At the end of practice yesterday, the team still huddled up and shouted "Rose Bowl" in unison before heading for the showers.

The scenarios for the Penn State football team to get a bid to the national championship are complex, but the Nittany Lions use the chant as a routine and a reminder. A win against Michigan State next week is the only thing the team can do to appease those making decisions regarding the Bowl Championship Series.

Lions coach Joe Paterno decided to allow his team time off this weekend.

"We worked hard enough, I think," Paterno said. "We need a big week next week."

The Lions practiced in full pads yesterday and Wednesday, and they worked lighter on Tuesday in only helmets and shoulder pads, linebacker Paul Posluszny said. The team did not practice Monday and will not practice again until next Monday.

As practice wound down, Paterno paid careful attention to the first and second-team defenses while each matched up with the scout team's offense.

He shouted adjustment instructions to second-team defensive tackle Steve Roach from the secondary before running up to Roach and showing him exactly what Roach needed to fix. A few plays later, Roach and another second-team defensive lineman stuffed the scout team running back in the backfield, and Paterno ran back up to the defensive line to express his approval.

Paterno said his team needs to be careful while preparing for the Spartans, since the allure of a Big Ten Championship and a BCS bowl bid -- spoils that would result from a victory in East Lansing, Mich., next Saturday -- could become an appealing distraction.

"[The Spartans] are probably going to be playing to get to a bowl, and we're probably going to have a tough football game on our hands," Paterno said. "We can't look beyond that. We just have to look at that and say, 'Hey, let's win it. Let's win it and whatever happens, happens.' "

A free weekend is a luxury the Lions have not been able to enjoy in the past. Quarterback Michael Robinson said two seasons of losing will do that.

"When I was a younger guy, we were losing a lot," Robinson said. "Our bye weeks was like preseason camp. We weren't allowed to go home. We scrimmaged on Saturdays. Our bye week in the past years has been pretty hard. This year we're getting some time off ... We're gradually looking at Michigan State stuff. We didn't get thrown into the fire on Monday."

Robinson said a team can get "bored" when it has two weeks to prepare for only one team but added, "Surprisingly, practice has been pretty sharp."

Bradley goodbye?

Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley is apparently on the short list of prospects for the head coaching opening at Temple.

"[Penn State athletic director] Tim Curley told me that the athletic director had asked if Temple could talk to Tommy, and if they want to talk to Tommy that's fine," Paterno said.

Butkus 'n Puz

Posluszny was named a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker, yesterday, and in typical Posluszny style, he deferred all credit to his fellow defensive players.

"There's a lot of great linebackers that are up for that honor, and guys who do a lot of great things on the field," Posluszny said. "I've played alright, but I think it just goes to show how our defense has played as a whole, so they just need to pick out a guy for it."

Infirmary report

Paterno said wide receiver/cornerback Justin King, who did not participate fully in practice yesterday, has had a mild concussion and limited his participation after King practiced during the previous two days of practice.