After winning 57 games the past two seasons and losing just as many, the Penn State baseball team heads into 2005 looking to move from the middle of the seesaw and tip it in the winning direction.

Whether it was first-year coach Robbie Wine's daunting 6-foot-2 frame or just the idea of a fresh start, the Nittany Lions have a different mindset this winter.

"I don't know if it was an overall team attitude, or if it was a new coach coming in and everyone was scared," Wine said. "I don't know what it was like last year, nor do I care. My job is to know where our guys are now and move forward.

"When somebody brings up last year, this isn't last year and I respect that and I understand that.

"Some personalities are beginning to come out a little bit.

"The team has come together because they feel they're in more control than in the past."

The season starts in eight days but the team has not hit that winter lull that often comes with being trapped inside all offseason while the snow reigns outdoors.

While the idea of playing someone other then themselves sounds joyous, there's still a lot to be learned.

Especially with a new coach, the new drills and different styles have kept Penn State eager to learn.

"It's a big change," senior shortstop Mike Milliron said.

"Not that it was bad when the old coaches where here. It's just everything is new and everything is fresh. You're experiencing something new everyday. They're teaching things you never heard before so it just keeps everyone in it.

"The biggest surprise to me is that usually these preseason practices, by the second or third week you're starting to drag.

"Now the level of excitement is there for everyday because you're just anxious to see what you're going to learn."

Wine, who spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, is trying to keep things simple in his approach.

He used the fall to feel his team out and plans to see what sprouts from his team in the spring.

Though his goal of going "day to day" might seem cliché, Wine is just trying to keep expectations at a reasonable level for now.

"I don't want to put guys in positions where maybe they're not ready for," Wine said, "but I want everyone to understand that we have the talent to go places, to win some games.

"We're not talking Big Ten championships yet. We're not talking regionals and we're not talking Omaha, yet. If that happens, and I could see that possibly happening, getting into that situation down the road, that's great.

"If we concentrate on today, we concentrate on tomorrow ... if you just concentrate on those little tasks you'll win."

Penn State is looking to win at more of a pace than every other game.

As far as Wine is concerned, his team is still undefeated.

That unblemished record gets its first test next Saturday.

"As far as the team comes around, we're right on track," Wine said.

"In my eyes, if I had envisioned it, we're right on track. Maybe a little ahead."