Just about every week this fall, head coach Joe Paterno faced questions about his future plans. And every week, the soon-to-be 81-year old Penn State coach reiterated that he has no immediate plans to retire.

He is, after all, locked in an epic battle with Florida State’s Bobby Bowden to see who will wind up major college football’s all-time win leader. But here is another reason JoePa may be sticking around, at least through the 2008 season: the Nittany Lions will be loaded on defense next fall.

Sure, PSU must replace star linebacker Dan Connor, who holds the program’s record for career tackles. But he is the only senior on a unit that currently ranks seventh nationally in total defense. And unless there is a surprise defection – like an ill-advised early departure to the NFL by, say, cornerback Justin King or the dismissal of a player like Chris Baker, who always seems to be in trouble with the law – Penn State will be talented, deep and experience on defense next season.

Just like Connor did when Paul Posluszny exited for the NFL, Sean Lee will be moved to a new position next fall to give PSU another monster presence middle at linebacker. The front line will have a big-time playmaker (end Maurice Evans) and proven run-stoppers like Jared Odrick, Chris Baker and Phil Taylor to clog things up in the middle. And the secondary should be even better and deeper than they were in 2007.

Throughout the Paterno Era, the Lions usually built unbeaten, championship-caliber teams on defense. And the 2008 squad should be at that kind of lofty level to make a national championship run a possibility. Do you think Paterno would walk away with that on the table? – NEIL GEOGHEGAN.