Win would clinch Rose for Penn St.

November 22, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The weather should be ideal for a guy like Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — For all of his years coaching, even Joe Paterno hasn’t been involved in a game like this.

No. 7 Penn State will play a veritable Big Ten championship game today when No. 17 Michigan State visits Happy Valley.

Win and the Nittany Lions clinch a spot at the Rose Bowl.

If the Spartans (9-2, 6-1) win, they’ll still need Ohio State to be upset by Michigan to secure the trip to Pasadena.

“This is probably the biggest game I’ve been in and all of us have played in since we’ve been here,” Penn State senior safety Anthony Scirrotto said. “These are the kind of games you come here to play.”

The Big Ten doesn’t play a true title game, and Penn State (10-1, 6-1) only joined the conference in 1993 after years as an independent.

So Saturday’s game will be the first time a championship will be on the line in the 48-year history of Beaver Stadium.

Still not enough drama?

Saturday could also be the 81-year-old Paterno’s last game at home.

His contract expires after this, his record 43rd season as head coach. Talks about his future won’t resume until some time after the still-undetermined bowl game.

Hobbled by a sore hip that may require surgery next week, the feisty Paterno stays vague when talking about the future. He’s never talked about quitting, and he’s dropped hints of late that he’s looking toward 2009.

Paterno will work from the press box for Penn State — as he’s done most of this season — and he’s not sure how soon he can get back to the sideline after surgery

But enough about JoePa.

“I am not interested in what’s going to happen until after the Michigan State game’s over, all right?” Paterno pleaded this week.

At least Paterno will stay warm during the game. The forecast for Saturday afternoon calls for temperatures in the upper 20s with snow showers possible and light winds.

Perfect weather for a running game. Scirrotto calls it “ground and pound” season, ideal for physical Big Ten football.

Ideal for a guy like Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer.

Third in the nation with 140.7 yards per game, Ringer has burned opponents for 20 rushing touchdowns. The senior hopes his class has laid the foundation for future success for the Spartans and second-year coach Mark Dantonio.

“The coaches were pretty smart when they said sooner or later we would be playing for a championship, because now it is coming true,” Ringer said. “This is not going to be a one-year wonder because there is so much talent behind our senior class, and Lord willing we will continue to be successful in the future.”

First there’s Penn State to take care of, though, no small task considering the Nittany Lions feature the Big Ten’s best rush defense (101.5 yards per game).

Defensive end Josh Gaines calls the 5-foot-9, 202-pound Ringer “explosive and stronger than an ox” running behind a big offensive line. Gaines was limited last week against Indiana because of a sore ankle, but that won’t keep the senior captain from the field this weekend.

“Oh yeah, I’m playing,” Gaines said. “The Big 10 championship? I’m playing for that.”

A sellout crowd of at least 109,000 is expected to rock Beaver Stadium to celebrate the final home game of Scirrotto, Gaines, receiver Derrick Williams and 14 other Penn State seniors.

“The atmosphere will be electric, I’m sure. It always is over there. It will be something I’m sure our players will remember for the rest of their lives,” Dantonio said.