This Penn State offense believes it has the stuff to challenge the production of the school's gold standard, the 1994 unit.

That 1994 offense, quarterbacked by Kerry Collins and featuring Ki-Jana Carter at tailback, set school records for total offense (5,722 yards) and scoring (526 points).

"We were probably as good an offensive team in a tough league as anybody who ever played," coach Joe Paterno said.

In a departure from Paterno's customary defense-first philosophy, the 1994 Lions team relied on the big offense to roll up a 12-0 record, including a win in the Rose Bowl. The only disappointment was finishing second to Nebraska in the final polls, an outcome Paterno still disputes.

The current team sometimes gets treated to highlight tapes of that 1994 season, according to wide receiver Brett Brackett

"It would be hard to live up to what they did on the field, but I think we have the ability to do that," Brackett said Wednesday.

Fellow wide receiver Derrick Williams, a senior who's been playing a key role since his 2005 freshman season, is enthused about the stockpile of offensive weapons on hand. When he first came, the program was short on offensive threats. That no longer is the case.

"It is unbelievable how many guys can do special things," he said. "I am just so excited to see what the season has for us. There are definitely a lot of guys that can create plays."

Penn State ranks second nationally in scoring and eighth in total offense after one week.

Quarterback Daryll Clark sounds like a kid on Christmas. The senior first-year starter, who has completed academic requirements to add eligibility for 2009 and is on track to graduate in December, is eager to show the world what the offense can do. After having a limited game plan for the opener with Coastal Carolina, a 66-10 win which still produced 594 yards of total offense, Clark expects No. 19 Penn State (1-0) to delve deeper into the playbook for the Oregon State (0-1) game Saturday.

"We're installing a lot more things in the offense," he said. "We're going to have to bring out some of the things you guys didn't see last week."

Oregon State's defense, with its aggressive front seven play and press coverage by its cornerbacks, presents a stiff challenge. But Clark is optimistic, based on how the Penn State offense has performed against its defense in camp and practices.

"If it works against them, I think it can work against anybody," he said.

When Clark seeks a frame of reference for this offense, he goes to 2005 and the Michael Robinson-led attack that produced an 11-1 record and No. 3 finish in the polls.

Passing, options, quarterback runs -- Clark sees them all in Penn State's future after none of the quarterbacks picked up a carry against Coastal Carolina.

The threat of heavy rains Saturday might crimp the offense in terms of expanding the package, but Clark isn't willing to concede that.

"You want to run the offense the same way as if it was sunny outside," he said, vowing that would happen, come "rain, hail, sleet or snow."

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