Legendary football coach Joe Paterno isn’t sure if he will open his 46th season with the Nittany Lions on the sidelines.
Paterno is back at Penn State and not even a blindside hit in camp to the 84-year-old leader that hurt his hip and shoulder could keep him away. Paterno is entering his 46th season with a record of 401-135-3.
But his doctors are urging him to coach from the booth and not the sidelines as he recovers from his injuries.
He wants to be on the sideline, but his doctors are urging caution.
"Some of the medical people want me to be upstairs," Paterno said. "Being upstairs is for the birds. You just don't see the beginning. I like to be on the sidelines and get a feel for things and be able to grab a kid and tell him certain things. So I'm going to try hard to be on the sideline."
Paterno spent much of the 2008 season coaching from the booth after suffering a leg injury.
As for what JoePa will be watching on the field, the quarterback derby still isn't over.
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Paterno declined to name a starter Tuesday for Saturday's season opener against Indiana State, other than saying that both Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin would play.
Paterno said it didn't make a difference which quarterback started, but the position isn't one of his concerns right now.
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