UNIVERSITY PARK - A capsule look at Joe Paterno's weekly press conference.
Opponent: Coastal Carolina (0-0)
Last time vs. Penn State: First meeting
Kickoff: Saturday, noon, at Beaver Stadium
Television: Big Ten Network
Line: There is no line for this game, which typically means one team is favored by 40 points or more.
Why is PSU playing Coastal Carolina?: The Chanticleers are Division I-AA and have only been playing football since 2003. They do have a Penn State connection, though, that led to this matchup: ''[Warren] 'Moose' Koegel is the athletic director at Coastal Carolina,'' Paterno said. ''He played for us, was captain of our team [along with Jack Ham in 1970]. He had been talking to us for a couple of years to try to get a game with us.''
Motivational speaker: Will the Lions be motivated to play this caliber of opponent? ''Well, I worry about that, obviously,'' Paterno said. All coaches worry about it a little more now after what happened last season. ''I think what Appalachian [State] did to Michigan last year was an eye opener for everybody,'' Paterno said.
OK, but ...: This isn't exactly an Appalachian State type of I-AA team. Appy State is a powerhouse that has won the past three national championships, while Coastal Carolina went 5-6 last year. What's to be gained by playing a weak team from that level? Not much except for filling out the home schedule. ''When you go to 12 games and you want to play seven at home - we really have to have seven at home .. so we were trying to find somebody that would come up here one shot.''
Wins record: A victory Saturday would give Paterno 373, tying him with Florida State's Bobby Bowden for most among Division I coaches. Paterno said once again he pays no attention to that record. ''Oh, who cares?'' he said. ''When they bury me, they're going to put on my gravestone, 'you were one win ahead of Bobby Bowden?' No.''
Pecking order: Paterno said most of the players on the team know where they fit in on the depth chart and what they need to do to move up. ''I think they know what's going on,'' he said. ''We don't make pretenses with them, [like], 'Hey, you've got to do this if you want to beat so and so out.'''
Reunion on tap: PSU's undefeated 1968 and '69 teams will be honored Saturday, and Altoona natives Mike Reid and John Ebersole will be among the players on hand for the reunion. ''They were good football players, and they made me a good coach,'' Paterno said of those teams. ''And in the eyes of people I wasn't that, but they made me a good coach. I mean that sincerely.''
- Compiled by Cory Giger
