John Lucas isn't used to watching the Olympics on television. But when the opening ceremonies for the 17th Winter Olympic Games begin tomorrow in Lillehammer, Norway, Lucas will have to tune in with the rest of State College.

An exercise and sports science professor and official lecturer for the International Olympic Committee, Lucas was present for part of the Winter Games in Lake Placid in 1980 and in Calgary in 1988. But the school year will keep Lucas home for an historic happening this year.

Never before in the history of the Games has such a short time period separated two consecutive ones, thus staggering the two seasonal events. The Winter Olympics are now on their own -- and gaining more respect in the process.

"That's one of the reasons why they did it," Lucas said. "Obviously, as a historian, I know more about the Summer Games. But I love them both equally."

Lucas said splitting the two Olympics can only help the popularity of the winter version, which always seemed to find itself in the shadow of its sister. But not to true winter athletes.

Lee Gonder, coach of the Penn State ski team, has always seen the Winter Games as being on the same level. But he agreed more hype will contribute to more people watching the Winter Games this year, since it is the only one to focus on.

"I'd much rather watch skiing and bobsledding than track -- it's more exciting," he said. "I think the respect's there. People know that they're Olympic athletes. Most people have a grip on what the athletes have to go through in order to get to that level."

John Farrall, a junior defender for the Icers, said watching Olympic hockey is more than comparable to the excitement National Hockey League games provide.

"The United States is not always the best like they are in a lot of other sports," he said. "I always liked the Winter Olympics more, for obvious reasons."

But noticably absent from Team USA are the NHL pros -- a factor which may hinder America's medal chances since other countries, like Russia, have professionals competing.

As for other sports, the two-year span in the Games will permit many familiar faces from Albertville to resurface this year --speedskaters Dan Jansen, Bonnie Blair and Cathy Turner; skiers Hilary Lindh, A.J. Kitt and Picabo Street; and figure skater Nancy Kerrigan have all returned for more glory.

Olympic officials are hoping the Americans surpass the 12-medal mark. That plateau was reached at the 1932 Winter Games in Lake Placid. In Albertville in 1992, the Americans garnered 11. All but three of the athletes who won those medals are returning (figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Paul Wylie and skier Nelson Carmichael are not).

And it is the athletes -- American or otherwise --which make the Games so special, Lucas said.

"If you could quantify this, and I know it's ridiculous, I would say I'm 90 percent for the bravest and most skillful athletes," he said, "and I keep a secret 10 percent for the Americans."

Part of the reason some viewers have shown a lack of interest in the Winter Games is that Americans typically do much better in the Summer Olympics. Lucas said that realistically, there just aren't enough places for serious winter athletes to train in the U.S.

"We have difficulty telling our men or women, 'We're sending you to Colorado,' " he said. "It's hard to tell Americans that -- we're less obedient."

The best medal possibilities for the U.S. come with the speedskaters -- Jansen, Blair, Turner and Eric Flaim. Also looking golden is mogul skier Donna Weinbrecht. Lindh and Street could also garner medals.

Outside shots come from the U.S. hockey team, skiers Kitt and Tommy Moe, and the luge and bobsled teams. And then comes the figure skating mystery. Medal possibilities exist with four skaters -- Brian Boitano, Scott Davis, Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding (if she skates).

Unfortunately, Lucas feels the question surrounding Harding's role in the attack on Kerrigan will adversely affect other American athletes at the Games, the spirit of the Games as well as the reputation of the U.S. in the eyes of other nations.

"We are going to suffer," Lucas said. "Our two ice skaters will be the media attention of the world."