Paterno sidelined by hit

Posted: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 9:06 pm
By: AP

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Joe Paterno was hospitalized and undergoing tests on his right arm and hip after a player ran into the 84-year-old coach during practice.
Paterno was admitted Sunday evening to Mount Nittany Medical Center after he walked away from the collision with a receiver who was running a route, the school said Monday.
“I expect to be back at practice soon,” Paterno said in a statement. “I’m doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me.”
Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State director of athletic medicine, said it doesn’t appear surgery will be required. The school said Paterno could be released in the next 24 hours.
Paterno conducted Monday morning’s coaches meeting by phone from the hospital, according to Penn State. Assistant coaches will be running practice while Paterno is gone and it was unclear how long that would be, athletic department spokesman Jeff Nelson said in an email.
Football media day, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed.
Paterno is entering his 46th season as Penn State’s head coach and is the winningest coach in the history of major college football with 401 victories.
Speculation about when and if he will retire is a constant around Happy Valley, though Paterno himself generally dismisses the topic. But when health issues come up, the chatter seems to intensify.
Paterno’s health has been a frequent issue in recent seasons.
In 2006, he broke his leg in a sideline collision during Penn State’s game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium.
A hip injury forced him to spend much of the 2008 season coaching from a seat near the press box, where the offensive coordinator usually sets up.
He had hip surgery after that season.
Published in The Messenger 8.9.11