This weekend, as his former teammates take the mat against defending National Champion Nebraska, Lion gymnast Josh Turner will be watching from a different seat -- the bleachers.

After spending his freshman year as a member of the Penn State gymnastics team, Turner decided to take an extended sabatical.

"I needed to sort out some personal matters," he said. "At that time (last October), I didn't want anything to do with gymnastics."

Turner, a sophomore in the School of Communications, sustained an elbow injury last February during practice. After contemplating a departure from the team at that time, Turner looked to the optimism of his teammates and his coach and committed himself to remaining loyal to the Lions.

"Even if I can't make a full recovery, I'm certainly going to try," Turner said following his injury in February of 1994. "I'm not going to give up . . . That would be against anything I've ever done."

And he did not concede to ending his gymnastics career because of a dislocated elbow. Turner participated in daily rehabilitation throughout the second half of last season. He conditioned for the remainder of the year and resumed his daily routine with the team when he returned to Penn State in August.

But soon after practices began, Turner made an abrupt decision to put his gymnastics career on hold.

"I decided to stop going to the gym in October," Turner said. "I knew that instead of being in practice during the day that I could be doing other things with my time."

Other things for Turner include attention to his interest in music and communications.

"He dee-jays for a radio station," said former teammate Lee Rickets. "I know that takes up a lot of his time."

Other activities aside, Turner's time in the gym was not holding his interest, Lion captain Dave Riordan said. Turner's progress in the gym was gradual, and he was starting to get bored with the repetitive rehabilitation routine, Riordan added.

"I think it was a big weight lifted off his shoulders," Riordan said. "He felt good, but the doctors still weren't letting him do anything. It was very monotonous and he was bored."

Coach Randy Jepson, who knew Turner for four years through summer camps prior to seeing his name on the Penn State roster, was not bitter about Turner's decision.

"Josh has decided to leave the team to pursue other endeavors," Jepson said. "He is not on the squad at this time."

Perhaps Jepson was a little more informed than the rest of the team, which Turner said was under the impression that he left because of his old injury.

"My elbow was an excuse at first," he said. "Everyone associated my leaving with my elbow, which really wasn't it. I did not leave this team because of an injury."

Because his injury was no longer a factor, Turner ruled out redshirting. His health is currently not restricting him in any way. In fact, Turner said he spent his winter break conditioning for gymnastics.

In addition, he said he is in the weight room at least every other day.

Occasionally, he pops in on his old teammates.

"Josh still stops by the gym to see us," Jepson said. "We want Josh to know that the door is always open for him if he decides to come back."

At the moment, however, Turner said he is unsure of what his gymnastics future entails.

"I am considering coming back, but I don't know when," the Columbia, Md., native said. "When I am doing other things, I don't miss it as much. But if I'm with them, hanging around, then I miss it."