When the Lion wrestling team travels to Lincoln, Neb., this weekend for the National Dual Meet Championship, an intriguing second-round clash may occur. Barring an upset, it would be the first time a team from Penn State squares off against a Nebraska squad since the controversy surrounding football's national championship on Jan. 3.

"When we come on the plane, our football team is coming with us," Coach John Fritz joked. "We're going to see who the real national champion is."

Nebraska Coach Tim Neumann said the possible match has been advertised in the Lincoln area. He also said he expects some members of the NCAA title-winning football team to be in attendance.

"We might be able to take (Penn State) up on some kind of mini-scrimmage," Neumann said. "But seriously, I think wrestling Penn State really does add some excitement."

Football quips aside, Fritz said winning is the team's first priority, whomever it wrestles.

"We'd enjoy wrestling Nebraska," Fritz said. "We'd enjoy wrestling Ohio U. (Nebraska's first-round opponent). We'd enjoy wrestling the Cedar Crest College for Girls and get a few wins, to tell you the truth."

Fritz said it would be dangerous for the Lions to look past their first opponent, Wartburg College. The Lions figure to be favorites when they square off against the perennial Division III powerhouse from Waverly, Iowa.

"They're hard-nosed kids who are going to come at you," Fritz said. "Iowa's a good wrestling state, obviously. We'll have to be ready, even though a lot of people say, 'Wartburg?' I hope the team isn't saying that."

In the latest dual meet rankings, the Lions are at No. 14. They are also the No. 3 seed in the tournament. But because of the Lions' 2-3 record and inexperience -- nine of the 15 wrestlers making the trip are freshmen -- they are not among the favorites to take the crown.

The Lions will be at an additional disadvantage since 142-pounder John Hughes is still sidelined for academic reasons. Fritz said Hughes is eligible according to NCAA and Big Ten rules, but he is being held out of the lineup until he can fulfill team requirements.

The Lions are far from writing off the tournament or the season, however. A team with a small number of prospective NCAA individual titles winners could finish the dual meet season under .500, but still challenge for the overall NCAA title.

"We do have three guys who have the capability if they're all in there, namely (Sanshiro) Abe, (John) Hughes and (Kerry) McCoy," Fritz said. "In a dual meet you need at least six guys who are solid to win . . . Now we think we have that, but you never know because of the way we match up with teams."