Daryll Clark said yesterday he is pumped up to be Penn State's starting quarterback.

But backup Pat Devlin was feeling down and out after losing the duel with Clark.

"It really wears on you a little bit," Devlin said. "I don't know what the feeling is. It is maybe disappointed. It's probably a lot of feelings mixed into one."

Clark understands Devlin's disappointment. He played second fiddle to Anthony Morelli the past two seasons. Clark hopes the decision to start him against Coastal Carolina Saturday at Beaver Stadium doesn't strain his friendship with Devlin.

"I can feel his pain," Clark said. "Like I said, it was real close. It could have easily gone the other way. ... Naturally, he's going to be disappointed he didn't get the job. He put so much effort into it. I completely understand that. I've been there.

"I'm anxious to see how he'll be once we're rooming together [at the team hotel Friday]. I hope it doesn't turn out to be him being so disappointed he doesn't want to be cool with me anymore. I hope to goodness it's not like that. ... I hope nothing bad comes out of this."

Devlin doesn't anticipate that happening.

"We were pretty good friends before and I think we will be still," he said.

Clark, a seldom-used senior who is on pace academically for another year of eligibility, will be making his first career start. But coach Joe Paterno said he also plans to get Devlin, a redshirt sophomore, some playing time in the opener.

"The competition was so tight, I think it's only right to play us both and see how it pans out," Clark said. "Pat's a good player, man. We worked together all summer, trying to get this thing done because we didn't know what was going to happen. Obviously, he wanted to start and I wanted to start.

"But there was a huge possibility that there was going to be a dual system. We just did not know. With him playing Saturday, I think it's good. I don't think it will shake up any of the chemistry with the offense."

Clark has completed just 20 of 36 passes for 147 yards in 15 career games with the Nittany Lions. But he is anxious to show off his arm strength Saturday, as well as his scrambling ability with the first-team offense.

"A lot of things are running through my head right now," he said. "I'm playing the game over and over in my head, each and every day. I'd be lying to you if I told you I wasn't nervous about Saturday, because I am. I really want everything to work out.

"God forbid, I play terrible and have to get yanked. I hope everything goes smooth and goes well."

Now that he has been named the starter, Clark wants to keep the job permanently. But right now, he said, the only guarantee he has is that he will start Saturday.

"Honestly, I'm not really sure about the duration of the season," he said. "I think Joe wants to see what happens this Saturday. I don't really know if it's just this game or the rest of the season. I would hope it's the rest of the season, but I'm not sure."

Devlin said being the No. 2 quarterback will not change his preparation, but it ultimately could lead to him transferring to another school if Clark plays well.

Asked about that possibility, Devlin paused before answering.

"I don't think so," he said. "Right now, I've kind of been consumed with this, fighting for the job. So, as of right now, I'm just going to continue to work hard and keep doing my thing."