Penn State's 23 seniors will take the field tomorrow against Michigan State without Joe Paterno.

After undergoing surgery to repair a broken shinbone and ligament damage to his left knee, plans indicate Paterno will watch seniors like co-captains Paul Posluszny and Levi Brown play their final game on the Beaver Stadium turf from high above the field in the press box.

For a senior class that has trotted onto the field behind the 79-year-old coach every game except one, it might be an odd feeling.

"Everybody wishes Joe was there," senior offensive lineman Robert Price said. "We just all wish that he gets better and that we have him hopefully for the bowl game."

But while Paterno's trademark glasses, khaki pants and raspy voice will not be on the sidelines, it's not because he can't handle the game anymore. According to those close to him, it's so he can restore his health in time to lead Penn State in a New Year's Day bowl game and through next year and beyond.

For some departing seniors, that longevity is baffling.

"To be honest with you, I didn't think he'd still be here [now] when I got recruited," senior defensive end Tim Shaw said. "He didn't say he would be. He said at the time he didn't know. I figured he'd be gone by now. It's amazing he's still around."

Others say they were certain Paterno would be there through their entire careers.

"I felt like he would," Posluszny said. "With our recruiting class I came in with, he told one of the recruits, I can't remember who particularly, he said, 'I'm going to be here for the next three or four years.' I felt pretty confident he was going to be here."

But Shaw believes most players had doubts. And even though he had no idea whether Paterno would still be coaching by the time he graduated, Shaw never let that doubt bother him. In fact, he said it might have been a good experience to endure a coaching change.

But most of all, Shaw appreciated that Paterno was up front and honest with him by telling him he wasn't sure how long he'd be at Penn State.

"When you're recruiting, you've got to get that out there, because you can't promise guys you'll be there if you won't," Shaw said. " ... I think we all expected there to be a coaching change by now."

There hasn't been. Instead, signs indicate Paterno could be around a great deal longer. Broken ribs and a surgery that kept him in the hospital for five days didn't even derail the man that has become the face of Penn State football or silence the voice most players like to imitate, though certainly not with Paterno in earshot.

While players may imitate Paterno, they respect him, too. And if they don't now, those familiar with the program know they will later.

Offensive coordinator Galen Hall, now in this third year coaching at Penn State, knows that. In 1961, Paterno led him onto the field for his Senior Day at Penn State.

Hall, who has been the head coach at Florida in addition to serving as the NFL's Dallas Cowboys' running backs coach during Emmitt Smith's heyday, realizes how much Paterno prepares people for the world after Penn State.

He believes this year's seniors will realize that, too.

"He prepares you better for going out into the world than, maybe, any place I have been. I just think it is a complete family and a complete feeling of getting ready to go out into the world and being prepared. I think they will take a great feeling away from this."

Though this senior class may not have the luxury of following Joe onto the field tomorrow, they will know he's somewhere in the stadium.

That's enough for them.

"As long as he's there," Shaw said, "that's going to be good for the seniors."