Although Joe Paterno announced Saturday he would "probably" need hip replacement surgery after his team's final regular season game, his defensive coordinator said he didn't think this would be Paterno's last season as head football coach at Penn State.

"[Michigan State] will be Joe's last game for this season. Coach has got no plans to retire," Tom Bradley said, later adding, "Coach isn't going anywhere."

The Penn State administration, though, hasn't made its stance clear if Paterno will return for a 44th season.

In a telephone interview Sunday night, Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley did not say whether he would like to see Paterno return next season. Curley rehashed the university's commitment to postpone discussions about Paterno's future until after this season.

The athletic director said nothing should be read into him not endorsing Paterno.

"No, no. Absolutely not," Curley said. "We said we weren't going to comment until after we had a chance to visit after the year. We'll do that whenever the time comes."

When asked Saturday if he had thought about this week's Michigan State game being his last as Penn State's coach in Beaver Stadium, Paterno gave a quick "no" as he rose from his chair and walked out.

Instead, Paterno is focused on preparing for the Spartans and then getting his ailing hip fixed.

"I probably have to get a hip replacement surgery or something like that," Paterno said. "It's the

hip. Probably a little arthritis in it. The Doc knows. And he's telling me, 'Be ready for this. Be ready for that.' "

Paterno said he wasn't sure what an operation would entail, but said he would consider having the operation the day after the Michigan State game.

"I'm not for sure yet, but I'm

gonna see if we can swing it if that's what I have to get," Paterno said.

Paterno, who has been the head coach at Penn State for 43 seasons, is in the final year of his contract and does not have a deal in place with the university that would keep him coaching after this season. Paterno and the Penn State administration have repeatedly said they would suspend contract talks until after this season.

Curley said he and Penn State President Graham Spanier haven't decided if that meant sometime after Saturday's game against Michigan State or after the bowl game.

Paterno has dropped hints he would like to return for the 2009 season.

On Oct. 28, Paterno said he wanted to get his injury fixed so he could "get on the road and go out and recruit." When asked during that same session with reporters if that meant he was coming back, Paterno said, "Have I ever said I wasn't coming back?"

Associate to the President for Administration Tom Poole wrote in an e-mail Friday that "President Spanier has consistently expressed his support for Coach Paterno."

In a separate e-mail, Poole wrote, "I can tell you that we are thrilled with the outstanding performance of the football team, not only on the playing field, but in the classroom."

Two Board of Trustees members said Friday the decision remains up to Spanier, Curley and Paterno.

"That's all up to administration of the university," Trustee George Henning Jr. said. "Trustees don't get involved with hiring."

Trustee David Joyner reaffirmed he would not be involved in the decision-making process regarding Paterno's future, adding he hasn't spoken with Spanier on the issue and doesn't expect to in the future.

Safety Mark Rubin, who is in his fifth year playing for Paterno, said after Saturday's game he thought his freshman year could have been Paterno's last season.

"He always says he could go five more years," Rubin said. "So hey, he really might do it."