Zack Mills wants to play on Saturday against Ohio State, but first, he'll have to pass a test.

This morning, Mills, who was sidelined with a concussion in the loss to Iowa Saturday, will be tested by doctors who'll gauge the Penn State quarterback's memory and reaction time.

If Mills passes the test, he'll be cleared to play. Speaking yesterday, Mills seemed encouraged about his status, saying he felt free of side effects from his concussion. That optimism contradicted the sense from Tuesday, when coach Joe Paterno suggested Mills was doubtful to play against that Buckeyes.

"I'm definitely optimistic," said Mills, a senior. "I feel OK. All the side effects that come with a concussion I really don't have anymore."

Still, Mills hasn't participated in practice this week -- aside from casually throwing the football -- and doesn't know if he'll start after spending a week on the sidelines.

"That's a decision the coaches will have to make," Mills said, "whether I can play after not having many reps in practice."

Tuesday, Paterno said that Michael Robinson, the Lions' back-up at quarterback, will likely play instead of Mills. Both Mills and Robinson played in last week's contest against Iowa.

A prayer, answered

Joe Paterno's son-in-law, seriously injured a month ago in a bike accident, has made a recovery those close to him call "miraculous."

On Sept. 25, Chris Hort, married to Paterno's daughter Mary Kay, suffered a head injury when riding his bike near the Penn State campus. But last weekend's Penn State game was a landmark in Hort's recovery. After spending weeks at a hospital in Altoona after the accident, Hort was healthy enough to attend Penn State's game at Beaver Stadium.

"He made it to the game on Saturday, and after seeing that, after seeing what he was going through, I gave him a big hug," said Kay Kustanbauter, executive director of the Nittany Lion Club, who, on the night of the accident, flew from Madison, Wis., to State College with Sue Paterno, Joe's wife. "He looked great, he felt great. It was just miraculous."