A dismal start to this season has not deterred Joe Paterno.

The Penn State coach has almost seen it all in his 51 years monitoring the Happy Valley sidelines and is not about to call it quits after the Nittany Lions' dreary 1-3 mark.

While the media and fans have questioned Paterno's squad this season after challenging much of last year for college football's highest honor in the national championship, Paterno maintains his composure.

"It is a challenge," the coach said. "The biggest thing is when I don't think I want to be involved in the challenge. Then it won't be any fun. I think it is fun. You guys all think I am about ready to shoot myself. I am excited about the eight big games we have."

Excited? Paterno's players have not caused much reason for excitement after falling short in convincing losses at the hands of Southern California, Toledo and most recently Pittsburgh. While Paterno might not be sending his team to the firing squad, some want the coach to pull a few triggers.

Something Paterno has considered.

After the Panther's 12-0 victory Saturday in Three Rivers Stadium, Paterno returned to his humble home north of campus. He pulled out the tapes, studying everything from his player's ability to the coin toss.

Paterno has one goal: To make his team better.

He is not concerned with Bear Bryant's all-time college coaching victory record, which is six wins away, but not imminent. Instead, Paterno is coaching his team into competitors before the Big Ten slate starts Saturday when the Lions face Ohio State in The Horseshoe.

"I am excited that I think I have a pretty good football team that is eventually going to be a darn good football team," the coach said. "Whether it happens this year or next year, we are going to have a good football team. So, when you say we are down, we may be down a little bit because of circumstances. But I don't feel that is the fate of the program. I really don't.

"I think we have a pretty good future."

So, Paterno has rehashed the events of weeks past.

He wants less dropped passes and more offensive productivity.

He wants less careless penalties and more concentration.

He wants less complaints and more leadership.

Something Paterno has provided.

"He is frustrated just like we are," defensive end Bob Jones said. "He is a competitor. He likes to compete. With our situation, he is going to be frustrated. What he does now, it really shows that he is a great coach. He gets frustrated, but he gets so frustrated that it does not bring us down mentally. It brings us up. I really respect him for that."

Paterno has earned respect throughout his 35 years as Penn State's mentor. He has coached national champions and teams with losing marks, Heisman Trophy winners and inexperienced freshman and, as a 22-year-old graduate from Brown and now as a 73-year-old man, he is refusing to go into retirement.

"If you stay in it long enough, you are going to have some peaks and valleys, and they are going through some valleys right now," Buckeyes coach John Cooper said. "He is one of the legends in the coaching profession. You don't win as many games as he has won without knowing how to handle adversity."