Heroback Gary Brown blew past Outland Trophy-winning guard Mohammed Elewonibi on a blitz and tore the ball away from Brigham Young quarterback Ty Detmer en route to a 53-yard touchdown return sealing the Lions' 50-39 victory in the Sea World Holiday Bowl last December. The win concluded the season on a positive note as Penn State finished with a respectable 8-3-1 record and were ranked No. 15 in the country.

Jump forward to 1990.

Blair Thomas and Andre Collins, last year's offensive and defensive impact players, respectively, are gone. Both have moved on to the riches of the National Football League -- Thomas with the New York Jets and Collins with the Washington Redskins.

And once again, the Lions will be looking for the respect of opponents, fans and the media. This year's preseason polls reflect some people's doubts about Penn State's ability to put a first-rate football team on the field. The Lions are ranked 14th in Street and Smith's College Football and Sports Illustrated, 16th by Don Heinrich's College Football '90, 21st by The Associated Press and a lowly 32nd by The Sporting News.

On offense, the Lions will be relying on a more efficient passing game in an effort to make up for the loss of Thomas, who finished as Penn State's No. 2 all-time leading rusher with 3,301 yards.

Tony Sacca, who completed a season best 10-of-20 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns against BYU in the Holiday Bowl, will be the starter at quarterback today -- and he must pick up where he left off.

"For us to have a big league football team (Sacca) has got to work on his completions and get his percentage up," Paterno said last month at media day.

Sacca completed only 40.9 percent of his passes last season, going 54-of-146 while throwing six touchdowns and five interceptions. After backing up Tom Bill at the beginning of each of the last two seasons, Sacca feels strange with his new role.

"It feels different coming in and being No. 1 rather than always chasing somebody," Sacca said."I just have to go out and prove myself."

Although No. 1 for now, Sacca will be challenged at every turn.

"I think there are going to be three guys who are going to give him a run for his money, so he'd better be sharp," Paterno said.

The three guys Paterno is referring to are Bill, Matt Nardolillo and Corey Jett. All of them could receive some playing time throughout the year.

Bill is back this season after undergoing alcohol rehabilitation last spring. He was the No. 1 quarterback last season until he was cited by University Police Services for public drunkenness two days after the Temple game. He returned to the team for the final six games of the season (making appearances in four of them) and finished the year 43-of-88 for 605 yards while throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Junior Corey Jett was the surprise star of the Blue-White game completing 10-of-27 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Nardolillo had a good spring before slightly injuring his back and missing the Blue-White game.

"With all the competition I have behind me, I'm going to have to be on my toes . . . to keep my job," Sacca said. "I hope that works for me this year and I can make it a more productive season."

On the receiving end of Sacca's aerials the Lions are loaded with talent. David Daniels, O.J. McDuffie and Terry Smith all return as one of the most talented receiving corps in the country. The Sporting News ranked the Penn State receivers No. 6 nationally.

Daniels led the Lions in receiving in 1989 -- grabbing 22 balls for 362 yards (16.5 per catch) and four touchdowns.

"He's one of our strongest leaders, by example, more than anything else," Paterno said. "He's a tireless worker and a wonderful well-mannered young man whose got great values. He's a really strong leader on the field and in the locker room."

McDuffie spent this spring hitting baseballs instead of avoiding hits from Penn State defensive backs. The center fielder batted .336, knocked in 17 runs and stole 20 bases in 21 attempts as the Lions' leadoff hitter. This fall McDuffie will try to repeat performances like he had against Syracuse last year. In that game he accumulated 203 yards of total offense and had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown. For the year, McDuffie caught 11 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown.

Smith led all Penn State receivers in yards per catch average (18.6). He had 16 receptions for 298 yards and two touchdowns last season.

"We know we'll be contributors," Daniels said of the receiving corps. "Making big plays and keeping drives alive. We've been talking to you guys (the media) about what we can do -- now we've got to do it."

There will be no defensive heroics for Gary Brown this season because he's moving back to tailback. Brown was Penn State's leading rusher in 1988 with 689 yards and six touchdowns. His return increases the surplus of Lion tailbacks -- Leroy Thompson, Gerry Collins and Richie Anderson also return.

Thompson, who was the Lions starting fullback last year, had 54 carries for 184 yards and a touchdown and caught nine passes for an additional 106 yards.

This will be Thompson's final season.

"I'm excited about it and more confident than ever," he said. "And I'm really looking forward to the season."

Collins was the Lions No. 2 rusher in 1989 with 293 yards and one touchdown. He was the only Penn State back other than Thomas to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark with his 104-yard effort against Syracuse last year. Collins suffered a sprained knee during preseason practice and will be on the shelf against Texas.

Anderson showed tremendous promise returning kickoffs as a "true" freshman before injuring his back toward the end of last year.

