Pennsylvania State University

Remnants of organic matter in soil collected in South Africa indicate that microorganisms had moved from the Earth's oceans onto land at least 2.6 billion years ago, according to researchers from Pennsylvania State University. Although life has been known to exist in the oceans for at least 3.8 billion years, the oldest known remnants on land, found in Arizona, were only 1.2 billion years old.

With Penn State gathering in the locker room after its 38-24 Rose Bowl loss to USC, Coach Joe Paterno quickly broke the ice. " 'We were doing things that we hadn't been doing all season,' " Nittany Lions quarterback Daryll Clark recalled Paterno telling the team. All week, Paterno said he viewed No. 5 USC (12-1) as the nation's best team. But in no way did he expect the Trojans to win their third consecutive Rose Bowl the way they did it.

The finalist for president of San Jose State University withdrew her application Tuesday, citing financial reasons and strong objections to her candidacy from some prominent alumni. A group of affluent alumni who objected to the slate of minority and women finalists for the job threatened last week to end financial support of the university unless the application process was restarted.

USC's Rose Bowl performance against Penn State looked a lot like the Trojans' season. Prolonged periods of defensive dominance. Flashes of offensive brilliance. And a victory in the end. But the fifth-ranked Trojans' 38-24 win over sixth-ranked Penn State on Thursday also included the requisite dose of what-might-have-been. What might have happened if the Trojans had showed up to play at Oregon State in September?

He still doesn't get it, all the camera lenses focusing on him on media day. Joe Paterno stands in the noonday August sun in Beaver Stadium, arms folded at midfield, striking one what-am-I-doing-here? pose after another. Men and women with notebooks have traipsed the Alleghenies to pay homage, yet Paterno has put out word that he isn't interested in homage. "When I'm dead, it'll be fine," he has said. But the cameramen and reporters don't go away.

So, is it more prestigious to be a legend or a genius? That knotty question of virtually no consequence has been the central theme in the hype and pageantry this week in what will probably be the last Blockbuster Bowl. Today's game between Stanford, coached by Bill Walsh (a.k.a. "the Genius"), and Penn State, coached by Joe Paterno (a.k.a. "the Legend"), is unlikely to answer that question.

Will "free" music sell on campus? Online music companies and record labels think they can neutralize piracy by offering college students a service that doesn't require them to shell out cash when they use it. The industry hopes it can make this kind of service a standard feature of campus life -- with the cost buried somewhere in student fees. The first pool of subjects in the ivory-tower experiment will be 18,000 students who attend Pennsylvania State University, where Roxio Corp.

Penn State scored a major coup three years ago when it landed Tony Sacca of Delran, N.J., judged by many recruiting experts to be the nation's No. 1 high school quarterback among a group that included Californians Todd Marinovich and Bret Johnson. But Penn State and Sacca have proven to be a volatile mix. Sack-a Tony, it has been suggested to Coach Joe Paterno.

If Penn State offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger doesn't make the NFL, he might have a future in standup comedy. Even Budd Friedman thinks so. "Yeah, I'd book him," the owner of the Improv said. "Absolutely." Penn State had a team-only function this week at the Improv in Hollywood, where comedians Joe Rogan and Pablo Francisco entertained. As did Ohrnberger, the Lions' in-house comic. Teammates chose the senior to present Friedman, the club's owner and founder, with a signed football.

When Chuck Penzenik arrived in Southern California with Penn State two weeks ago, he wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't even get in the Rose Bowl game. Monday night, after Penn State had defeated Oregon, 38-20, the sophomore from Akron, Ohio, stood in the cavernous tunnel outside the Rose Bowl dressing rooms proudly clutching two footballs. One was the ball he had intercepted and returned 44 yards to set up Penn State's fourth touchdown to break open what had been a tensely fought game.

USC and Penn State would have preferred to play in the Bowl Championship Series title game next week in Florida. However, now that the game is finally here, neither seems to regard the 95th Rose Bowl game as a consolation prize.

Good morning, Nittany Nation. On behalf of the humble metropolis of Los Angeles ("The City That Never Sweeps"), we'd like to welcome you to the 2009 Rose Bowl, a day you will remember, even if last night is still a total blur. Our goal? To make you feel at home here. If it helps, just think of L.A. as Scranton by the Sea. Or the Valley Forge of Chin-Tucks. By now, you've probably discovered our region's crown jewel, Pasadena. It is a great town, particularly for people who have trouble chewing.

Pete Carroll is leaving the practice field wearing a gray sweatshirt, khakis, athletic shoes. Joe Paterno is headed to the practice field wearing a gray sweatshirt, khakis, athletic shoes. One difference. The cuffs. True to his legend, even on a stroll through a hotel lobby when next to nobody is watching, Paterno's cuffs are rolled up above his shoes, the quintessential 1920s hipster. Says Carroll: "I love those cuffs, I really love them.

Rey Maualuga has heard the talk, seen the highlights. More important, USC's All-American linebacker spent the season smack dab in the middle of it all. So when college football observers describe USC's defense as the best of the Pete Carroll era, and perhaps one of the top units in college football history, Maualuga just shrugs his broad shoulders. "The best is yet to come," he said matter-of-factly.

If Penn State offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger doesn't make the NFL, he might have a future in standup comedy. Even Budd Friedman thinks so. "Yeah, I'd book him," the owner of the Improv said. "Absolutely." Penn State had a team-only function this week at the Improv in Hollywood, where comedians Joe Rogan and Pablo Francisco entertained. As did Ohrnberger, the Lions' in-house comic. Teammates chose the senior to present Friedman, the club's owner and founder, with a signed football.

Stefen Wisniewski is 19 years old, as thick as the Hulk and as mild as a breeze. He doesn't drink, doesn't curse and spends his nights laboring over textbooks. On Sundays, you'll find him in church, head bowed in prayer, heart filled with scripture. Thursday, you'll find him playing offensive guard at the Rose Bowl, crashing his 6-foot-3, 294-pound body against USC defenders. It's all part of the family business.

When the gunfire stopped, Chris Mazyck lay on the pavement, blood gushing from six bullet holes in his left leg, groin and buttocks. It was 2:30 a.m., March 9, 1991, in Columbia, S.C. Mazyck, (pronounced: Ma- zeek ), a Penn State football player, had been shot at point-blank range with a .45 automatic, by a man he had ordered off his front porch about an hour earlier. At first, he remembers, there was no pain, only shock. He had been knocked to the pavement by the first round.

Who would have thought America might find a potential national champion playing on Dec. 28, not Jan. 1 . . . in Joe Robbie Stadium, not the Orange Bowl . . . for $1.6 million a team, not the $4.2 million the Orange Bowl pays . . . on Raycom TV, not one of the big three networks? Introducing the infant Blockbuster Bowl, which makes its debut tonight (5 p.m. PST, Channel 13) and, surprisingly enough, features at least one team with faint, but possible, national title hopes.

Penn State safety Mark Rubin, out here to play in the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena, made the mistake of tuning in to the Champs Sports Bowl on Saturday in Orlando. Must all these games be televised? We thought the Big Ten started its own network in part to confine these humiliations to in-house programming. Watching Florida State put a 42-13 pounding on Wisconsin did little to enhance the notion that Penn State stands any chance against USC.

The Penn State Nittany Lions sported suits and ties Saturday as they gathered for a team meeting at their Century City hotel. The occasion? Beef. It's what was for dinner later that night. "To be honest with you, I never heard of Lawry's," fullback Dan Lawlor said, referring to the Beverly Hills restaurant that annually hosts a dinner for both teams competing in the Rose Bowl. "It's going to be good to just have a great meal and have a few laughs with the guys."