A few schools did it in the 1970s. Southern Methodist has done it once. Alabama did it the last two years. Penn State has never done it -- until this year.

Three Nittany Lion divers travel to Indianapolis today for the NCAA championships -- the greatest number of divers Penn State has ever taken to the event.

Seniors Chris Devine and Ryan Smith and freshman Drew Jackson qualified for NCAAs two weeks ago at the NCAA diving prequalification meet at the U.S. Naval Academy. Sophomore Seth Kane was close to qualifying, but missed two dives in the 3-meter event.

Devine participated in the championships last year, taking third in the 1-meter and fifth in the 3 meter. Smith finished 30th in the 1 meter and 35th in the 3-meter at NCAAs two years ago. This is Jackson's first trip to the championships.

Diving Coach Craig Brown said he doesn't want to make any predictions about the event's outcome.

"I just want them to be steady and to not give anything away," he added.

Brown also said he expects the toughest competition to come from 1994 World Diving Champion Evan Stewart of Tennessee. Stewart also won the 1 meter at last year's NCAAs.

"He has the hardest lists of dives of anyone in the world (in the 1-meter)," Brown said.

He added that it may be a dogfight between Stewart and Devine. Devine recently returned from the Pan-American Games, where he finished 7th in the 1 meter. Brown added that Devine should have won a silver or gold, but he missed one dive.

Brown also said regardless of what happens at NCAAs, he will still be very proud of his divers.

"Even if they fell flat on their faces," he said, "I wouldn't be disappointed at all."