The Nittany Lions, who take the field tomorrow against Coastal Carolina, will be the most experienced group since 2005, when an unheralded team put State College back on the map with an 11-1 record. Understandably, the seniors who were freshmen three years ago are eager to carry that team's professionalism into the now.

"With that team, there were no distractions. Nothing," senior safety Anthony Scirrotto said. "Everything was 100 percent focused on the game at hand. I think we take that into consideration."

Coach Joe Paterno said this week that Daryll Clark would start at quarterback and that Downingtown East's Pat Devlin would be the backup. Paterno might use both, with the hope that such switching won't be a distraction.

Last season, Penn State finished 9-4 for the second straight year in a season marred by off-the-field distractions. Paterno questioned the team's leadership but said this season's elders would rectify the problem. Center A.Q. Shipley, wide receiver Derrick Williams, defensive end Josh Gaines, and Scirrotto were named captains in April, along with honorary captain Sean Lee.

Lee would have been one of the defensive leaders, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during spring practice. With Dan Connor, the Lions' all-time leading tackler, off to the NFL and Lee sidelined for the season, Penn State will have to account for the pair's 283 tackles from a season ago.

"If I had to put a one, two, three on my question marks," Paterno said, "the first one on the defense would be linebackers."

Senior outside linebacker Tyrell Sales will call the plays in the huddle. Former walk-on Josh Hull is slated for Connor's spot in the middle, and Bani Gbadyu will replace Lee on the outside. Chris Colasanti and Navorro Bowman, however, are expected to push Hull and Gbadyu.

The defensive line, one of the deepest in the nation, lost some of its strength when tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor were kicked off the team a month ago and when tackle Devon Still broke his ankle during the preseason. Any unit with Maurice Evans (12.5 sacks in 2007), though, should be fine. The junior is sure to see plenty of blockers, lessening the load for Gaines and tackles Ollie Ogbu and Abe Koroma.

Paterno also said tackle Jared Odrick (broken ankle) and stand-up end Jerome Hayes (torn ACL) had recovered from their 2007 injuries and were ready to go.

The secondary has something to prove after a season in which opponents threw for 214 yards a game. Tony Davis is back at cornerback after an injury-filled year at safety. A.J. Wallace and Lydell Sargeant are locked in a battle at the other corner, but all three will see the field during passing downs. Mark Rubin is the strong safety - although redshirt freshman Drew Astorino is pushing for time - and West Deptford's Scirrotto is back in center field.

Aside from the big unknown at quarterback, the offense is fairly drama-free. Anchoring the unit is a line that could be the program's finest since 1994. Next to Shipley are guards Rich Ohrnberger and Stefen Wisniewski and then tackles Dennis Landolt, a Holy Cross graduate, and Gerald Cadogen. Beyond that five, plus a few reserves, it's anybody's guess.

"We do have a depth problem on the offensive line, no question about that," Paterno said.

The Lions have plenty of skill players, but none has been a game-breaker in the past. Williams said he's going to be that guy, and redshirt freshman running back Stephfon Green has the explosiveness to be that guy.

Still, there are the reliable Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood at receiver and Evan Royster at running back. Pottstown native Brent Carter will be in the mix at tailback, and Brett Brackett, Graham Zug and Derek Moye are fighting for the up-for-grabs fourth receiver spot.

The in-and-out-of-trouble Andrew Quarless will start the year as the backup tight end to Andrew Shuler. But the 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior has satisfied Paterno's off-season requirements, and there's too much talent there to let him idle on the bench.

Special teams is buoyed by returning all-Big Ten punter Jeremy Boone and kicker Kevin Kelly. A Neshaminy graduate, Kelly had a solid junior season but needs to improve on his consistency beyond 40 yards. Penn State's kickoff coverage was among the nation's worst last season.

But ultimately, the Lions' fortunes will rest on the upperclassmen. With a little luck, double-digit wins is not out of the realm of possibility. Of course, with a little bad luck, neither is 6-6.