Penn State’s Joe Paterno agrees to 3-year extension

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Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno doesn’t have to wonder any longer.

He and the school agreed on a three-year contract extension today.

The deal would keep the winningest coach in major college football history with the Nittany Lions through the 2011 season.

A statement was issued by the athletic department that said the two sides also agreed they ‘might reevaluate their circumstances and alter the arrangement by either shortening or extending its length as necessary.’

The agreement, whether it eventually gets shortened or not, ends months of speculation about Paterno, who turns 82 on Sunday.

The deal also comes about three weeks after Paterno had hip replacement surgery. His sixth-ranked team is getting ready for the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day against No. 5 USC.

-- Debbie Goffa