Relegated to a wheelchair, Joe Paterno made his first public appearance yesterday since he broke his left leg in a sideline collision during Penn State's Nov. 4 loss to Wisconsin.

As the 79-year-old coach made his way into the media room, several photographers snapped pictures of Paterno.

Paterno snapped back.

"Don't take pictures of me in a wheelchair," Paterno said. "How many times do I gotta tell ya?"

After wheeling himself up the ramp to his usual perch in the media room with a little outside assistance, Paterno joked with reporters -- "Nice way to start a press conference, huh?" -- and he made small talk about the State College High School football team's upcoming playoff game this weekend.

Still, Paterno said he was embarrassed by all the attention surrounding his injury, saying he wished the focus would be on his team and its upcoming New Year's Day game against No. 17 Tennessee in the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay.

"That's annoying to me, to be very frank," Paterno said, when asked why he preferred his photo not be taken, "because I don't think I should be the spotlight. I think the football team should be the spotlight."

On a lighter note, Paterno reported that he is a week-and-a-half ahead of schedule in his recovery since undergoing surgery Nov. 5 to repair a broken shin bone and damaged ligaments in his left knee. He added that he was able to put weight on his left

leg for the first time in more than a month on Tuesday.

Paterno said he does not foresee the injury being problematic in the future, and said last week he plans to be on the sideline for Penn State's bowl game.

"If it turns out to be a problem, then obviously I'll have to evaluate my situation," he said.

If Paterno does return to the sideline, it would be the first time he was on ground level for a Penn State game since the injury. Paterno watched Penn State's game against Temple from home and watched the Nittany Lions celebrate senior day against Michigan State from the press box high above Beaver Stadium's turf.

Paterno, who will turn 80 on Dec. 21, also reiterated plans to continue coaching for "at least a couple more years," a decision he said he made before he suffered the injury.

"I don't think the injury has set me back that far," he said. "Now, that remains to be seen. But right now, I plan on doing exactly as I planned to do before I got injured."

Paterno signed a contract extension in 2004 that will keep him at Penn State through at least the 2007-08 season.

Paterno said he has been attending practices leading up to the bowl game, observing his team from a golf cart. Though his interaction has been more limited than he'd like, Paterno said he still finds ways to get involved -- especially when it comes to speaking his mind.

And as every photographer from yesterday's press conference knows, Paterno's injury has not slowed down his ability to give a good tongue-lashing.

"I can't get in the huddle with them and chew somebody out, but I yell at 'em," Paterno said with a laugh. "So, I have a little fun yelling at 'em. I wouldn't feel like it was practice if I didn't do a little yelling. As you can tell, my voice is a little hoarse now."