Football was Penn State redshirt sophomore linebacker T.C. Cosby's first love.

It's his essence, his life's focus. When he's not playing it he's studying it, when he's not doing that, he's watching other college games on television.

That focus won him all-state honors twice in high school, and a scholarship to Linebacker U. But before he ever played a down for the Nittany Lions, an incident occurred in the summer after his freshman year that gave Cosby something bigger to worry about.

Cosby and then-Lions tight end R.J. Luke were arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, reckless endangering and summary harassment after a brawl broke out July 29, 2001, at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.

One fraternity member said he was thrown through a window and severed tendons in his hand. He claimed Cosby and Luke were the men that attacked him.

Cosby testified that he had thrown punches in what he called a melee after someone had swung at him, but claimed he did not throw the fraternity member through the window. After long deliberation, Cosby and Luke were acquitted of all charges.

Cosby and Luke both knew that the acquittal didn't mean everything was over, because some would believe there was preferential treatment of football players. There was also a possibility of animosity on the team. Though many players had testified for Luke and Cosby, defensive end Michael Haynes and punter David Royer testified against them.

Luke determined that the cloud over his head would never be lifted by the State College public and transferred to Western Illinois. Cosby applauded Luke's decision, saying his former teammate made the choice that was best for him, but Cosby thought he would be better off handling it differently.

"I love Penn State," Cosby said. "I came to Penn State because I wanted to play here. Transferring never crossed my mind. The coaches handled everything great. I felt like this was the place I wanted to be. I felt I could move on here and start a new chapter."

At first it wasn't easy for Cosby to do that, but he eventually decided that the best way to start a new chapter would be to revert to the previous ones.

"I came to the realization that people will see that I have a good character and I'm a good person," he said. "[That situation] started heading to the back of my thoughts, and I focused on my academics, football, and my family and friends."

Cosby worked his way up the depth chart, impressing coaches with his knowledge of the game and ease in learning both the outside (fritz) and middle ('backer) linebacking positions. He also avoided any problems with the teammates that testified against him. According to Haynes, the two are working well together.

He was used primarily on special teams and was listed at third string on the fritz behind sophomore LaMar Stewart and junior Deryck Toles. However, when middle linebacker Gino Capone went down with a stinger last week, the coaches called on Cosby and junior Andy Ryland to fill in for him.

"He's a smart football player," linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden said. "He has good instincts, and he's a very physical football player. When we lost Gino... we thought T.C. would be able to handle the combination of mental and physical that goes into the position."

Cosby fared well. He registered three tackles and earned praise from Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who said Cosby "rose to the occasion."

He will likely fill the same role this week if Capone can't return to action. But even if he doesn't, Cosby knows how to handle the situation.

"I'm just going to keep working hard at the 'backer and fritz," Cosby said. "Wherever the coaches need me I'll be ready."