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Penn State's Paterno feeling better, son says
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Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Joe Paterno's intestinal issues have been a major concern this summer.
But his son, Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, said Friday that his legendary father is feeling much better and enjoying a family vacation at the beach.
"A friend of mine has a place about two blocks from his at the Jersey shore and he said, 'I saw him getting ice cream and he's on the beach,' " Jay said during a Lift for Life charity event at Holuba Hall.
"There's really not any thoughts crossing his mind that he's slowing down. He's lost some weight and part of it was he's now trying to walk more and get himself in fighting shape for the season.
"If we had practice tomorrow or played a game tomorrow, he'd be fine."
Paterno, 83, has been slowed for nearly two months by intestinal problems which limited his ability to travel and forced him to cancel three "Evening With Joe" appearances in Pittsburgh, Hershey and Philadelphia. He also missed a meeting of Big Ten athletic directors and coaches in Chicago.
Penn State president Graham Spanier recently said "we have no reason to be concerned about coach Paterno's ability to lead the team."
Jay said his dad held a team meeting last week and would be ready to go when preseason practice starts next month.
"When the whole thing first started, I went over to the house and he said, 'I haven't been feeling well,' " Jay said. "I said, 'How long has this thing been going on?' He said, 'About three weeks.' I said, 'So what did the doctor tell you?'
"He said, 'What's a doctor going to do for me?' I said, 'Prescribe medication to make you feel better.' He said, 'I don't need that stuff.' ... He's one of those guys that in his mind, doctors are for sissies."
First Published July 10, 2010 12:18 am
