The biggest question for Penn State, as it enters its 125th year of collegiate football competition, has nothing to do with the players on the field or the schedule ahead.

Instead, the focus will be on two patriarchs, head coach Joe Paterno and assistant head coach Fran Ganter, and how they react to tragedy.

Paterno lost his brother George on June 23 after suffering a heart attack five days earlier. Although George had been sick for a while, Paterno still took the death hard according to those closest to him. George was the younger brother and his passing away may have caused Joe, the epitome of ageless at 75, to take his own age into consideration.

"I think it was toughest because he was younger and Joe had to watch that," defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy said. "It's hard to tell what he's thinking. Sometimes we wish we knew, but it would be hard to understand."

Ganter's loss was more unexpected.

Karen Ganter, the mother of four boys, including Penn State quarterback Chris, died on June 8 at the age of 53.

Then, Fran's mother-in-law, Liz Bruno, died as she was preparing to fly to State College to be with the family.

"Obviously, it is not going to be easy for him," Paterno said. "He has had two tough, tough blows."

The Lions are still dealing with the deaths of fullback Sean McHugh's mother, Jeannie, and Kevin Dare, the brother of defensive back Eric Dare.

Add to that the tragic injury and miraculous recovery of Adam Taliaferro, and the last two seasons have probably been the most emotionally taxing of Paterno's 37 as head coach.

"I don't even like to think about it," Paterno said. "I would just prefer I didn't get into it. It was a very emotional thing and it is going to be that way for a while. It takes a while."

Felder graduates

With his family in the stands, offensive tackle Gus Felder lumbered across stage and grabbed his diploma -- and one more shot at gridiron glory for the Lions.

Felder, a partial qualifier out of high school, was forced to sit out his freshman season and had to graduate in four years to earn it back. He had to complete 24 credits during the summer after sitting out spring practice to concentrate on academics.

"He had to work like a dog this summer to do it," Paterno said, "but he is graduated and he's getting that extra year. You read about the three or four kids that every once in a while act like jerks, but so many of them are just great kids."

The 6-foot-5, 321-pounder first entered the spotlight while playing for Berwick H.S., which he led to two state titles. Questions arose about Felder's age and eligibility after he entered high school out of a job-training program. That's where he met his wife, Kelly. The couple is raising two daughters, Destiny and Jazmin, and also cares for Gus' younger brother, Jamel.

Ressler inducted

Glenn Ressler, a two-way star for the Lions from 1962-64, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., on Aug. 10.

Playing center on offense and guard on defense, Ressler was All-American in 1964 and won the Maxwell Award.