Penn State coach Joe Paterno was released from the hospital yesterday, two days after undergoing hip replacement surgery.

The 81-year-old coach had surgery to fix a sore hip that prevented him from pacing the sidelines. He coached the final seven games of the regular season from the press box.

Paterno was released early from Mount Nittany Medical Center, the school said in a statement. The team doctor called the surgery a success.

The surgery took place Sunday, the day after No. 6 Penn State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) beat Michigan State to win the conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.