Penn State's Paterno has lost a step, but says he feels fine

CHICAGO - Talk about a tough act to follow. Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, taking his turn at the podium here yesterday at the 39th annual Big Ten Media Days, paid tribute to the 83-year-old icon who had preceded him and was still in the process of making his exit, ever so slowly and carefully.

"What a humbling experience it is for me to follow the man who I think will go down as the greatest coach in the history of college football," Brewster said as a significant percentage of his audience followed Joe Paterno out the door.

But if you think Brewster had it tough coming after Paterno at one of these media gatherings the Penn State coach finds as unappealing as an unanesthetized root canal, imagine the pressure on the man who will someday be asked to take his place. His successor will be the first new head coach of the Nittany Lions since Paterno succeeded Rip Engle in 1966.

That day might be sooner rather than later, if the Paterno who was making his first public appearance since March is any indication. This Paterno, who was unable to attend three Penn State alumni/booster club gatherings throughout Pennsylvania because of what was described as a "gastrointestinal problem," appeared as frail as he's ever been. Not only was he slightly hunched over when he walked, but his voice was so weak as to be nearly inaudible at times. He also confirmed that he had lost some weight that maybe he didn't really need to lose.

No wonder a number of the questions Paterno fielded from reporters dealt with his coaching mortality and the possibility that the 2010 season might, indeed, be his last roundup after 45 years as the Nits' head coach, and 61 at the school.

"Joe spoke a little softer," acknowledged former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge, now a college football analyst for ESPN. "Part of that, I think, is that I really don't think he enjoys functions like this at all. For him, it's like it is for a lot of us when we go to the dentist.

"He wasn't as playful. He wasn't as vibrant. But I think part of that is because he just wants to go back home and coach."

Paterno downplayed any suggestion that his physical issues of the spring and early summer were cause for concern.

"It's nothing really serious," he said. "I didn't make a big deal of it, and I don't now. I feel really good. As long as I enjoy [coaching], I'll continue to do it, unless I don't think I can do the job anymore.

"Right now, I have no plans whatsoever as far as going 2 more years, 5 more years or whatever. I just hope we have a decent year this year."

Whether Paterno is feeling as fit as he claims to be, or is still recovering, he maintains the ability to draw a laugh, even if it means poking some fun at himself.

Asked by a female reporter, who might have been young enough to be Paterno's great-granddaughter, about the "problem with his intestines," JoePa smiled and said, "It was a little bit below the intestines." Bada bing!

Someone else wondered how he felt about closing in on 400 career victories (he has a Football Bowl Subdivision-record 394) and the 408 wins posted by the late, great Grambling State coach, Eddie Robinson.

After praising Robinson, who died in April 2007 - "Eddie was one of the great people I've known in coaching" - Paterno said he is at an age where numbers and statistics don't mean as much.

"When I'm down [in a grave] and looking up, whether they put 399 on top of me or 401, who the hell cares?" he said, again cracking up listeners. "I won't know."

Blackledge said Paterno had earned the right to leave on his own terms, whenever that might be, and he wouldn't discount the possibility of the coach fooling everyone waiting to write his football obituary.

"I say this and people laugh, but I'm not joking," Blackledge said. "When Joe was recruiting me, people at that time were saying stuff about how he may not be there the whole time I'd be there. And that was 30 years ago."