Joe Paterno won’t give USC any locker-room material

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Joe Paterno went out of his way on Monday to avoid saying anything untoward about USC -- though he did take a mild swipe at the Big Ten schedule.

Paterno, speaking during a Media Day in downtown Los Angeles, noted that the Big Ten ‘goes into hibernation’ while the rest of the college football world continues to play. As a result of that forced break, Paterno said, the Nittany Lions will be at ‘a little bit of a disadvantage.’

Then JoPa laid on the charm, describing USC as ‘one of the four-five best teams in the country, without a doubt.’

Then he said: ‘They may be the best team in the country.’

In a bow to USC Coach Pete Carroll, he extolled the Trojans as ‘certainly the best coached or better-coached than anybody.’

Finally, he summed it up this way: ‘If we get licked, it’s because Southern Cal is a better team.’

Paterno’s biggest concern so far: ‘We spend almost two hours a day sitting in a bus, going back and forth to practice, which has bothered me more than anything. I’d like to give these kids a chance to have fun.’

-- Greg Johnson