Penn State fullback Mike Cerimele made some changes to his appearance in the offseason.

His once curly locks have been shorn to a close-cropped military length and he said he's dropped excess pounds.

But the modifications were hardly motivated by vanity. Cerimele made the adjustments to make himself a better football player and finally maximize his potential.

"I'm getting into my last year, and I just want to give it heck," Cerimele said.

"These past five years have just flown by."

Cerimele has steadily improved in his years at Penn State, but one thing has remained as solid as the 5-foot-10, 237-pound fullback. He is one of the toughest members of the Penn State football squad, something to which his teammates will readily attest.

"He's a very intense person," Nittany Lions offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie said. "He's just yelling and screaming, clapping and going on."

That's why, in the months before the start of his senior season, there was no talk of his willingness to step up and become a leader. Cerimele's intensity surpassed those clichéd questions long before he officially became an upperclassman.

Penn State assistant head coach Fran Ganter has worked closely with Cerimele and said it's obvious that he truly enjoys playing football. So obvious, in fact, that his entire body is transformed when he steps on the field.

"You can see his intensity in his mannerisms," Ganter said. "He's one of those guys who gets red in the face, and veins pop out in his forehead and neck. You can see it in his eyes. He's pretty vocal and likes to butt heads after big plays."

In spite of all the good that Cerimele's intensity brings the team, Ganter said desire to constantly go at 100 percent isn't always the best method.

"Sometimes he's too overzealous,"

Ganter said. "You have to be more poised and less aggressive to get the job done at times. But he's become so much better with that."

Cerimele devoted time in the offseason to refining and strengthening the body that will be required to block, catch and run headlong into 300-pound men.

"Mike has had a really good summer," Paterno said. "Mike did some things that I think he feels good about himself in the way of doing some distance running and things of that sort. I thought that would help him as far as his overall conditioning. He should be one of our leaders."

That leadership should extend to the games, where Cerimele was among the top offensive producers in 1999.

His rushing numbers weren't flashy, but his 112 yards on 31 attempts came in key situations. Cerimele also caught 13 passes for 148 yards.

The Allentown Central Catholic product is motivated by more than his offensive statistics. The memory of the Nittany Lions three straight losses at the end of 1999 pushed him through his tough offseason regimen.

"Last year, we got a little out of shape towards the end of the season," Cerimele said. "Every aspect of the game, I'm going to improve on."

Every aspect, that is, except maybe intensity.