LOS ANGELES -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno is headed back to the coaches' booth for the Rose Bowl.

Paterno, still recovering from hip replacement surgery Nov. 23, occupied the same spot the last seven regular season games.

"I'm going to be upstairs," he said today during a news conference at the downtown Marriott. "I don't think I could handle 3 1/2 hours, 4 hours on the sideline."

Paterno, 82, said he's not sure if he will be able to lead his team onto the field tomorrow when No. 6 Penn State (11-1) battles No. 5 Southern California (11-1) in nearby Pasadena.

He's not sure if he will be able to join his team in the locker room at halftime.

"Who knows what's going to happen by Thursday. I might decide to take a boat to Italy," he said, jokingly.

Paterno also took a shot at former backup quarterback Pat Devlin, who departed the program earlier this month and is transferring to Division I-AA Delaware.

"Who left?" Paterno said. "Who's that? ... Obviously, I'm disappointed that the kid left, but he did what was best for him."