UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. --- Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark still has a hard time digesting the demoralizing loss to Southern California in the Rose Bowl.

It was like a swift kick to the gut.

"That feeling will never leave, it will never go away," he said. "That was a pretty strong blow."

The Trojans embarrassed the Lions New Year's Day, ringing up four touchdowns and a field goal on consecutive first-half possessions to build a 31-7 lead against a Penn State defense that had allowed only 12.4 points per game during the regular season.

Clark's counterpart, Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez, finished with 413 yards passing and four touchdowns, and also ran for another score in the Trojans' 38-24 win.

"USC is a great team, I'm not taking anything away from them," Clark said. "But they didn't stop us. We just didn't execute. We really didn't play well. There were a lot of things we were doing that were very uncharacteristic.

"We got yelled at pretty good at halftime. The coaches didn't really like how [USC] was acting on the sideline, with the dancing and showboating and everything. It was really kind of a slap in our face.

"But there really was nothing we could do. When they did that, we'd look up at the scoreboard, and it was like, 'OK, what are you going to do?'"

Penn State outscored Southern California, 17-7, in the second half, but it was a case of too little, too late.

The Lions' poor Rose Bowl performance, plus a one-point loss at Iowa in early November in which Clark played poorly while trying to shake off the effects of a concussion, were the only blemishes on the Lions' resume last year.

Clark's first season as Penn State's starting quarterback ended with an 11-2 record, a No. 8 ranking, a share of the Big Ten championship and a berth in a BCS game.

The Lions also led the Big Ten in total offense (448.9 yards per game) and scoring (38.9 points), and ranked second in red-zone offense, converting 92.4 percent (61 of 66) of their scoring opportunities inside the 20-yard line.

"Overall, we proved a lot of people wrong," Clark said.

Clark, in particular, opened up quite a few eyes. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and finished as the runner-up for the Silver Football, presented by the Chicago Tribune to the conference's MVP.

He completed 59.8 percent (192 of 321) of his passes for 2,592 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 282 yards and 10 scores.

"For a season to go the way it did for me, I couldn't be happier," Clark said.

Clark, a 6-2, 235-pound senior from Youngstown, Ohio, is one of five starters returning on offense for Penn State this spring, and he is the unquestioned leader.

"I'm a lot more vocal," he said.

It goes way beyond that.

"He's been a different person compared to last year," quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said. "He's in charge of things. He's been making sure guys get to workouts and things. His actions give you confidence he'll be the kind of leader you want him to be."

When Clark looks around the huddle this spring, he won't see a lot of familiar faces.

He has lost three of the most productive receivers in school history -- Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams -- and three starters on the offensive line, including center A.Q. Shipley, guard Rich Ohrnberger and tackle Gerald Cadogan.

"We still have a lot of talent left," Paterno said. "It's not like everybody that played here left the program."

Clark is serving as a tutor this spring for highly touted freshman quarterback Kevin Newsome, who is expected to be his backup.

"I see a whole lot of potential," Clark said. "This kid can really throw the ball. He has speed. He can run a faster 40 than me. He's real young, but he's coming along.

"He's a kid that really likes to learn. He is constantly asking me questions about the game and that lets you know right there how much he loves it."