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Tuesday, September 17, 2002

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

When Jimmy Kennedy arrived at Penn State, the Nittany Lions were the class of college football. During his redshirt freshman season in 1998, the Lions were 9-3 and played in the Outback Bowl. The next season when Kennedy started to play on the defensive line, they were 10-3 and were in the hunt for a national championship until the final few weeks of the season.

But the past two seasons, when the Lions finished 5-7 and 5-6, left a sour taste in Kennedy's mouth, and he yearned to get Penn State back to the limelight.

So when the Nittany Lions sparkled in their 40-7 thrashing of Nebraska Saturday night in front of a national television audience, it reaffirmed Kennedy's decision to return for his senior season.

"It means a lot more to me because I came back for my fifth year," said Kennedy, who came back despite speculation he would be a first- or early second-round draft pick. "This is what I came back for. When I made my decision I looked at the players around me, and I knew they could get it done. They proved it to me [Saturday], and I love all those guys. I hope they come out there like that every week."

The victory against Nebraska, ranked No. 8 last week, was the first against a top-10 team since the Lions beat Miami Sept. 18, 1999, and it vaulted the previously unranked Lions to No. 15 in the polls, their highest ranking since the end of the '99 season.

"It makes a difference for the whole program, for the university and the young guys and recruits," senior running back Larry Johnson said. "It feels great to come out here and feel good about what you're doing. There's no disagreements and arguing behind the scenes. We came out, everyone knew what their job was and what they had to do, and we just performed to our ability."

The victory also gives the Lions a confidence that has been absent from the program the past couple of seasons.

"It means a lot," freshman Michael Robinson said. "We have our swagger back a little bit. We haven't had fun the past couple of years. People accepted losing. This team, I don't think is going to accept losing."

Weimer waiting

Stephanie Weimer, the female place-kicker from Serra Catholic who is trying to make the team as a walk-on, was scheduled to have a meeting with Coach Joe Paterno yesterday or this morning.

Paterno was expected to tell Weimer that he could not keep four place-kickers on the roster this season, but would like for her to continue her development in a supervised environment.

Weimer, a 5-foot-4, 120-pound freshman from Elizabeth, made 8 of 10 field goals during her tryout Wednesday, including a 45-yarder. Her longest field goal at Serra was a 36-yarder.

Weimer, who led WPIAL Class A last season with six field goals, is attempting to become the first female to score a point in a Division I game.

This 'n' that

Quarterback Zack Mills leads the Big Ten Conference in total offense (250 yards per game) and passing (226.6 ypg). Mills has completed 32 of 51 passes for 453 yards with two touchdown and no interceptions. ... Wide receiver Bryant Johnson is second in the conference in receiving with 21.5 yards per reception. ... Penn State is second in the conference in kickoff return average (30.7) and turnover margin (plus 3) and third in red zone efficiency. The Lions are 9 for 10 in the red zone, with five touchdowns and four field goals.