ARIZONA READY FOR PENN ST.; BUT PATERNO SAYS HE LIKES HIS TEAM.

Byline: Mark Blaudschun Boston Globe

The concession comes grudgingly, pulled out of him after a series of questions that basically give him no other choice but to concede.

``In most cases, you feel like you've got a pretty good football team,'' said Penn State coach Joe Paterno. ``This particular year, I think we're a good football team.''

Whoa. Hold everything. Make reservations for the national championship game in New Orleans in January. Joe Pa likes this team.

Indeed, he should. With 19 starters returning from last year's 9-3 club, and with linebacker LaVar Arrington - arguably the best player in the country - leading a defense that could have as many as three first-team All-Americans, the Nittany Lions appear to be very good indeed.

At least on paper. This afternoon, at Beaver Stadium, everyone gets to see just how good Penn State really is as the No. 3 Lions meet No. 4 Arizona in the Pigskin Classic, which will officially kick off the 1999 college football season.

Normally, preseason games are best forgotten as soon as they are played, with mismatches made by Top 10-type teams eager to get an easy ``scrimmage'' in the books before they get serious.

But this matchup is different. Arizona, which has 16 starters back from last year's 12-1 team, is not backing off a bit. The Wildcats feel that a win over Penn State - a definite possibility - will give them the boost they need in the rankings and among the pollsters to be a factor in the national championship race.

Penn State, which has already been tabbed No. 1 in a couple of national publications, is looking forward to such an early challenge.

``Really, there are very few negatives,'' said Paterno, beginning his 50th season in Happy Valley. ``When you have a chance to prepare for a team as good as Arizona, you probably get a little more out of summer conditioning and preseason practice. Win or lose, you are probably a better football team when you start the next week.''

Arizona will test the Lions, no question. The Wildcats lobbied for this game, feeling a win, or even a strong showing, will leave a lasting impression on the voters about Arizona football.

``If you ask me if we're going to be confident, I'm going to say yes,'' said Arizona coach Dick Tomey, whose team has won 16 of its last 17 games and is using a Holiday Bowl victory over Nebraska as a jump start into this season.

Tomey said he likes the challenge his team faces.

``This kind of game is very fun for the players to be involved with,'' he said. ``That's why kids come to college, for games like this.''

The Wildcats have star power on both offense and defense, but it is the offensive side of their game that will create the most interest, considering Penn State's defensive reputation.

The Wildcats are one of the few teams that have made a two-quarterback system work. Tomey will start Keith Smith, but he has Ortege Jenkins, who set a Pac-10 single-season passing efficiency record last year, as 1A on his depth chart. The Wildcats also have running back Trung Candidate, who may be a Heisman candidate if Arizona can win the way people expect and Candidate can match his 1,220-yard performance of 1998.

Penn State also has two quarterbacks, but there is more controversy than comfort in that. Paterno has designated Kevin Thompson as his starter, although Rashard Casey has a large support group that has been lobbying for more playing time for Casey.

All Paterno will say is that Thompson is his starter and Casey will probably see some playing time.

Still, the critics point out that Thompson is coming off a season in which he threw more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns.

But those are the subplots of a game that could very well be replayed in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, if not the Sugar Bowl and national championship game Jan. 4.

For a change, this preseason ```Classic'' could be just that.