Paterno focused on 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Munching on a slice of pizza in between sentences, Joe Paterno didn’t look or sound too worried about his future.

So what if he’s entering the final year of his contract?

“I don’t even care if I get a contract. I’ll be very frank with you,” the 81-year-old Paterno said Saturday in his first meeting with reporters in three months. “I think the university will do what they think is right, whenever the time comes. Right now, I’m very comfortable.

“What do I need an extension for?” he asked before joking that he could coach “just another 10 years.”

Asked later whether he would feel comfortable going year-to-year, Paterno said “Absolutely. Absolutely. Why not?”

This fall will mark Paterno’s 43rd season as head coach, though the man who holds the record for coaching longevity said he isn’t mulling retirement. He tried to downplay speculation about his future during the 35-minute news conference following a rare practice open to the media.

“I have no problem. I’m not looking for a contract, I’m not looking for anything,” Paterno said.

School president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley have spoken recently with Paterno, and Curley has said there is no timetable to make any decisions.

Paterno took over as head coach in 1966 from Rip Engle after serving as Engle’s assistant for 16 years. The former aspiring lawyer has become the second-winningest major college coach with 372 victories, one behind Florida State’s Bobby Bowden.

Paterno said he wouldn’t mind seeing someone on his staff follow in his footsteps. Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, an assistant for 30 years, might be the top in-house candidate.