While Penn State is reviewing candidates to replace retiring University President Bryce Jordan, Michigan State University is buzzing with rumors that its president may soon depart.

Thus rose speculation that Michigan State President John DiBiaggio might become the next head of Penn State.

A Feb. 12 article in the Detroit News cited strained relations between Michigan State's board of trustees and DiBiaggio and considered the possibility of a hasty departure from the university. A list of possible posts he might fill included the presidency here.

But DiBiaggio -- recently involved in a dispute with Michigan State's trustees over the naming of an athletic director -- is not unhappy in his position and does not intend to leave for Penn State or anywhere else, said DiBiaggio's spokesman Terry Denbo.

"(DiBiaggio) said during this thing, there's been a 'litany of lies' about his departure and somebody thought he said 'Nittany Lions,' " Denbo said.

J. Lloyd Huck, chairman of the Trustee Presidential Selection Committee, said he was not surprised to hear DiBiaggio's name in connection with Penn State's search, but added he does not know whether the Michigan State president is being considered by the Presidential Search and Screen Committee.

"I've made it a special point not to probe or to pry into the workings of that committee," Huck said. "I won't know until I've seen the list of names."

The search committee is scheduled to deliver a list of five to 10 candidates to the selection committee by March 1.

Denbo said it is natural for Penn State to consider DiBiaggio, although he has no desire to leave Michigan State.

"There'd be every reason for Penn State to consider him," Denbo said. "He is the epitome of a land-grant university president."

DiBiaggio, who has been in his present post for four-and-a-half years, is in charge of a university more similar to Penn State than any other in the nation, Denbo said. The biggest difference is that Michigan State employs no system of commonwealth campuses, but rather is concentrated in a single location, he said.

The two universities also share a common founding date, Denbo said. Both institutions began in 1855.

Penn State's move into the Big 10 also increased speculation that its next president might come from another university in the conference and fueled rumors that DiBiaggio might head east, Denbo said.

And besides, Denbo added, "He's been an open fan of Joe Paterno."