Nittany Nation, junior safety Anthony Scirrotto and sophomore defensive tackle Chris Baker received some good news on the eve of the conference opener Thursday. A Centre County judge granted a delay in the case against the two Penn State players after lawyers for both sides agreed that more time was needed to review evidence.

Scirrotto and Baker each face a felony and related charges in connection with a brawl at an off-campus apartment last spring. The trial was originally scheduled for early October.

With the court date now pushed back to December, the chance for a mid-season distraction, with potential suspensions from head coach Joe Paterno, is now very remote. Unless there is some sort of pre-trial plea agreement, the matter will be resolved after the regular season.

Now, a post-season bowl game is, essentially, the only contest that could be affected. Some believe the delay is also another indication that the case against the PSU players is not particularly strong. In late August, the same judge dismissed most of the charges against Scirrotto and Baker. Saying he is waiting for the legal system to run its course, Paterno has yet to suspend either player. -- NEIL GEOGHEGAN.