Penn State football coach Joe Paterno isn't happy with Tony Johnson and for once it has nothing to do with his play on the field.

Johnson was arrested early Friday morning for driving under the influence. His blood alcohol level was at 0.136 percent, which exceeds the state's 0.08 legal limit.

Paterno said yesterday at his weekly press conference that he would suspend Johnson for the incident.

"I am probably going to have to suspend him for a game or so," Paterno said. "Because I have to send a message to the squad that it is inappropriate to be out in the middle of the week having a couple of drinks."

But Paterno later contradicted himself and said that he hadn't made a decision on the situation.

"I said I didn't know what I was going to do," he said. "I really don't know what I am going to do."

Paterno called Tony Johnson "a really good kid" and "a hard worker."

He claimed that the media would cause Johnson's situation to become out of control.

"Obviously, it will all get blown out of proportion because he is a football player," Paterno said. "But he didn't do anything to anybody."

Paterno, whose team is off to one of the worst starts of his 37-year career at 2-5, said his players need to be even more aware of their surroundings.

"I think a lot of these things are happening to them as there are a lot of people that now all of a sudden say, 'Hey there is a kid who looks like a football player and he is doing this and let's trail him,' " Paterno said.

He said that Johnson's situation is bothersome to him. He added that the Johnson family has done a lot for State College, including helping to diversify the area. Larry Johnson Sr., Penn State defensive line coach and Tony's father, is someone that Paterno respects for all the work that he has done with the church, he added.

"Larry and Christine [Johnson], Tony's mother] are wonderful people," he said.

Paterno said that it's very tough as he is dealing with so many young people that are 19, 20 and 21 years old. He added that when dealing with people's lives there is added pressure to every situation.

"What do I say? Do I say, 'Get your rear end out of here or I'll shoot you?' " Paterno said.

The 76-year-old coach said he understands that his players are young and quoted Teddy Roosevelt when saying, "Youth is a disease, but it can be cured."

"It is a bunch of kids going through the college and having the college experience. And then they do something stupid," Paterno said.

Johnson faces one count of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, two counts of driving on roadways laned for traffic and one count of obedience to traffic control devices.

Jeff Nelson, Penn State sports information director, said Johnson would not be made available for comment.

The charges stem from a 3:03 a.m. Friday incident in which Penn State Police Services Officer Brian Rose observed a black Mercedes Benz traveling north on Bigler Road in front of his patrol vehicle. The Mercedes turned left onto Park Avenue and, while traveling westbound both driver's side tires crossed over the center yellow line twice.

His preliminary hearing date is set for Nov. 26.

Johnson, who leads Penn State with 25 catches and 375 yards, is the latest Penn State football player that has had a run-in with the law. Paterno has always stuck by his players and waited for the judicial system to take its course before making a decision.

Defensive tackle Scott Paxson was charged in July with receiving stolen property, but the charge was dropped after his preliminary hearing on Sept. 10. Paxson was charged with criminal mischief, which is a summary offense.

Punter Jeremy Kapinos was charged on Sept. 7 with disorderly conduct and underage drinking following a fight outside of Nittany Apartments. Kapinos was found not guilty for the charge of disorderly conduct, and is enrolling in the Youthful Offender's Program for his charge of underage drinking.

Anwar Phillips was acquitted of sexual assault in August.