It's wait and see for Joe Paterno

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Joe Paterno looked to be back in full-throat yesterday, even if he wasn't yet at full-throttle.

The Penn State coach barked at photographers and players alike as spring practice began inside cavernous Holuba Hall.

"That's enough with the camera work," he yelled at a group of photographers at one point, shortly after screaming at an offensive lineman.

Nearly five months after his leg was broken in a sideline collision, the 80-year-old coach was back striding in and out of the packs of players, chastising the familiar faces and checking the roster he carried in his hand to identify the others.

But he admitted the possibility of another collision made him anxious.

"I'm not doing as much as I'd like to do," said Paterno, when asked about his recovery. "I'm a little bit nervous, to be frank with you. . . . I've always been a guy that likes to coach people, coach positions. I tried to do a little bit, but I get tired quicker. I'd be dishonest to say I didn't. The leg gets a little tired."

Paterno said he expected to be ready to pace and prowl along the sideline when Penn State's season begins with three straight September home games, against Florida International, Notre Dame and Buffalo.

What concerns him more now, however, is his Nittany Lions' ability to stand on their own two legs against a schedule that includes not just Notre Dame but last year's three Big Ten powers, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

The 2007 Nittany Lions will be without their best players on offense and defense from a year ago - Tony Hunt and Paul Posluszny.

Yesterday, Dan Connor, the all-American from Strath Haven High who played outside his first three seasons, occupied the middle linebacker position Posluszny filled in 2006.

"Yeah, that's probably where he belongs," Paterno said of Connor. "But don't hold me to it. That's today. Two days from now, he may be playing quarterback. Who knows?"

The first-team defense also featured Tony Davis, a starting cornerback last season, at safety. An entirely new defensive line consisted of returnees Josh Gaines, Jared Odrick and Maurice Evans, along with Abe Koroma, a true freshman from Hershey. The two outside linebackers on the first unit with Connor were Sean Lee and Tyrell Sales.

On offense, several young offensive linemen alternated time with returnees John Shaw, A.Q. Shipley and Rich Ohrnberger. Seniors Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw split time at tailback.

Anthony Morelli ran the first-team offense with his familiar receivers - Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood, Derek Williams and tight end Andrew Quarles.

"But this is just the first day of spring practice, guys," Paterno said. "You might come out here a few days from now and Connor will be outside, somebody else will be inside and Davis will be back at corner.

"I don't know what's going to happen down the road. All I want them to do is get a little better each day and come together as a football team. If we do that, we'll be OK."

Those fans hoping to see more of quarterback Pat Devlin, the highly touted Downingtown West product who was redshirted as a true freshman in 2006, might not get that opportunity just yet.

"We're going to give him a chance to show us what he can do," Paterno said. "You can't program your spring practice for one guy. There's a whole mess of guys out there that are pretty good football players that have been waiting their turn. . . . [Paul] Ciancoloa has waited his turn. [Daryll] Clark has waited his turn."

The only injuries, Paterno said, were freshmen Kevin Cousins, a wideout, and defensive tackle Tom McEowen, a graduate of Neshaminy High. Both will sit out the spring workouts with knee injuries.

Paterno was asked to comment on the resignation - without explanation - Thursday of longtime women's basketball coach Rene Portland.

"She's doing what she wants to do," he said. "I hired Rene, and I've always been very fond of Rene. But if she wants to get out of it, she wants to get out of it. I think that's up to her."