In response to a question on whether his opinion of the players involved in the off-field incidents had changed, Coach Joe Paterno said, "They are all fine kids. That doesn't mean they don't make mistakes."

Paterno even admitted he has mellowed a bit as time has passed.

"When I was a young coach, before I had kids, I wasn't as charitable about those things as I am now. But I brought up five kids of my own."

-- Family values have emerged as an issue in places ranging from sitcoms to political conventions. Paterno's press conference was not excluded. One reporter offered a lack of family values as the root of off-field infractions in college football.

"The next thing you know, you will be asking me to comment on Murphy Brown," interrupted Paterno."

Athletic director L. Budd Thalman, with a sudden square knot in his stomach, quickly intervened.

"Don't do it coach," he cautioned.

If only Dan Quayle hadn't overlooked Thalman as a political advisor.

-- A pep-rally will be held at 6 tomorrow at the Intramural Building in honor of the Penn State-Miami game slated for noon Saturday.

-- Kerry Collins, after being shelved since the preseason after a volleyball injury, may finally be on the verge of returning. He has been throwing for about a week, leaving Paterno optimistic.

"He's going very slowly," the coach said. "He's making progress and by next week he ought to be able to practice."

-- With Miami a team built around speed, Paterno was asked if he has followed the trend of recruiting speed. This trend is not a new one, he pointed out.

"I go back to '68-'69 with those great defensive teams," Paterno remembered. "The thing that was so good about those teams they had great speed. Guys like (Jack) Ham, (Dennis) Onkotz and Mike Reid, they would be great today with their quickness and speed."

-- Win or lose, Paterno does not think speed will be the deciding factor against Miami.

"I think our speed is good," Paterno said. "I don't think we'll get beat because of sheer speed. If we get beat it will be because of the size. They not only have guys with great speed, they have great athletes. You're not looking a bunch of track kids."

-- Paterno ranked Saturday's game with Miami at Beaver Stadium as one of the biggest to hit Happy Valley in the past 10 years.

"We've played Alabama. We've played Notre Dame," he said. It's certainly up there. I don't think those games were any bigger than the one that's happening this week."