"I just wanted to see if I could do it. I've been reluctant to do much running, because it's been less than a year since they replaced the hip. I was glad to come out. I hope as the season goes on, I'll be a little better."
Paterno had problems with his hip from the start of last season after hurting it while trying to demonstrate an onside kick. He struggled to stand on the sideline, and coached the Nittany Lions' final eight games from the press box.
Lee's return. Linebacker Sean Lee was so pumped up for yesterday's opener after missing all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee, he had to tell himself to calm down.
"I had to pull back a little bit," the senior cocaptain said. "I wasn't trying to get too hyped up for the game, but I tried to stay level-headed because I had to make calls in the huddle."
Lee finished second on the team with seven tackles - two for losses. But what his return meant to the Lions exceeded mere statistics.
"It gives you a sense of confidence when you've got your hand on the ground to know that you've got a player like that behind you," defensive tackle Jared Odrick said.
Happy Valley welcome. Devon Smith, a 5-foot-7, 153-pound wide receiver from White Plains, Md., was the busiest of the six true freshmen to see action in the opener against Akron.
Smith caught two passes for 25 yards, rushed once for 7, and averaged 21.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
"You have a tough time seeing him," Paterno said. "He has great speed. He catches the ball. He's really a heck of a competitor. I think as he gets a little better feel for some things, he'll be able to make some big plays for us. When he gets a step on you, he's tough to catch."
Curtis Drake, a West Catholic graduate, played wide receiver on the final series and caught a 7-yard pass from fellow freshman Kevin Newsome, the backup quarterback, on the last play of the game. Safety Gerald Hodges of Paulsboro High also saw action late.
Nittany lines. Linebacker Navorro Bowman left the game in the first quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Tight end Andrew Quarless and guard Lou Eliades sat out some plays because of cramps. . . . Junior Collin Wagner, the team's new kicker, hit a 29-yard field goal but missed on tries of 28 and 49 yards. "He's better than that," Paterno said. "Maybe it was his first time out there. He's been much better in practice. I have high hopes for him." . . . Daryll Clark's 254 passing yards in the first half were a Penn State record.
Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com.
