Paterno declares himself fit for another season

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Asked a question related to his health, Penn State coach Joe Paterno responded by trying to paraphrase Mark Twain.

After canceling three alumni appearances around Pennsylvania this summer, and bowing out from Big Ten meetings in the offseason, because of intestinal ailments, the Hall of Fame coach held court with the media for the first time in three months during conference preseason media days in Chicago.

“Well, you know, again, what did Mark Twain say, the rumor of my death has been overexaggerated or something, I forget,” the 83-year-old Paterno said. “I used to know a little bit more about those.”

Speaking slightly slower and in a lower tone than normal, but with typical wit, Paterno during a news conference delicately explained his summer absences. A team spokesman and the family had said earlier in the summer that Paterno suffered from a lingering intestinal bug.

Paterno also said in June he was recovering from an overreaction to antibiotics prescribed to him after some dental work. He said Monday his health problems were “nothing serious.”

“It was a little bit below the intestines,” Paterno said in a humorous exchange with a reporter.

Preparing for his record 45th season on the sideline, Paterno said he’s not missed time readying for the upcoming start of college football. He’s been in the office, met with players and studied videos of opposing teams at home.

“I really, I didn’t lose any time. I had, as I said, the problem I had was not having control of some things, and I had to be careful that I didn’t get myself in a position where I would embarrass myself,” Paterno said.

Cory Giger, a sports reporter for the Altoona Mirror, had a chance encounter with Paterno late Monday afternoon, three hours after the coach had wrapped up interviews.

Giger, in a column Tuesday, wrote that Paterno “looked great and tanned after his summer beach trip, speaking clearly and walking effortlessly.”

Paterno, during his news conference, said he felt good and would continue to coach as long as he enjoyed it or “I don’t think I can do a good job or anybody else doesn’t think I can do the job.”

The Nittany Lions open their season Sept. 4 in Happy Valley against Youngstown State and travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sept. 11 to play Alabama.