Joe Paterno is old. As the coach approaches 80 years of age, that's the simple truth.

Now, forced into a wheelchair as he recovers from surgery to repair injuries suffered in a sideline collision more than a month ago, that fact has never been more noticeable.

As Paterno made his way into the Beaver Stadium media room yesterday for his first public appearance since the injury, he had to have some assistance (though he did do his best on his own) to make his way up the ramp to the podium.

And from his iconic Coke-bottle glasses, to his silver-streaked hair to the argyle sweater he was wearing, Paterno never looked more like an old man than he did yesterday. That was, until he started talking about football and what it means to him.

"Whether I'm out there or not out there, really, with the guys that we have on this staff, it's not as big a deal as people make," Paterno said. "It's a big deal to me because I really miss being out there, running around there and yelling and urging people on."

That's when you can really understand how much football means to Paterno. He says he doesn't fish, doesn't golf -- no other hobbies. All he knows is football, and it's all he has known his entire life.

As much as his good health can be attributed to the long walks Paterno took daily before his injury, Paterno's real fountain of youth is football.

For 40 years, Paterno has lived for football at Penn State and the game was part of his life long before that, when he was a defensive back at Brown.

And after yesterday, Penn State football seemed like it could be part of Paterno's life for another 40 years. Paterno said he wants to coach for "at least a couple more years" before he finally moves on to spend some time with his grandchildren. But when it comes to Paterno, who really knows what a couple more years entail? Two, after his current contract expires? Or three, or four or five?

At this point, the question cannot be ignored. Will Paterno pass away while he is still coaching Penn State? Nobody knows for sure. Except for him.

But why stay so long? Even Paterno himself has said he has nothing left to prove. Right now, Paterno sits second on the all-time wins list behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden, but he said he can't even recall how many wins he has.

"What's it prove?" Paterno said. "I feel comfortable with whatever success I've had. I don't have to be the guy that wins the most games."

So, if there's nothing to prove now, why stay?

"I wish I could answer that. I thoroughly enjoy what I'm doing," Paterno said, adding he's excited for the Nittany Lions' trip to Tampa to play Tennessee in the Outback Bowl, excited to see what his team can do against a top-notch opponent.

" ... I can't explain. Why do people write forever? Why do people do whatever they like to and not back away from it?"

For Paterno, it's been the pure enjoyment of watching Beaver Stadium grow from a 29,000-seat stadium to a 108,000-seat venue, a virtual Roman Coliseum.

It's been coaching for a school whose fans show up Wednesday for a Saturday game to start tailgating.

It's being on the sideline, teaching players and watching them graduate and impact the world beyond Penn State.

"It's an ego trip, I'm sure," Paterno said. "I'm sure it's part ego. But it's fun and I'm enjoying it."

And as long as he's enjoying it, Paterno may never really get old.