College Football Corner: Joe Pa Has Oomph

So what was that about the game passing Joe Pa by?

We don't seem to be hearing many calls for Penn State's legendary octogenarian Coach Joe Paterno to retire now that the Nittany Lions are 7-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation. (Come to think of it, isn't it about time Penn State called its football field Paterno Stadium?) Penn State's wins this season haven't exactly been flukes. They're knocking the stuffings out of everyone on both sides of the ball. The latest dismantling came Saturday night against a big, veteran Wisconsin team -- at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison no less.

Penn State's homecoming opponent this week is a 2-4 Michigan team, but Paterno is still wary. "They're not that experienced yet, he said at his weekly press conference. "They're still struggling with a lot of young people. That probably has a bigger impact on that kind of a team than it would an experienced football team. But I don't see a lot of difference in the type of people they have, than the ones we've played against through the years."

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno

He also feistily responded to concerns about his ailing leg. "No, I don't get get-well cards. Can't we talk about the football team and not me, for crying out loud?" Corner's choice: Penn State 31, Michigan 12.

If Penn State runs the table, there's a pretty good chance the Blue and White will book a spot in the BCS championship game, provided either No. 1 Texas or No. 2 Alabama loses.