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GAME NOTES: Legendary coach Joe Paterno begins his 44th year in charge of the Penn State football program when he leads his ninth-ranked Nittany Lions into battle against the visiting Akron Zips this Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Akron will try to put the memory of a lackluster 5-7 showing in 2008 behind it, although opening on the road against the defending Big Ten Conference champs is a challenge to say the least. The Zips went just 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play a year ago, but there is hope for a resurgence this season, although most fans are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Akron is coached by J.D. Brookhart, now in his sixth year and he owns a 27-33 record.

Penn State is coming off its second Big Ten title and BCS bowl game in the last four years, and comes into this contest sporting an impressive 101-19-2 record in season openers, 36-7 in such games under Paterno. The Lions have won seven straight lidlifters and they are 56-12 against non-conference foes since joining the Big Ten back in 1993.

Penn State owns a 3-0 lead in the all-time series with Akron, last topping the Zips in the 2006 season opener, 34-16.

2008 marked the third straight year the Zips were unable to finish with a winning record. It wasn't for a lack of production on the offensive side of the ball, however, as Akron averaged nearly 400 total yards and 30 points per contest. The run accounted for 165.2 ypg and the pass another 231.5 ypg.

The Zips got plenty of production out of the backfield last season, but the departure of Dennis Kennedy (1,321 yards, 17 TDs) certainly hurts. Coach Brookhart does have options though, with the leading candidate being senior Alex Allen. Allen suffered a knee injury last year but should have few issues as a result. Fellow senior Joe Tuzze is currently listed as second on the depth chart.

Fortunately, Brookhart has a quarterback with starting experience on which to rely as Chris Jacquemain threw for 2,748 yards and 20 TDs last season. Akron's top wideout is Deryn Bowser as he led the Zips in receptions (64) and yards (785). Andre Jones, who paced the club with seven TD receptions, was the deep threat in Akron's aerial attack last year as he averaged 14.4 ypr. Add Jeremy Bruce (29 receptions for 345 yards) to the mix and the Zips should have one of the more potent receiving corps in the MAC this fall.

Brookhart is optimistic about his team's chances. "I feel very good about this football team. I think that the chemistry piece is good, the character is very good and we've got some experience so I feel good about the team. We got through camp and it was fairly competitive. It's always tough to tell, but I know it wasn't a one-sided affair with either offense or defense shutting the other one down. It was a very competitive camp."

The Zips allowed 31.2 ppg in '08 and were gashed for nearly 190 ypg on the ground. Stopping the Penn State offense won't be easy, but if the Zips are to be successful they will need LB Mike Thomas to pick up where he left off last year when he amassed 81 tackles, six of which were for negative yardage. Other guys to keep an eye on include DE Almondo Sewell, DT Dan Marcoux and his backup, former Iowa Hawkeye Ryan Bain.

Senior Amin Kabir could also see plenty of playing time and his leadership skills will be counted on early. "I feel my role is to motivate my teammates and bring a certain level of energy. I am also still searching for my role on this team, whether it be a leader on special teams or doing my part on defense."

The secondary could be the strength of the Akron defense as three starters return, including senior Miguel Graham who led the team with three INTs last season.

Penn State returns just 10 starters from last year's Big Ten championship team, and replacing the top receiving trio in school history poses the biggest challenge. Fortunately, having QB Darryl Clark and RB Evan Royster back will help as both are among the most productive in the country at their respective positions.

Clark earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after throwing for 2,592 yards and 19 TDs last year, and his decision-making is on par with the best signal- callers in the game, having thrown just six INTs in 350 career pass attempts. Factor in his ability to produce on the ground (10 rushing TDs), and it is easy to see why Paterno is high on the young man.

"He's got a fine arm, a good release, he's got a good feel for the pass game, and he's one of those kids, he's big enough, he's tough enough, that he can run with the football." Paterno continued, "He loves to play, and he carries people with him. He's a dynamite guy in the huddle."

Three All-Big Ten linemen were lost to graduation, including left tackle Gerald Cadogan, who protected Clark's blind side for the last two seasons. All-Big Ten Second Teamer Stefen Wisniewski makes the move to center after starting 12 games at guard in 2008.

Royster was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team after rushing for 1,236 yards and 12 TDs as a sophomore. Speedster Stephfon Green will also get some carries.

Deon Butler (PSU's all-time leading receiver), Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood have moved on, leaving a huge void to fill on the outside. The new crop of wideouts, which includes freshman A.J. Price (6-4, 175), junior Brett Brackett (6-6, 232) and sophomores Derek Moye (6-5, 198) and Chaz Powell (6-1, 195), have size and [raw] talent, but are unproven at this point.

Changes are also on tap on the Penn State defense, as Aaron Maybin, who led the Big Ten in sacks last season, decided to leave early for the NFL. The Lions are also breaking in a whole new secondary, an obvious area of concern as more and more teams go to the spread offense.

The strength of the defensive line is on the inside, as senior tackle Jared Odrick (6-5, 306 pounds) is back after logging 41 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks last season, en route to All-Big Ten First Team honors.

Long known as "Linebacker U.", there is no shortage of talented guys ready to line up for Paterno's club this season, notably Sean Lee who was supposed to assume the role of defensive leader last year until an ACL injury ended that dream. Now, after taking a redshirt, the fifth-year senior is ready to pick up where he left off in '07 when he finished second in the Big Ten in total tackles. He'll be flanked by junior Navarro Bowman, PSU's leader in tackles last season (106 stops, 12.5 TFLs, four sacks).

Despite the questions surrounding this Penn State club, notably the passing game and in the secondary, this bout has mismatch written all over it. Expect the Nittany Lions to establish their dominance from the outset as Clark, Royster and company ride the wave of emotion supplied by the raucous PSU faithful to yet another in a long string of successful season-opening ventures.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Penn State 41, Akron 14