The mood has changed, a new seven-game season has started and the Nittany Lions football team is back.

At least that's what coach Joe Paterno and his players are saying.

Penn State got its first win of the season in an exciting 38-35 scorefest at Northwestern and since the Wildcats' win, players have been more upbeat. Wide receiver Bryant Johnson, who grabbed the ball at the four-yard line leading to the winning score, said the Lions are 1-0, not 1-4.

He said the team has brushed back the opening four losses and will play the final seven games as if it is an entirely new season.

"Coming into last week, coach told us we're 0-0 and we have a seven-game season," Johnson said. "We have to go out there and play the way we're capable of playing. We found the way Saturday and we want to continue to roll."

Stuck in the Windy City

The Lions wanted to leave Chicago Saturday night, but circumstances wouldn't let them. The airplane departing Midway Airport got stuck in mud as it was taxiing to the runway.

The team and the entire staff on board had to spend the night in Chicago, instead of coming home and sleeping in their own beds.

But it only got worse, since the Lions got back to the hotel so late they stopped room service for the night.

"Everything that could go wrong went wrong," said quarterback Zack Mills, who drove the Lions downfield for the winning touchdown. "The one side of the plane slumped down. It really could've been a lot worse if we lost that game."

Goodbye to the Power I . . . Almost

Penn State used the power I, three tailback offense against Northwestern, and it worked. The Lions scored more points against the Wildcats than they did during its first four games. Wide receiver Eddie Drummond moved to the backfield and the odd formation threw Northwestern's defense off.

But Paterno said the gimmick offense isn't going to be played as the Lions' offensive set.

"We can't live with it," he said. "It will not be a prevalent part of our offense."

Although the three-back offense won't be seen as often, it probably will be seen at times during Ohio State this weekend. The players seem to like it, the points are adding up on the scoreboard and the offense found its spark.

If it works, we're going to use it," tailback Larry Johnson said. "We have to try new ways and better ways to improve it."

Senneca or Mills, Who Cares?

Questions come every week as to whether junior Matt Senneca or freshman Zack Mills will be the starting quarterback on Saturday. And each Tuesday, Paterno says he hasn't thought about who will start.

Senneca had his best game of the season against Northwestern before he was knocked out by a Napoleon Harris hit.

Paterno said Senneca suffered a mild concussion, but Senneca added that everything has returned to normal except his short-term memorization. Not to worry though, Senneca said the doctors have told him that will return within days.

Mills didn't play against the Wildcats until 1:39 left, but he came through in a big way, leading the Lions to the victory. So the question who to start isn't as tough as the question of which quarterback should not.

"Both of them had done well," Paterno said. "That's not a problem I think about much because it isn't a problem."

Quote of the Week

"He's different, he's Joe," said Linebacker Deryck Toles on Paterno's continual denying that he is concerned with breaking Paul "Bear" Bryant's all-time wins record.