and Devlin shows flashes in limited time, the Lions will have themselves an old-fashioned quarterback controversy. And we know how that goes.

2. What's the "Spread HD" offense? Clark tried to explain: "Hopefully, the 'HD' will stand for 'High-Def' or 'Highly Diverse,' and it doesn't turn out to be a 'Huge Dud.' " We're banking on "Hardly Different." Yes, Clark will run a whole heck of a lot more than Anthony Morelli. And he will be in the shotgun often. And there will occasionally be an empty backfield. But the offense isn't going to be drastically different than the one Penn State has run in the last decade. Almost every player has said that, to a man. If the quarterback throws, the receivers catch, the line blocks and the running backs run, "HD" will stand for the "Halcyon Days" of 1994.

3. Can the defense survive its notable losses? Dan Connor and Justin King are earning paychecks in the NFL. Sean Lee will be in street clothes. And Chris Baker and Phil Taylor are part of the large fraternity of ex-Lions. That's five regulars gone from a unit that traditionally carries the offense. And the thing is, the defense wasn't really that dominating last season, as coordinator Tom Bradley took his first arrows in some time. The key will be the secondary. If A.J. Wallace can be a shutdown cornerback and senior safety Anthony Scirrotto regains some of that sophomore moxie, opposing offenses won't torch the Lions' Cover 2 defense.

4. Can this be a season without off-the-field distractions? At this point, last season's spate of incidents with the law is old news. ESPN's Outside the Lines made sure to dredge up the past without really putting Penn State's plight into national context. The fact is, the team has avoided notoriety since April and appears to have gotten coach Joe Paterno's message. Of course, several players had to be dumped and the school year has just begun. If Paterno can avoid road rage, surely his team will steer clear of player rage.

5. Is this JoePa's last hurrah? Only Paterno and university president Graham Spanier know for sure. The iconic coach is in the last year of his contract and will be 82 by the time the two men, along with director of athletics Tim Curley, meet after the season to discuss the future. Paterno wants to coach for perhaps as many as five more years. This season's success or failure, the team's behavior and the coach's health are all variables that could affect whether he will be allowed to continue. When asked yesterday if a pie-in-the-sky 9-0 start would warrant an in-season nod for 2009, Curley said, "We'll play it by ear as we go along. But right now, we're committed to after the season." Yawn.

Despite the long pause and vague answer, quarterback Pat Devlin is not planning on transferring, his father, Mark, told The Inquirer last night. After being named the backup to Daryll Clark, Devlin didn't give the most affirmative of answers when he was asked about transferring yesterday during a conference call. But Mark Devlin reiterated that the Devlins are sticking with the Lions.

Also, Clark reflects on his winning the job, but he admits there could be a few pitfalls in the early going. 

During his morning interview, Daryll Clark was gracious in his being named the starter and toward his chief competitor, Pat Devlin. He did admit to being nervous, but also anxious about his first career start. The two have not spoken, both said, but Clark expects to have a discussion with Devlin when the two room together -- as is Penn State's custom of having the top two QBs bunk together -- the night before Saturday's game. "I don't know how he's going to react to this," Clark said, adding: "I've been there. I'm anxious to see how he'll be. I hope it doesn't turn out to be him being so disappointed that he doesn't want to be cool with me anymore. I hope to goodness it's not like that."

Clark admitted that there could be some division in the locker room amongst those pro-Clark and those pro-Devlin. "Let's be honest, there are people on the team that want him in," he said. "There are people on the team that want me in. Who? I don't know. But that's just how it is."

Real quick before the Daryll Clark call: When Pat Devlin was asked on his conference call this morning about whether he would consider transferring, there was a loooooooonnnnng pause. He then said very carefully, "I don't think so. Right now, I've been consumed with this."

Devlin has said before that he wouldn't transfer if he did lose out. His father, Mark, reiterated that statement to me earlier this month.

Devlin expressed all the expected emotions about not being named the starting quarterback -- disappointment, frustration. Devlin also said that quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno told him this morning that Clark won the job partly because he was more accurate passing. He also said that he was told he'll run with the first team during Saturday's game against Coastal Carolina.