Paterno to coach Rose Bowl from press box

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Joe Paterno will coach from the press box Thursday when eighth-ranked Penn State faces No. 5 Southern California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

The 82-year-old coach is recovering from hip replacement surgery Nov. 23, and admitted Wednesday that simulating game conditions from a golf cart recently made him realize coaching from upstairs would be a wise decision.

"I'm going to be upstairs," Paterno said at a gathering with reporters Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think I can handle 3 1/2 hours, 4 hours on the sideline. I think I'd be a distraction (and) if I see you on the sideline, we're going to throw it 50 times."

The Trojans (11-1), from the Pac-10, are nine-point favorites against their Big Ten Conference opponents and a victory would give them an NCAA-record seventh straight season with at least 11 wins.