M. Spencer Green, Associated Press Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz, left, reaches over to shake hands with Penn State coach Joe Paterno yesterday at the Big Ten Conference football media day in Chicago. Click photo for larger image. Related article Big Ten Notebook: Posluszny adds another honor; Ohio State picked to finish 1st

CHICAGO -- Every year about this time Penn State coach Joe Paterno gets asked the obligatory question: "How is your health and how much longer do you plan on coaching?"

In years past, Paterno would answer in bland fashion that he would coach as long as he enjoyed it and as long as his health was good. Yesterday afternoon at the Big Ten Kickoff in Chicago, Paterno spun a yarn about a summer challenge that led to a minor health scare, one that prompted him to get his first physical in about a decade.

The Paterno family gathered for a family reunion in early July. Most of Paterno's children are active and fit, and after some good-hearted verbal sparring, the challenge was issued: "Let's see if you can climb Mount Nittany, old man."

Never one to back down from a challenge, Paterno, who will turn 80 in December, accepted. Paterno is in great shape for a man his age and routinely walks four or five days per week. Most of his daily jaunts, however, take place on more level planes around State College.

The Mount Nittany Conservancy describes the climb as a "vigorous hike" and grades the difficulty as "intermediate to strenuous." According to the conservancy's Web site, the 1,800-foot climb takes three hours to complete and is about 4 miles long.

"My kids teased me into a family climb," Paterno said. "I was fine on the climb up. On the way down, my old leg started bothering me. There was a little inflammation."

Paterno saw his doctors and was prescribed rest for the ailing leg. It was nothing serious. Paterno was his usual self yesterday and pronounced his body fit and ready to go for the 2006 season, his 41st at Penn State as head coach.

Paterno is the oldest coach in college football and will be coaching against some peers this fall who are young enough to be his grandchildren. On this day, when two of the youngest head coaches in college football made their first appearances before the glaring lights of a big-time media gathering, Paterno gave no indication when he will retire, or even if quitting was on his mind at all.

As universities across the country are hiring 30-something coaches to lead their football programs, Paterno has zero desire to step aside, even as men he once recruited set off into that golden sunset.

Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez retired after last season, having put in 16 years as the head coach. Alvarez, who was recruited by Paterno in the mid-1960s when he played at Burgettstown High, decided the rigors of the game had taken a toll, and took the less strenuous job of Wisconsin's athletic director.

Alvarez's replacement is Bret Bielema, a 36-year old who was born a few weeks after Paterno's second undefeated season in 1969. Bielema had the distinction as the Big Ten's youngest coach until Pat Fitzgerald took over at Northwestern in the wake of Randy Walker's death in early July.

Walker was 52 when a heart ailment took his life. Fitzgerald is 31 and played against Penn State in the mid-1990s. With that as a backdrop to the festivities yesterday, Paterno said he was lucky to have good genes.

"I've taken pretty good care of myself," Paterno said. "It all has to do with the genes. If you don't have the genes, there's nothing you can do. It's a tragedy losing someone like Randy. There's no justice."

Paterno enters his 41st season after one of his finest hours as a coach. The 2005 Penn State team rose from the ashes of a 4-7 season, won a Big Ten championship and Paterno's first Bowl Championship Series game, a 26-23 triple-overtime victory against Florida State and fellow senior citizen Bobby Bowden.

Paterno said he is refreshed after a few weeks at the beach and raring to go for another summer camp with teenagers, some of whom weren't yet born when Penn State won its previous national championship. He doesn't move like he used to, but he is eager to put his stamp on another Penn State team.

And even if Paterno is slowing down a bit -- he doesn't walk to work anymore -- one thing that has not showed any sign of wear is his sharp mind. Paterno's quick wit and sense of humor were on display yesterday, most notably when he told the punch line to his Mount Nittany story.

"I hadn't had a physical in 8 or 10 years, so I figured I better have one," Paterno said. "I had a good physical. The doctor said I could coach another 10 years. When I got back we had a staff meeting. I told them that, and all nine guys put their heads [in their hands]."