Paterno still has hope for Nittany Lions

Joe Paterno doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

Yes, Penn State lost its Big Ten opener to Iowa. But Paterno, though frustrated by his team's turnovers, saw enough to think the Nittany Lions still have a chance of making something good happen with two-thirds of their season remaining.

That's not good enough for the many in Nittany Nation who were devastated by the loss and lashed out on the Internet at Paterno and quarterback Daryll Clark.

They were excited before a game was even played, then figured this was their year to win a national championship when the Lions climbed to No. 5 in the polls despite three dull victories over weaker opposition that left many unanswered questions.

Expectations are a part of college football. Unrealistic expectations, well, that's another story.

"What do you want me to tell them?" Paterno said at his weekly teleconference. "I think people that have those kinds of expectations every year, obviously, have to be ready for some disappointments. I think you've got to be realistic."

The Lions failed their first real test Saturday night - even with the home-field advantage - because of four turnovers and a blocked punt.

So much for a national championship. The challenge now for No. 15 Penn State (3-1, 0-1) is to keep its season from falling into a downward spiral, making tomorrow's game at Illinois (1-2, 0-1) one of vital importance.

"We've got to see if we can handle a tough football game on the road," Paterno said last night on his radio show. "Maybe we won't be able to beat Illinois. If we get licked, we'll lose, but I hope we don't give it away. That's why I'm so frustrated this week. We didn't play the tough kind of game [against Iowa] we needed to play."

A win at Champaign will keep the Lions in the conversation for a Big Ten crown and a Rose Bowl appearance. A loss would further tarnish their national profile and raise concerns about whether they have what it takes to land a bowl.

After four games, Penn State remains a work in progress. Paterno will have a seventh different starter on the offensive line - right tackle Nerraw McCormack - as he seeks more consistency in run and pass blocking.

"I don't think we've fully jelled yet," center Stefen Wisniewski said. "We haven't played terrible, but there are some things we've got to get better at."

The Hawkeyes' front four kept Clark from getting comfortable in the pocket, limiting him to six completions in his final 24 passes.

"They didn't necessarily sack him, but they hit him and gave him happy feet a little bit," Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent said.

Clark, who was vocal all week in practice, now must carry the Lions against a Fighting Illini defense that has allowed 67 points in its two defeats to Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

The Penn State defense, while leading the Big Ten in all major categories, lags in forcing turnovers.

The Nittany Lions are last in the Big Ten with a minus-4 turnover figure. Only two teams have forced fewer takeaways than Penn State's six.

"We realize we haven't forced nearly as many turnovers as we'd like," middle linebacker Josh Hull said. "We have to do a better job."

Paterno hopes to see these and other improvements on display tomorrow and beyond. He would like Penn State fans to hang in there.

"I would hope they just would not lose interest and their enthusiasm for our football team," Paterno said. "We've only played four games. We'll see what happens."

Notes. Asked last night about linebacker Sean Lee, Paterno said, "I don't think he's going to make it" because of a sprained left knee. Paterno said that freshman wide receiver Devon Smith would miss the game with a concussion, and that wideout Chaz Powell "has been sick all week" and was questionable. . . . State police were looking for at least five persons who allegedly assaulted liquor enforcement officers in a Beaver Stadium parking lot before last Saturday's game. Three officers suffered minor injuries.