Halloween may be more than a month away, but the Penn State men's cross country team hopes to dress as wolves in Penn State clothing tomorrow.

Like the wild animal, the Nittany Lions have become a tight pack of runners. Beginning in the summer and carrying over into the early-season practices, the team has made an effort to stick together, whether during stretching or during the stretch run.

Looking to use its strength in numbers, the Lions will open their 2003 season tomorrow alongside 14 other area colleges in the Spiked Shoe Meet on the Penn State Blue-White Course at 10:45 a.m.

The Lions would rather forget last season; a year that saw them struggle through injuries and inexperience as they finished last at the Big Ten championships. At the root of the problems was a general lack of togetherness -- and at some points -- a feeling of negativity.

With the calendar change has come a new attitude for the team. Finally working to gain a good endurance base this summer, the team said they are confident they can put the injuries and despair of last season behind them and push each other to better things.

Call it a new season with a new outlook.

"We're trying to put last season behind us and move forward," junior Scott Munro said. "It's a fresh start."

Penn State head coach Harry Groves, for one, has taken notice.

"Right now we got probably 10 or so guys that are running right with each other," Groves said.

Added Munro: "It's pretty intimidating when you see four or five teammates running together in a meet."

The Lions are eager to finally test their times against some unfamiliar faces and get back in the competitive mood. Senior Josh Loren said he is eager to race, seeing this a good way to gauge where the team is at physically.

"We're anxious to get started and put last year behind us," he said.