With a new quarterback, three new coaches and a Penn State football team coming off a 5-7 campaign, tomorrow afternoon's Blue-White game should be interesting.

The team will showcase its talent and improvement since the beginning of spring practice at 2 p.m. when the Nittany Lions hold their annual intra-squad scrimmage. Penn State football fans are encouraged to attend this free event to not only see this season's team, but to view the new expansion to Beaver Stadium.

Although some seating areas will be restricted because of ongoing construction, fans will still be able to see some of the new renovations, which are planned to be ready for the season-opener against Miami on Sept. 1.

"Those end zone seats are spectacular," said coach Joe Paterno during his spring news conference. "I am not selling club seats, but the suites are unbelievable. We are going to have a great recruiting lounge. We are going to have a letterman's club over there that is going to be great. It is really exciting."

The new look to Beaver Stadium might interest Penn State fans, but defensive end Bob Jones is more concerned about the play of the Lions. With his senior season only months away and his final Blue-White game tomorrow, Jones said he wants everything to come together so he can go out a winner.

Jones added that he doesn't feel last season's struggles will roll over to the 2001 campaign because there are fresh faces with a new attitude wearing the Penn State uniform.

"Last year we were a little too tight," Jones said. "This year's approach is we're binding more as a team. Trying to get on a personal level with everybody. With your team getting to know each other, that's when the fun happens."

That seems to be a motto for this season's Penn State football team. In retrospect, the Lions felt they were too tight last season and didn't realize having fun should come into the mix of playing football. When a Penn State team struggles all season long it is expected that spirits won't be high, but offensive lineman Matt Schmitt said it will be very important to keep practices and games upbeat and exciting this year.

He said with the team getting to know each other and a loose, but professional attitude, the Lions can be successful.

"Last year we had a lot of pressure. This year was more of a family environment," Schmitt said. "I really enjoyed myself more playing winter and spring ball more than last year. The demeanor has been really good. We're really getting at it this spring."

Jones said the spring has been very positive. The team is coming together, the players and coaches are getting used to each other and last season's woes are far behind this Penn State team.

"Our sprits are high right now," he said. "Things in the spring are going pretty good for us. We're going to look forward to what we have to do this season. Last year wasn't a big distraction for us. We have to look forward on what we have to do."

With almost an entire secondary moving out, Matt Senneca taking over the reigns as quarterback and several positions opening up due to graduation, leadership might be a concern for the Lions. Many players haven't been put in this position before, especially when the team's back is against the wall and they are trying to put a losing season in their distant memory. But Paterno said there are a lot of guys that will have the chance to step to the forefront and lead the Lions to victory. The coach added he is confident many players will take the opportunity.

"Matt Senneca is ready to move to the front," Paterno said. "Bobby Jones will be good. Matt Schmitt has moved in there. I think we will have leadership."