The 2008 Penn State football captains addressed the media for the first time Thursday, discussing the team's status and progress with less than three months before the season begins. Despite a year full of off-the-field issues, each of the Nittany Lions' five captains assured that team morale and bond has never been tighter.

"It's a family," senior defensive end Josh Gaines said. "[The D-Line], we're crazy. We're always going hard every play and hitting heads. And then the linebackers are doing their own thing, but when you add them in, it's like a family."

Gaines is one of five captains for the Lions this season. Joining him is safety Anthony Scirrotto, wide receiver Derrick Williams, center A.Q. Shipley, and All-American linebacker Sean Lee, who despite a season ending ACL injury suffered during the off season, will assume the role of captain this fall.

The Lions are coming off of back-to-back 9-4 seasons, and hope to take advantage of a Big Ten conference some experts believe is suspect. The team feels it's time to get back to the program's winning ways, despite being only two years removed from winning a BCS game in the FedEx Orange Bowl following the 2005 season.

"2005 was really the first taste of winning anything big," Shipley said. "[For me], there really wasn't one single moment personally that set me as a captain, just a collection of leading on the field."

With five captains for Penn State, this season's group of leaders is the largest to date. Last year the Lions were led by three captains, similar to 2005. Having five captains amongst one team did bring into question the role of each of them amidst each other, but each admitted they know what they can bring to the table as individuals, and as a group.

"I think me, Anthony, and A.Q. are more of the on the field guys, where as Josh and Derrick are the more vocal guys on the team," Lee said. "I tried to step up vocally, and I'm just trying to make an influence on the guys."