Look closely at the way Penn State plays this weekend.

Look at the way the Nittany Lions walk on the field. Look at the facemasks on their helmets, whether they are buried into the collars of their metallic blue uniforms or held up so high that the stubble on their necks is visible.

The Lions play host to No. 22 Purdue tomorrow for their first game in Beaver Stadium since walloping Louisiana Tech 67-7 three weeks ago.

That game had meaning. Penn State had opened its season 0-2 and looked desperately for their first win. It found it convincingly, as evidenced by the 60-point margin of victory.

Tomorrow, the game carries a different meaning. And ironically, even though the Lions are 1-4 now, moving that record up a notch in the win column may not be the first thing on their minds.

"Everyone is frustrated," linebacker Ron Graham said. "You come to Penn State to win and you are 1-4 and it is frustrating as a team.

"We just want to go out and play football. We are not going to change things up since we are 1-4."

It sure isn't the top priority of Joe Paterno, who has woven together one of the finest records in college football history.

"I keep coming back to one thing," Paterno said. "They are a great bunch of people to be around. They work hard and practice hard. I have had something in my life where I had a good education, priests took an interest in me and my dad had a tremendous interest in me. I have always believed that if you keep hustling, something good will happen. If this team just keeps hustling, something good is going to happen to them."

But his priority now lies in a small room in Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University Hospital that holds Adam Taliaferro, a freshman cornerback.

Taliaferro injured his spinal cord against Ohio State last weekend at a meaningless point in a meaningless game trying to do something meaningful — make a simple tackle.

Now, his teammates have gathered to play this game, which, to these players, will have more meaning -- win or lose -- than anything else they could imagine.

The Boilermakers will bring Drew Brees, a bona fide Heisman Trophy contender from day one-- of last season. They also will bring his bubble screen, which utilizes speedy wide receiver Vinny Sutherland taking a short pass while trailing two upfield blockers.

Brees and that seemingly simple play burned Penn State last year to the tune of 379 yards on 31 completions in 48 tries, even though Purdue eventually lost, 31-25.

"I am concerned about everything they do offensively," Paterno said. "The bubble screen was good. They ran the ball pretty good. They were a good offensive football team. I am worried about a lot of things."

Apparently, so is Purdue coach Joe Tiller.

Along with the usual — Brees and the bubble — the Boilermakers also will bring a sense of urgency not normally seen in a 3-1 team.

"We think they are a physical football team that could cause problems for a team such as Purdue," Tiller said. "We're going to see a team this Saturday that is going to come out and force you to play power football against them."

Then again, this Penn State team might be playing for something else.