Penn State football coach Joe Paterno acknowledged one player who sat out Saturday's Blue-White game was held from the game partly because of his involvement in an April 13 altercation involving two members of the Penn State wrestling team.

In a pre-game press conference, Paterno said senior fullback Paul Jefferson would not play because of his possible involvement in the altercation, which resulted in freshman wrestler A.J. Cummins receiving treatment at Centre Community Hospital and a State College Police Department investigation. Senior wrestler Ryan Cummins was also injured in the altercation.

"He'll dress, but I probably won't play him," Paterno said. "But two things: First, he doesn't need it, and we're not going to play [tight end] Casey Williams, and I wouldn't want anyone to read into that at all. And I think there is some question right now about whether Paul was involved in something. I don't know what he was involved in yet."

A police statement issued last week said several males assaulted the students, who were treated at the hospital. The statement also said the assailants remain unidentified and labeled the incident as alcohol related.

The statement said several members of the football team were present at the incident, which took place at 445 E. Foster Ave. However, it remains unclear what involvement any players had in the altercation.

An Associated Press report said A.J. Cummins suffered a broken cheekbone and fractured orbital bone. Penn State assistant sports information director Brian Siegrist confirmed Thursday that Cummins had to miss the University Nationals and Fila Cadet Nationals.

Paterno also discussed his decision to play defensive back Anwar Phillips in the Capital One Bowl Game Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., after the university put him on temporary expulsion -- to begin with the spring semester -- for his involvement in a sexual assault case.

"I played him," Paterno said. "It is nobody's business but mine."

Phillips, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault, is awaiting a jury selection for his upcoming trial.

"I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen with some of the incidents," Paterno said. "As a result, I'm trying to be fair to both sides. I don't think it's fair for me to get up here and say this or that and maybe affect public opinion about one side or the other side of it.

"You guys think everything is crystal clear to me, and it's not."

When asked about Penn State President Graham Spanier's recent statement that said, "students should not be allowed to participate in university activities in such circumstances," Paterno replied, "Did our president say that?"

"He's entitled to his opinion, just like you are. Only he's making more money than you are and he's smarter than you are."

In recent years, Paterno has awaited the results of police investigations before deciding whether or not to discipline players for incidents involving the law.

In 2000, then Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey was accused of assaulting a plain-clothes New Jersey State Police officer. Former Lions tight end R.J. Luke and current linebacker T.C. Cosby were each charged with one count of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and harassment and stalking in July of 2001, stemming from an altercation at a fraternity.

The three players were acquitted of all charges.

Paterno gave no indication he would discipline any players until more information is made known to the public.

"I don't know anything. You don't know anything," he said. "Why don't we wait until we know something?"