Joe Paterno walked into the media room at the Lasch Football Building on Friday - without a cane.

The coach, who underwent hip replacement surgery 18 days ago, was walking without a noticeable limp and stood behind a dais for just over 30 minutes, answering questions from reporters.

Paterno said his doctors are telling him he's "ahead of the game" with his recovery from the surgery, but Paterno is still unsure if he will be able to return to the sideline to coach against USC in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

"I can't tell you right now," Paterno said of his return to the sideline. "I've got to wait and see."

At practice following the session with reporters, Paterno coached his team from a golf cart, a method he was forced to use for much of this season after he injured his hip performing an onside kick earlier in the year.

Paterno said he will try in coming weeks to coach from his feet.

"I think I'm fine," Paterno said. "I've just got to keep testing myself a little bit more everyday and that's what I'm going to try to do."

Penn State players noted Paterno's struggles with injuries and his recovery as motivation.

Senior co-captain Josh Gaines who missed time in Penn State's game against Indiana with an ankle injury, said he felt "soft" sitting out knowing his 81-year-old coach was in pain too.

"Being his age, to bounce back from the surgeries he's had, he's a beast. He's a warrior," Gaines said. "You can't not go out and play hard for someone like that."

Paterno's hip problem forced him to coach the majority of Penn State's games from the press box this season. When he would be asked about his injury throughout the season, Paterno brushed the questions aside for the most part, instead wanting to talk football and about his team.

During Friday's session, Paterno was open about his hobbling condition.

"It's tough when you're in pain all day and sometimes you get to the point where you wonder if it's worth it," Paterno said.

The coach added he still is using the cane if he's on his feet for too long, but expects to get better by the day.

After Penn State's last game, Paterno announced his intentions to return to coach the team next season. When asked how long he thinks he can coach now that he's had his hip replaced, Paterno said he wasn't sure.

"I'll tell you what, I've had more blood pressure tests, temperature tests, more people working on the heart, more people checking everything and everything turned out good," Paterno said. "There's no reason for me not to think I can go for a while. How long is a while? I don't know."