Michael Conroy, Associated Press Coach Charlie Weis and Heisman Trophy candidate Brady Quinn share top billing for this Irish team that prepares to welcome Penn State. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Collier: Paterno seeks sound of silence Game Matchup: No. 19 Penn State (1-0) at No. 4 Notre Dame (1-0). When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday. TV: WPXI.

Joe Paterno is not quite old enough to remember William Shakespeare, though the Ivy League-educated coach often recites the 15th century playwright's quotes to his players. He is old enough to remember Bill Shakespeare the football player, however.

"I can still remember 1936 or something like that when I was a little kid listening to the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on television," Paterno said, recalling the appeal of Notre Dame football growing up as a youth in Brooklyn. "Notre Dame was behind and Shakespeare took them back and they won a big game."

Paterno, 79, was thinking of the 1935 game between the Buckeyes and the Irish. Shakespeare, who was drafted by the Steelers in 1936, threw a long touchdown pass with less than a minute to play to beat Ohio State, 18-13.

Penn State and Paterno have had their fair share of memorable games against Notre Dame as well, but Paterno said he can't distinguish one from the other. On Saturday, Penn State and Notre Dame, two of the most storied college football programs in the country, will renew acquaintances for the first time in 14 years when the No. 19 Nittany Lions travel to No. 4 Notre Dame.

Penn State and Notre Dame played for 12 consecutive seasons from 1981-92. This will mark the sixth consecutive meeting when both teams are ranked. The series, which began in 1913, is tied, 8-8-1.

In 1988, 1989 and 1990 Penn State played Notre Dame when the Irish were the No. 1 team in the country. In '88 and '89, Notre Dame prevailed, but in '90, No. 18 Penn State shocked the top-ranked Irish, 24-21, at Notre Dame.

Saturday's game is the first of a two-game series, with next year's game to take place at Beaver Stadium.

"We've played so many good football games with Notre Dame that I couldn't tell you any one from the other," Paterno said. "We have had some great games. I can't look back. You don't have time to look back. You are just trying to get ready for this week."

Notre Dame is No. 4 in the Associated Press poll. They dropped two spots after beating Georgia Tech, 14-10, on the road. Penn State maintained its No. 19 ranking with a 34-16 win over Akron in its season opener.

Notre Dame is led by quarterback Brady Quinn, a Heisman Trophy candidate, but Saturday's game could be a defensive struggle. Quinn struggled to make big plays against Georgia Tech while the Irish defense shut out Georgia Tech in the second half as Notre Dame erased a 10-0 deficit.

Penn State, a top-10 defense the past two seasons, showed no signs of a drop-off in the Akron game.

Paterno knows his team must improve immensely if it is going to have any hope of beating the Irish.

"I have an old saying and we'll see whether it holds true," Paterno said. "I think a good football team gets better from the first to the second game more than any other time during the year. ... I think there is significant value in that first game you can build on. If you are going to be a good football team, you have to be a much better football team your second game than you were your first game. Hopefully, we will be."

NOTES -- Paterno said he and the coaches must decide soon whether to redshirt senior running back Austin Scott, who did not play against Akron because of an ankle injury. "We have to come to a decision whether we are going to play him or not," Paterno said. "Unless he is going to have an impact on the season, I don't particularly want to play him." ... Senior defensive end Jim Shaw's ankle was injured against Akron, but Paterno said he should be ready to play against Notre Dame. ... It does not appear senior tight end Patrick Hall will be playing anytime soon. Hall, a starter after preseason camp ended, did not play against Akron and is in Paterno's doghouse for unspecified reasons. Kevin Darling has taken Hall's place. "Patrick Hall and I have a couple of problems," Paterno said.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Penn State's Anthony Morelli has drawn the eye of Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. More specifically, his arm has.