The question now is how each reacts to his new role and whether the competition is as fluid as the Penn State coach said it was yesterday.

Daryll Clark is the starter for Saturday's season opener against Coastal Carolina, Paterno announced during his weekly teleconference, and redshirt sophomore Pat Devlin is the backup. The Downingtown product is expected to play, although it's not certain how much time he will see or if he will run with the first team.

Clark "had a good spring practice and a really good preseason," Paterno said. "So we're going to go with Clark and start him. But I don't want him looking over his shoulder."

Although the 81-year old coach would not give assurances beyond Week 1, Paterno's "looking over his shoulder" comment is a clear indication that Clark has the job for as long as he performs. Coastal Carolina, a Football Subdivision member, isn't expected to pose much of a test. Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said a solid outing from the 6-foot-2, 231-pound Clark would probably lead to a start the following week against a tougher foe, Oregon State.

"You would hope he goes out and does well," Jay Paterno said. "There's a psychological element that goes into playing quarterback. Joe's not saying I've tattooed this position on your back, but a quarterback has to know that he's going to have some ups and downs and still have our confidence."

Earlier this month, Joe Paterno said that it could take three to four games before the situation is resolved, meaning each quarterback would be given his opportunities. The goal, he intimated, is to work toward a one-quarterback system. Paterno, about to begin his 43d season as head coach, has traditionally shunned splitting snaps, the idea being one quarterback makes one leader in the huddle.

"I told [Clark], and I'll tell him again before he goes on the field and when we meet on Friday, 'Hey, just go in there and enjoy it. It's your club right now. Go get them,' " Paterno said.

The Monday meeting around a table also included Jay Paterno and third-string senior Paul Cianciolo. The elder Paterno said it took all of three or four minutes.

"I'm telling them all what's going to be obvious," he said. "[Clark] smiles. I said to the other two kids, 'You guys OK with that?' 'Yeah.' 'Let's go win.' That was it."

Jay Paterno spoke with the three following the meeting and said Devlin was not outwardly upset or disappointed. Both Devlin and Clark are scheduled to talk with the media by conference call today.

"Pat's a competitor, and I'm sure he's looking at it that it's not done yet," Jay Paterno said.

According to both Paternos, it was a close competition. Clark, they said, had the edge because of his two previous years backing up Anthony Morelli and because of his game experience - albeit brief - most notably in last December's Alamo Bowl, when he ran for 50 yards and a touchdown on six carries.

"There were things we knew he could do," Joe Paterno said.

Although all parties have disputed the assumption, Clark is considered a better runner than passer and Devlin vice versa. The Lions plan to run more of a spread offense, and this, in theory, would appear to benefit Clark.

"Both of them can run the same offense, but their strengths are different," wide receiver Deon Butler said. "Pat's been the guy more comfortable in the pocket and . . . Daryll's more of a get-him-out-of-the-pocket-and-let-him-make-plays [guy]."

With a seasoned offensive line and a trio of young, budding running backs, the Lions are equipped to ease the load at quarterback. Joe Paterno has always protected his first-year starting quarterbacks. He never really gave Morelli, a second-year starter last season, full access to the playbook.

Paterno has also had the reputation of - when selecting between two players - favoring the older player, although there have been exceptions. This selection adheres to that premise.

"I know people are going to say we picked Daryll because he's the older guy," Jay Paterno said. "Number one, if we did that we would have picked Paul [a graduate student]. So that debunks that. And number two, that's not being fair to Daryll."