Nov 6, 2002 By Dan Lewernz Associated Press Sports Writer 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A freshman quarterback with four 200-yard games, a trio at tailback that’s averaging less than 100 rushing yards, running the option out of the shotgun. That’s not Penn State football. The Nittany Lions, long known as a grind-it-out team, have done some unconventional things in the last three weeks, bringing back a 30-year-old offense with a 19-year-old to run it. But one thing is familiar – Penn State is winning again.

“We’re trying to do the best we can with the kids we have and try to give them a chance to win the game,” coach Joe Paterno said.

Little more than a year ago, Paterno’s own players were publicly criticizing the offense as too predictable, saying opponents knew what Penn State was running better than the Nittany Lions did.

Now, at the urging of offensive coordinator Fran Ganter and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, Nittany Lions are mixing things up, even using the shotgun offense the coach once reviled – and the result has been a three-game winning streak after opening 0-4 for the first time in school history.

Joe Paterno admits he’s never been a big fan of the shotgun, but says it has some advantages for a young quarterback.

“If we had our traditional type of football team with the great wideouts and a bigger, stronger and more experienced offensive line, then you don’t need that,” Paterno said. “When you are not quite as good as you would like to be on the outside, and you have a lot of people (on defense) playing around the football so you can’t run over them, you are always looking for a gimmick to get them stretched out.”

Lately, Penn State has been gimmicking a lot. Against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions ran almost half their plays from the shotgun. In Saturday’s win over Southern Mississippi, about one-third of the plays were from the shotgun.

Even when they’re not in the shotgun, Penn State can be hard to figure. Against Northwestern, the Nittany Lions used a Power-I formation with three running backs, something Paterno hadn’t used in nearly 30 years. Southern Mississippi players said they were caught off guard when Penn State swept three running backs to one side of the field, then passed to the opposite side.

“I was always thinking run or option, just because that’s what they usually do,” Golden Eagles defensive back Leroy Johnson said. “We were a bit thrown off.”

The shotgun hasn’t always worked – against Ohio State, a snap sailed right past quarterback Zack Mills, who was able to recover and pass for a first down. But its success has Paterno warming to the formation.

“I’m getting to like it – I like it until they snap that ball over the quarterback’s head. I think obviously we’re doing more and more with the shotgun, more than I ever thought we’d do at this stage,” Paterno said.