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2 0 1 9 K I C K O F F S P E C I A L o team in college football history has ever lost on media day. The season is still a month away, so no matter where you are, whether it's Alabama or Oregon State, optimism abounds. It doesn't matter what happened last year. If it was good, it's a stepping stone. If it was bad, it's a learning experience. On media day, everyone is undefeated and looking to stay that way. Penn State's media day earlier this month adhered to that pattern. There was hopeful talk from players about contending for the Big Ten championship and even some chatter about the College Football Playoff. The explosive residue of the off-sea- son's biggest bomb- shell – the transfer of projected start- ing quarterback Tommy Stevens to Mississippi State – had been scrubbed away, leav- ing the Lions feeling enthused about their 2019 season even though they have virtually no experience at the most im- portant position on the field. "I'm looking forward to it," head coach James Franklin said. "I'm excited about it." At media day, Franklin rattled off a checklist of items that he said illustrate the ways in which the program has been making strides, everything from the improve- ments to the Lasch Building, to the new turf that has been installed on the outskirts of the field at Beaver Stadium, to the protective caps that players have been wearing overtop of their helmets in practice, caps that now look like regular Penn State football helmets. Franklin thanked athletic director Sandy Barbour, new deputy AD Scott Sidwell and university president Eric Barron, hailing the teamwork that has been established between the football program and the university's ad- ministration. "I think we're really starting to hit our stride in terms of understanding what everybody expects, the stan- dards, how we work together, how efficient we are," he said. "So I'm pleased with that." Franklin did warn that he and his team still "have a lot of work ahead of us," but unlike a few years ago, when the Nittany Lions were still adapting to the staff's ap- proach and were dealing with the lingering effects of the NCAA sanctions, much of that work involves re- finements to elements that have already been put in place. "Our mantra this year, which we are going to talk about all the time, is 'championship habits,' " Franklin said. "We're big believers that the habits that our guys have on and off the field are really going to allow them to be successful in both areas. So it's all of it. It's all of the little things, all the details. It's how we practice. It's how we meet. It's how we prepare. It's how we are in the community. It's how we are in class sitting in the front row taking notes early, all those things. So that's going to be something you're probably going to hear all year long – our championship habits mantra that we are going to keep hammering home." The caveat to all of the happy talk on media day was that it's now been nearly three years since the Nittany Lions have won a championship. The historical record says that they shouldn't expect to contend every year; FORWARD THINKERS N The Nittany Lions have suffered their share of personnel losses, but they're feeling upbeat as the new season gets under way

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