By now, everyone has heard all they can handle about how Miami's offense poses several problems for Penn State's defense.
Ken Dorsey has the arm to win the Heisman. The 'Canes backfield is more loaded than a Bob Baffert stable full of thoroughbreds. And Miami's receivers are faster than Hurricane force winds.
But that's been the same old song and dance for the south Florida program since Howard Schnellenberger took over in the late 1970's.
Joe Paterno knows that. But Penn State's head man appears more concerned with Miami's deep and talented defense than the Hurricanes vaunted offense.
"They have a great offensive team, but they are very, very quick and agile defensively and force you into a lot of turnovers," Paterno said. "It is tough to make big plays on them."
The biggest reason for that is the Hurricanes' dynamite secondary, which boasts Jim Thorpe Trophy candidates Mike Rumph and Ed Reed. All-American candidate Philip Buchanon mans the corner spot opposite Rumph while James Lewis will fill the void left by Al Blades at free safety.
Reed, a strong safety, was a consensus All-American selection last year as a junior and is regarded by many preseason publications as the top returning defensive back in college football.
Match all of those accolades against the vast problems that the Nittany Lions' receivers faced last season, and the 'Canes secondary may have better coverage than CNN did of O.J. Simpson.
"Our wideouts have got to make some plays," Paterno said. "We really didn't give ourselves a chance in some games (last year) to be competitive because we could not make the kind of plays you have to make. I think our wideouts are going to have to do that; hopefully, they are better prepared to do it."
If seeing Penn State's less-than-productive receivers isn't enough to make the 'Canes secondary drool, perhaps the fact that they'll be facing a brand new starting quarterback will.
But unlike some of his other teammates who have been spouting off about how Miami is going to put up big numbers on the Lions, Reed sees Matt Senneca and Penn State's receivers as a posing threat.
"He (Senneca) can throw the deep ball," Reed said. "He's the type of quarterback that'll keep us honest.
"It's going to be good competition out there. We might have the upper hand but you never know."
Senneca is well aware of what he'll be up against once he takes the field Saturday night. But the junior signal-caller seems more eager than nervous to show everyone what he's capable of doing against one of the nation's premiere defensive units.
"They play some man coverage and I love throwing against man coverage," Senneca said. "They'll mix it up on you too. They play a lot of zones and that kind of thing. They do so many different things and they do them so well."
It also appears that the Hurricanes are getting sick of beating on each other in the intense tropical heat.
Reed said he and the rest of his teammates are ready to bring their road show up to Happy Valley. He's also aware of the fact that everywhere the 'Canes go, they have a huge bull's eye on the center of their orange and green jerseys.
"Everybody wants to beat the University of Miami," Reed said. "It always seems that we're the bad guys.
"But we're just so pumped up to play. I'm sure Penn State is ready too. You just want to see another color jersey out there."
And don't forget, because Reed and company haven't, that these same four studs were part of the unit that got scorched by Kevin Thompson and Chafie Fields in Penn State's thrilling 27-23 victory over Miami in 1999.
