STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Status quo is the welcome norm these days for Penn State football.
The Nittany Lions have a year's experience with coach Bill O'Brien's expectation level and offseason workout program. O'Brien took over January 2012 but wasn't in Happy Valley full time for another five weeks as he finished up as New England Patriots offensive coordinator.
Players say there's an added comfort level with O'Brien. Last year's better-than-expected 8-4 record is a confidence booster, too.
Strength coach Craig Fitzgerald says the team can now build off the basics introduced last year in the revamped offseason conditioning program. Receiver Allen Robinson, a breakout star in 2012 with 11 touchdown catches, has said his goal is adding 10 pounds of muscle to help take the pounding of making catches over the middle.
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