Mike Lucian stepped off a football team bus on Curtin Road, where only about 50 yards of lightly colored pavement separated him from his first career start as a Penn State offensive lineman.
The junior hadn't felt many jitters at the team hotel Friday night, but he felt them creep in as he made the walk from the bus to Beaver Stadium.
"Before every game I'm nervous," Lucian said. "Whether I'm going to play or not."
A door opened for Lucian when Lions coaches determined that senior lineman John Shaw, who was feeling pain in one of his knees, would not play Saturday.
Shaw's absence also created an opportunity for true freshman Stefen Wisniewski, who shared time with Lucian at right guard.
Most freshmen that come into their first game are a little wide-eyed at first, said junior center A.Q. Shipley. But after Wisniewski had played through his first drive on the Lions' offensive line -- and received some encouragement from his older teammates -- he was fine, Shipley said.
Though the two newcomers may have felt a little shaky in the beginning, the offensive line played well Saturday, allowing the fewest sacks -- one -- that it's given up this season. The line gave quarterback Anthony Morelli time to complete 20 of his 27 pass attempts for 202 yards and four touchdowns.
"I think all the coaches are happy to know [that] if something goes wrong, somebody goes down, we'll have solid backups to come in," Lucian said.
Shaw's status remains cloudy heading into this week's game against Michigan. But bringing new faces into the offensive line shouldn't pose a problem for the Lions, junior tackle Gerald Cadogan said, since the first team and second team players spend time preparing together.
"No matter who they put in, I know who the guy is and I trust him," Cadogan said.
Day to remember
Offense: Rodney Kinlaw, RB. He was handed the ball more times against Buffalo than he was against Florida International and Notre Dame combined. Kinlaw made the most of that opportunity, getting the offense going after a sluggish start and eventually finishing with 129 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
Defense: Anthony Scirrotto, Hero. His fumble recovery in the second quarter gave Penn State the ball deep in Buffalo territory and led to the Lions' second touchdown. He also picked off a Drew Willy pass in the third quarter.
Day to forget
Offense: Austin Scott, RB. He coughed up the ball twice in Penn State's first three possessions. Scott's first fumble gave the Bulls the ball at the Lions' 8-yard-line, ultimately allowing them to take a lead they would hold until the second quarter.
Defense: Penn State's secondary. Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy was able to pass for 222 yards in the second half. Sure, there were some reserves in the game, but the Bulls' offense was running wild.
Did you notice?
The student section was only about one-quarter filled, with 40 minutes until the game began...Representatives from the Capital One Bowl wandering along Penn State's sideline at the end of the game...A student section sign that read 'Hey Buffalo, give us Poz back.'
Quotables
Wideout Deon Butler comparing Penn State fans to Michigan's:
"Our fans are just much louder, more rowdy than theirs."
Extra Point
While Kinlaw and Scott battled for rushing yards, freshman Evan Royster got no carries for the second game in a row. Royster rushed for 70 yards on eight carries in the season opener against Florida International.
Against FIU, Kinlaw rushed for 66 yards on eight carries while Scott only had 46 yards on 11 carries
"The situations probably didn't allow him to come in," offensive coordinator Galen Hall said, adding that coaches still have confidence in the young player.
They might want to give Royster the ball a little more often as the season unfolds -- both Scott and Kinlaw won't be around next year.
