The net has widened.

After Fran Ganter's name was officially taken out of contention for Penn State's head coaching job at a press conference Wednesday, the media pressed both football coach Joe Paterno and Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley about what would happen when Paterno retires.

But Paterno wasn't as standoffish as he usually is around that touchy subject.

Rather, the still cryptic words of the 77-year-old coach shed some light on his future plans.

"I don't know what I'm going to do; it's not going to be my call," Paterno said. "When it comes for me to step down, I'm going to step down. When that is going to be, I don't know. I have no plans to step down."

It's the same answer Paterno has been giving for years now, and he apparently means it.

Reports from both incoming freshman players and their family members said Paterno told them he would be around for a while longer. He finally told the media the same information.

"I tell that to a lot of recruits, and I tell them I'd like to win one more national championship and one more undefeated season," Paterno said. "I've had an undefeated season in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I'd like to make it five decades. I've talked to [the recruits] along those lines."

The inevitability of Paterno's retirement seemed to set in a little more deeply on Tuesday as Paterno discussed the selection process of a new head football coach after he leaves.

He said he'll have a hand in the decision, but he won't have the final word.

"I'll talk to Tim [Curley], and I'm sure Dr. [Graham] Spanier will make a decision, and they'll say to me, 'What do you think of this decision?' " Paterno said. "And I'll say whether or not I like it or don't like it. They'll pay attention to me, or they won't pay attention to me. People have said I should be careful because people will think I'm an emperor. I'm not an emperor."

At the conference, Curley also made sure to quell any rumors that Penn State was actively pursuing any coaches in or outside the program at the present time.

"Our energies are strictly to get the program back where we want it to be. In any of our positions, we always have a list in mind of people and possibilities. I really haven't thought a whole lot about that right now," Curley said. "We're looking forward to this season and we're focusing our energies on that."