A game plan? Who needs it? Customized preparation? No, thanks. A chance to compete not just for yourself, but your teammates? Now that is something to get stoked about, and the guys on the Penn State men's indoor track team plan to just flat out work hard for each other this weekend.

Tomorrow morning Coach Harry Groves's Nittany Lions will host thirteen other teams in the Penn State Relays at 10 am in the Multi-Sport Facility.

The meet, the first of the season, kicks off a streak of four straight home events for the Lions.

When asked about the meet, Groves just laughed at questions about special preparations.

"This isn't football. You take a guy from who's here," Groves said as he held his hand at his waist, "and get him to here," raising his hand to eye level. "Even if we knew who the opponent was, and we knew their tendencies there isn't much we can work on except getting in better shape."

After a week of practice following its return from break, Groves knows his team is looking forward to the chance to compete, especially in a relay format.

Instead of competing individually, as they do in Big Ten Championships, track team members will be working in small teams, and according to Groves, that is how it should be.

"Relays tend to put a real teammate element into track and field, because you've gotta depend on three other guys, and you don't want to let them down. So you dig in a little better and go a little faster or a little higher, and as a result, everybody gets their guys in better shape when you're having fun doing it," Groves said.

Mark Miller, a junior runner who finished seventh in the 600-meters last year, said the team thrives in a relay format.

"Its really nice running relays," he said. "We all come out ready to go, knowing we've gotta rely on each other."

Groves, who has been the team's head coach for more than three decades certainly knows what it takes to begin a successful season. He added that it is important for the team to gel, and working closely as they do in a relay is extremely beneficial in that way.

Miller whole-heartedly agreed.

"It's a good thing to have a relay meet at the beginning of the year," he said. "You can count on your teammates and we can come together early."

He and the rest of the team came back to school a week early for two-a-days after a fall full of practice and winter breaks with regimented calendars from Groves and everyone on the team is expecting great things from his teammates.

"We've been working hard all fall. Last year was kind of a rough year, and I know we didn't accomplish what we wanted or what were capable of," Miller said. "Hopefully [tomorrow] we'll come out strong." Miller said.

Asked what his team is capable or what he expected tomorrow in the large field, Groves quickly said it was too early to tell.

"Each one of these meets represents a stepping stone. The preparation during the week doesn't change specifically, and there isn't much we can work on except getting in better shape," he said. "By the time we hit the Big Ten, we've gotta be in better shape."