COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At Saturday's taping of ESPN's College GameDay, one clever Ohio State fan held a sign that read, "Joe Paterno has Laurinaitis," a play on Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis' name.

While Laurinaitis certainly isn't a real disease, Paterno did come down with a sickness during Penn State's 28-6 loss to No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

Halfway through the second quarter, Paterno jogged across the field at Ohio Stadium and into the locker room, battling what he called a "little virus" that had been lingering from earlier this week.

"Sixty years I've been on the field," he said softly after the game. "As a high school player for four years and 56 years as a coach. First time I ever walked off the field."

Asked if it was difficult to make the trip across the turf, Paterno drew a laugh with his response.

"It was easier than if I had stayed," he said with a grin.

Paterno reappeared at the start of the third quarter, but his stay was brief.

After speaking with his coaching staff for a few minutes, the 79-year-old coach retreated to the locker room, stopping to chat with some fans on his way off the field. Paterno returned to the sideline for good at the start of the fourth quarter.

Though he wasn't on the field for most of the game, Paterno watched the Lions on a television in the visiting team's media room. With Paterno sidelined, the rest of the Penn State staff handled all operations during the game.

"I seen him leave," senior defensive tackle Ed Johnson said. "I didn't know what was going on. I thought maybe he had to use the bathroom or something like that."

After the game, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was surprised to learn Paterno had left at different intervals in the game.

"I talked to him before the game and after the game and never saw him in between," Tressel said. "Is he OK?"

Tressel was assured Paterno was healthy before moving on with his press conference.

As reporters asked more questions about his health, Paterno took the questions in stride. "Can we drop that? 'Cause I'll say something that'll make headlines," he asked with a laugh at one point. Another time, Paterno questioned the reporters about their line of questioning.

"Let's talk about the game. Geez, you guys write for a medical journal or something?" he asked.

By his own admission, Paterno isn't the type of guy "that likes to take pills or see doctors."

This summer, Paterno -- who will turn 80 in December -- said he had his first physical examination in nearly eight years.

But after Saturday, will his visits increase?

"I always felt if I could read the Sunday's paper after a loss, I didn't need a doctor," Paterno said.

"We'll see if I can read 'em tomorrow."