True to his word, Joe Paterno returned to the Penn State sidelines for the first time since breaking his left leg last year.Wearing his trademark black sneakers and rolled-up khakis, the 80-year-old Paterno jogged out on to the field with his team after emerging from the tunnel, his face plastered on the giant stadium video screens.
"Paternoville 2K7" read a sign behind the Penn State bench as JoePa started his record-breaking 42nd season as head coach on a picture-perfect afternoon. "We are Penn State!" cried the crowd before the 17th-ranked Nittany Lions played Florida International in the season opener.
It didn't take long for Paterno to get back to his usual routine, pacing nervously up and down the sideline and barking orders to assistants.With arms flailing, a feisty Paterno got into the face of one official in the first quarter after disagreeing about a fumble lost by Penn State tailback Rodney Kinlaw.Paterno entered Saturday with 363 career wins, second among major college coaches only to Florida State's Bobby Bowden (366).
Joe Paterno returns to Penn St. sideline