STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Joe Paterno considers himself a teacher as much as a football coach. One of his first lessons the Penn State Nittany Lions this offseason was to stay out of trouble.

The spring and summer have been peppered with Penn State players showing up in the police blotter – most notably an off-campus fight in April involving key safety Anthony Scirrotto.

So Paterno pleaded for leaders to keep the team focused as he prepares to return to the sideline from a right leg injury.

“The biggest thing you learn is you got to think,” said receiver Terrell Golden, who has emerged as one of those leaders. “It’s happened, that’s over with, and right now we’ve moved on and we’re trying to focus on becoming a great football team.”

Paterno’s 42nd season at Penn State will be record-breaking one no matter how the 17th-ranked Nittany Lions play. JoePa is set to pass Amos Alonzo Stagg, who led the University of Chicago for 41 seasons (1892 to 1932), as the coach with the longest tenure at one school.

The talent is there for Penn State to make this another successful season for the second-winningest coach in major college football history.

“We’re a pretty good football team right now, we’re not great. We’ve got a ways to go,” Paterno said.

Strong-armed quarterback Anthony Morelli has a deep group of receivers with Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and 6-foot-5 tight end Andrew Quarless to work with.

Then there’s speedy junior Derrick Williams, the former top recruit whose performance slipped in his sophomore season when he scored one touchdown.

“He’s put an awful lot of pressure on himself, because there isn’t a guy on the team that works harder than Derrick Williams does,” Paterno said. “And I think this is a key year for him.”

It’s also a key season for Morelli, who had his ups and downs last season in his first as a starter. He finished well in the Outback Bowl against Tennessee in January.

On defense, Paterno will again turn to his linebackers for big plays – this is Linebacker U., after all.

Two-time All-American Paul Posluszny is gone but senior Dan Connor moves from outside to inside linebacker to fill that spot.

Penn State’s second leading tackler (113) last year behind Posluszny, Connor might be a step quicker and more explosive than the two-time captain.

“Leadership? It’s fine by me. They can put it on me,” said Connor, the only senior likely to start on defense. “I’m the oldest guy on defense, so I’m expecting that.”

Junior Sean Lee is another rising star at linebacker.

While the defensive line will be inexperienced, the secondary returns three starters, including corner Justin King. Hard-hitting Tony Davis has moved from corner to safety next to Scirrotto, a ballhawk who emerged in 2006 to lead the Big Ten with six interceptions.

The wild card? Whether Scirrotto will miss playing time following the April fight. He and reserve defensive lineman Chris Baker are scheduled for trial in October on charges including burglary and simple assault.

Paterno said he hasn’t made a decision about the players’ status for the season.

“It’s still there but I try to put it in the back of my head,” Scirrotto said about his legal issues. “I don’t want it to affect me right here on the field.”

Another sore spot emerged last week when Quarless, 18, was cited by Penn State police for underage drinking. There’s no word from Paterno whether that alleged infraction will keep the tight end from the sideline for the season opener Sept. 1.

JoePa, though, firmly intends to be there. It would be the first appearance for the rolled-up khakis and black sneakers on the sideline during a game since Paterno broke his right leg at Wisconsin last November.

“I think I’m 100 percent,” Paterno said. “I thought from Day 1 that if I can get through two-a-days, I will be fine. Because one-a-days have been a snap for me.”