But it only gets worse for the winless Lions. This team is also the first in school history (that's since 1887) to
start 0-4.

Michigan thrashed Penn State 20-0 on Saturday, a story too often heard these days in un-Happy Valley.

Again, Paterno's offense looked flat. The Lions couldn't muster any offensive attack. Chances were thrown away countless times as passes were dropped, field goals were missed and big pass plays were given up to the Wolverines.

On the rare occasions Penn State did complete a long pass play, it was usually called back on a personal foul call.

Nothing went the Lions' way against Michigan, just as it was against Miami, Wisconsin and Iowa.

"I'm really disappointed," Paterno said. "We just can't make some plays and then we do the dumbest things."

Stupid mistakes by the Lions piled up against them against Michigan.

The game opened with three perfect passes by freshman quarterback Zack Mills being dropped by wide receivers Bryant Johnson and Eddie Drummond and then by tight end John Gilmore.

When the Lions threatened Michigan's staunch defense, guard Tyler Lenda was flagged for a false start and freshman placekicker Robbie Gould muffed a field goal.

The rare times Penn State capitalized on offense, players still shot themselves in the foot by picking up personal foul penalties.

"If we just don't have the little mental mistakes, we'll be fine," sophomore Tony Johnson said. "As a team, we're starting to come together. The average fan doesn't see it though."

The average fan doesn't see it, and the stat sheet doesn't show it. Against the Wolverines, Penn State ran the ball 26 times for 25 yards. The Lions, traditionally having one of the best ground attacks in college football, averaged less than one yard per carry.

Penn State punted 10 times, got pounded on total yards by a margin of 410-269, and is the only team in the conference without a win.

Things aren't coming together for Paterno — they are falling apart.

"Whether we need to make some different combinations, I don't know," the 74-year-old coach said. "We'll look at everything. We have to look at me, we have to look at the coaches and we have to look at the players."

One positive coming out of Saturday's game was the play of the Lions defense. Except for two blown pass coverages, which led to two Wolverine scores, Penn State held Michigan relatively close and contained an explosive offense.

The Penn State defense foiled a fake field goal, made Michigan punt seven times and kept the Blue and White in the ballgame.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said defensive linemen Jimmy Kennedy and Anthony Adams caused trouble for the Wolverines offensive line. The coach added that the Lions defense helped keep Penn State in the game into the fourth quarter.

"We had a couple of opportunities down in the red zone and they held us, forced us to a field goal," Carr said. "They did a great job of staying in the football game."