Paterno has not ruled out redshirting either Brown or Anderson should they not be needed this season.

Sam Gash returns this year to solidify the Penn State fullback spot. Gash redshirted in 1989 when a leg injury forced him to miss the entire season. In 1988 Gash was the Lions' designated short-yardage scorer. He scored seven rushing touchdowns all when Penn State was deep in opponents' territory.

The Lions return only tackle Matt McCartin from an offensive line that was given much credit for Penn State's rushing success last season. However, this year's offensive line should not be short on experience. Only starting guard Greg Huntington is not in his final year of eligibility. Huntington took over for another fifth-year senior, Mike Flanagan, who also sprained his knee and will miss today's game.

"We're not going to be an overpowering offensive line," Paterno said. "We do not have a Sean Farrell or a (Mike) Munchak (former Penn State offensive lineman in the NFL) on the offensive line. But it will be solid."

Joining McCartin and Huntington will be center Rob Luedeke, guard Dave Brzenchek and tackle Pat Duffy.

"We don't have anybody that's huge or physically overpowering," Luedeke said. "But we're all smart and we've all been around awhile so I think we can work around things by being smart and quick."

The Lions must also replace tight end Dave Jakob from last year's team. An injury to projected starter Al Golden has opened up the starting spot for converted outside linebacker Rick Sayles.

"Ricky's (Sayles) done well in preseason," Paterno said. "He has outstanding speed for a tight end. You'd like a little bit more size on him but he's quick and does a good job of blocking although he's not going to overpower you."

On defense, the Lions return nose tackle Jim Deter and tackle Frank Giannetti from last season's starting defensive line. They are joined by redshirt-freshman tackle Lou Benfatti as Penn State's starting three.

Deter was No. 2 in tackles for down lineman last year with 35 and had one interception. Giannetti had 26 tackles and two sacks in 1989.

Linebacker U. can boast another talented unit this year. Despite losing standouts Andre Collins and Brian Chizmar, the Lions should remain solid.

Competition for the four starting linebacker spots has been fierce this preseason and has forced some changes in the projected starting lineup.

Inside linebacker Keith Goganious may have come into his own during the spring when he received the Jim O'Hora Award as the defense's most improved player. He solidified his starting position with his play this preseason. Goganious made 18 tackles and forced one fumble as Chizmar's backup last year.

Brett Wright, who played in parts of five games last year, will start at the other inside linebacker position. Wright is starting ahead of Mark D'Onofrio, last year's starter at outside linebacker, who was moved inside in the spring.

"Brett Wright has had a great preseason practice," Paterno said. "(He) came back in a tremendous physical condition and when given an opportunity has done very, very well."

After being switched to safety last season, Matt Baggett is back at outside linebacker and has taken over the starting spot from Givens.

"Baggett is back and we've always thought Baggett was an outstanding player," Paterno said. "Baggett is more mature, he's older and is doing some things better than Reggie's doing."

Baggett started three games at safety in 1989 and finished the season with 20 tackles.

Sophomore Eric Ravotti was the first "true" freshman to appear on the depth chart last year and was nearly penciled in as the Lions' opening game starter. This year, he has replaced projected starter Richard McKenzie as the other starting outside linebacker.

However, Paterno warned that none of the starting linebacker positions have been carved in stone.

"All the kids we're talking about will play a lot of football," he said. "We will play five or six linebackers at least."

Senior tri-captain Willie Thomas will lead an experienced unit of defensive backs.

"Willie Thomas is definitely the key to our defense," left cornerback Leonard Humphries said. "When Willie wants something done he lets us know about it. He's a great player and a leader on the field."

Thomas is equally complimentary of this season's defensive backfield.

"We have depth in the defensive backfield and everyone's pretty much comfortable at where they are right now," he said. "Going into the first game I think we're looking pretty good."

Joining Thomas in the starting lineup will be right corner Greg Fusetti, who has gone ahead of Hernon Henderson. Henderson started all 11 games at that position last season.

Fusetti saw limited action in five games last year and made the first interception of his career in the Lions' win against Temple.

"Fusetti had a great spring and he's had a great preseason practice," Paterno said. "He got ahead of Hernon (Henderson) and Hernon's not been able to get the job back."

Humphries will start at left corner after recording nine tackles as a reserve last season. He also recovered a blocked punt and carried it two yards for the winning touchdown against Texas.

Tisen Thomas and Mark Graham will also challenge for playing time at both cornerback positions.

Darren Perry will get the call as the Lions heroback. Perry, who split time with Gary Brown last season, started six games and was credited with 37 tackles and one interception.

Henry Adkins has won the dual with V.J. Muscillo for the starting place kicking job. Doug Helkowski, who averaged 38.2 yards per punt in 1989, returns as the Lions' punter. Mark Lawn is back as the long snapper and Bill Spoor will hold on extra points and field goals.