What a season.

This August, everyone wondered how the Penn State football team would respond after its first losing season in 12 years. No one could have guessed it would respond the way it did.

After being taken to the woodshed by the second-ranked Miami Hurricanes, the Nittany Lions then lost to Wisconsin and Iowa. When a solid but unspectacular Michigan team invaded Happy Valley and shut out the Lions 20-0, the ship had finally struck bottom.

But oh, how quickly it rose to the top.

After a bye week, Penn State traveled to Evanston, Ill., where it started what would become a remarkable turnaround with a thrilling, last-second win over Northwestern. The win put head coach Joe Paterno in a tie with Paul Bryant for the most Div. I-A coaching victories, and Paterno passed the Bear a week later with another close win over Ohio State.

With the long-pursued record caught, Paterno and his team continued to take care of business, two of their next three. A disappointing loss at Virginia, however, kept the Lions out of a bowl for the second year in a row.

Penn State's comeback was remarkable, but the Lions weren't satisfied with another non-winning season.

"I don't think 5-6, or even 6-5, is what we were looking for," Paterno said after the Virginia loss.

What's in the cards for the team next fall? Well, Penn State opens with four consecutive home games, including Sep. 14, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to town for the first time since 1982.

The Lions will have to go on the road to meet conference rivals Michigan and Ohio State, but with the momentum Penn State had at season's end (discount the heartbreaker in Charlottesville), and the talented core of players returning, 2002 could be just as exciting as 2001 -- possibly with a few more wins.

The offensive line loses left guard Greg Ransom, but returns tackles Gus Felder, Chris McKelvy and Matt Schmitt. Center Joe Iorio and right guard Tyler Lenda will be back as well. The tandem started every game this season.

Tight end John Gilmore, who finished third on the team in receptions, will be missed over the middle, but junior R.J. Luke will make his loss that much easier to swallow.

The wide receiving corps should be the strength of this unit next year. Junior Bryant Johnson improved by leaps and bounds, turning in the best season by a Lion receiver since Bobby Engram in 1995. Johnson pulled in 51 balls for 866 yards and three scores. Sophomore Tony Johnson supplanted Eddie Drummond at flanker and showed the ability to make big plays, compiling six catches of 20 yards or more.

The graduation of Eric McCoo and Omar Easy means two-thirds of State's three-headed backfield will be gone, but Larry Johnson is poised for a big senior campaign. Mick Blosser's blocking and hustle will be missed, but sophomore Paul Jefferson has the makings of a great fullback.

The Lions' quarterback controversy isn't likely to get any clearer next year. Redshirt freshman Zack Mills seemed to have the job at the end of the season, but next year he'll be pushed by junior Matt Senneca as well as true freshman Michael Robinson, who redshirted this year.

The defensive line loses end Bob Jones (35 tackles, three sacks) but the other end, junior Michael Haynes (four sacks) returns, as do sophomore Sam Ruhe and freshman Jason Robinson.

Tackles Jimmy Kennedy and Anthony Adams both have a year of eligibility remaining, but both are at least considering going pro, especially Kennedy.

The Lions lose three key contributors at linebacker -- Shamar Finney, who started all 11 contests, Ron Graham and Tom Williams, who both saw significant time at the outside spots.

The Lions will have to find a replacement for Bruce Branch at both cornerback and punt-returner, but Bryan Scott is back on the other side, as are safeties Yaacov Yisrael and the team's leading tackler, Shawn Mayer. Nickle corners Rich Gardner and Chris Harrell also return.

Punter David Royer and kickers Dave Kimball and Robbie Gould will return, while Larry and Tony Johnson give the Lions big-play threats as returnmen.

Make no mistake -- the seniors will be missed.

"If not for their efforts, this team would not have been able to do anything after being so dismal record-wise earlier in the year," Paterno said.

But the stage is set for a turnaround. A lot of young Lions garnered valuable experience next year, and they have nine months to sit and stew over missing a bowl game again. This is a team that hasn't been given a lot of respect the past two seasons, and it will be hungry to earn it next year.

"You've got to look at those games earlier in the year where people were spitting on us and kicking us around like dirt, and we came out as men and fought our tails off," Finney said. "And that's just what they're going to build on next year."