Morry Gash, Associated Press Joe Paterno had surgery Sunday and was resting comfortably yesterday at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Click photo for larger image.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno had successful surgery on his left leg Sunday and is expected to coach the Nittany Lions in their home game Saturday against Temple.

Paterno, 79, had surgery to repair a fracture at the top of his shin bone and torn knee ligaments. He was resting comfortably yesterday at Mount Nittany Medical and is expected to resume normal activity today.

"It's going to be a day-by-day process, but the hope is that he will be back to coaching the team [today]," said Jeff Nelson, Penn State's assistant athletic director for communications.

Paterno was expected to be released from the hospital this morning. Penn State canceled Paterno's weekly news conference today and rescheduled it for tomorrow. It was not known if Paterno will address reporters at this time. The only person confirmed to take part in the teleconference is Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State's director of athletic medicine who performed the surgery.

Nelson said Paterno decided on surgery after reviewing the Wisconsin game and beginning preparations for the Temple game Sunday morning and early afternoon. Sebastianelli reported that all his surgical objectives were met. He had diagnosed Paterno with a tibial plateau fracture and medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligament tears.

Sebastianelli anticipates that Paterno's left leg will be able to bear weight in six weeks. He is wearing a temporary brace and had several screws inserted into his leg.

Penn State's football operations staff is finalizing plans for transporting Paterno around the practice field. Many older coaches get around on the practice field with a golf cart or something similar. Paterno, who always has been an active participant in practice, will have to change his ways in the wake of his injury.

It is not known if Paterno will attempt to coach the game from the sidelines or the press box. The game-day operation likely will not change much because defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and offensive coordinator Galen Hall and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno call all plays.

Paterno's leg was injured early in the third quarter of the Nittany Lions' 13-3 loss Saturday at Wisconsin. Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless caught a pass near the sidelines and was shoved out of bounds by Wisconsin linebacker DeAndre Levy. Both players plowed into Paterno's leg and bent it backward.

Paterno was taken off the field on a cart near the end of the third quarter and had to watch the rest of the game from the locker room.

NOTES -- The Lions' regular-season finale Nov. 18 against Michigan State will be a noon kickoff and will be televised by ESPN2.