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By Eric Thomas, Assistant Sports Editor, Nov. 18, 2008

Last updated: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:48 AM EST

Will he and, if so, when?

Those seem to be the million-dollar questions hovering over Joe Paterno’s head as he prepares to lead No. 8 Penn State into the regular-season finale against No. 15 Michigan State this weekend.

Will he get hip replacement surgery, and if so, when?

Will he ever be back on the sideline again, and if so, when? For a possible Rose Bowl?

Will he coach his final game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon?

Do yourself a favor, if you see Paterno walking around or stopping at a red light, don’t bother to ask him. He really doesn’t want to discuss any of those issues.

“Somebody said they want to get inside my head, see what’s going on,” Paterno joked at his weekly teleconference Tuesday.

“When the time comes I’m going to make a decision. I talked to them and they watch me and some place, when its appropriate, we’ve got to sit down and make a decision on what we want to do and when we’re going to do it — what’s best for the program, what’s best for this football team and what’s best for the football staff. But right now, I’m ... I don’t even want to talk to anybody about it.

“This is a big game for us. It’s a big football game. Of course, if we win this we can win the Big Ten championship and it’s an ‘if,’ Michigan State is playing really well.”

In other words, the questions worth seeking answers for really weren’t answered.

Just last Saturday, after his team defeated Indiana 34-7, Paterno said he would likely have to get his right hip replaced and wanted to get it done this Sunday.

“I think for me to get involved in anything else except concentrating on (Michigan State) and trying to help the staff as best I can in my limited physical ability, let’s keep pushing on. We’ve done well, we’ve been very close to where we wanted to be. We’re a couple plays away from being there but we’ve got a chance to have a heck of a year, let’s concentrate on that because it’s not going to be easy.”

Penn State stands to win at least a share of the Big Ten title with a victory over the Spartans this weekend, and should they do so, they will receive the automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series and are locked into the Rose Bowl where they could meet Oregon State in a rematch from earlier this season.

But first things first.

Paterno said he would recover in enough time to coach at the bowl game, but typically hip surgery takes six-to-eight weeks to recover from.

Any more of a delay in the procedure could create some complications for Paterno who may have to make the five-hour flight to Los Angeles if the Nittany Lions make it to the Rose Bowl.

“I’m going to be back, but how it’s going to affect me? I don’t have an M.D. after my name yet. Maybe when I retire I’ll go back to medical school or some place,” Paterno joked. “Hey, as I tried to say earlier, I’m pretty sure we’re going to get something done. When we’re going to get it done and what’s got to be done, we’ll probably make a decision either late this week or early next week, but I certainly am going to be involved one way or another even if I have to walk around with a cane for a month.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know. I am not interested in what’s going to happen after the Michigan State game is over, and I’m trying to zero in on that. Now, having said that, Friday there may be a decision made. Hey, maybe this is the best way to do something or maybe Saturday after the game they may say, ‘Hey look, we’ve got this thing set up.’ I don’t know. I’m leaving it in the hands of the people who know a little bit more about it than I do, and that’s the medical people.”

For what it’s worth, his current players haven’t gotten the sense that Saturday is it.

“I see him coaching past this year,” senior receiver Deon Butler said. “There’s been no indication to me that this is his last year. I think once he gets better and rests his leg or hip or whatever he’s doing, I think he’ll be right back at it.

“His mind is still into the game, his mind is still young, he knows what he’s doing. He still has control of the game, so I definitely don’t see this being his last game.”

Paterno, stubborn as always, tried to deflect further questions about the injury or his future. His contract runs out after this season and it’s well documented that, not only will he not receive a long-term extension, but any extension will be discussed after the season.

As it stands, Saturday could very well be the final game he coaches in Beaver Stadium — like it or not, fair or unfair.

“Oh, please, let’s get off that,” Paterno said. “I haven’t even thought about any of that. Really. You guys, I know you gotta figure out who’s going to get a jump on some kind of a story. I don’t know what kind of a story you’re looking for but I have not even thought about any of that stuff. I really haven’t. I’m not trying to be cute, I’m not trying to be dishonest about it. I really haven’t even thought about it.”

Paterno also fielded questions about quarterback Daryll Clark and his ongoing battle with himself over his current play.

“I think he’s being too tough on himself and I think you guys are being too tough on him, to be frank with you at times. I think that Daryll ... he’s played really well. For a guy that came in here and started for the first time and we’re 10-1, we lost one football game, which was not his fault, which he keeps thinking it was his fault.

“Yeah, he could have won it. I could have won it, 15 other guys could have won it. I think that he’s played really, really well and I don’t think there’s any reason for him to feel anything but good about what he’s done and look forward to this football game this week.”

NOTES: Paterno said defensive end Josh Gaines will likely play this weekend. Gaines, nursing a sore ankle, started last weekend then left the game for good. He is listed as probable on the official injury report ... Paterno also said he feels the need to get redshirt freshman running back Stephfon Green more carries. “We gotta get him more experience, gotta get him into the ball game. Earlier in the year, I was nervous about him hanging onto the football. He had a couple of fumbles early. But, he’s coming along. I think he’s going to be a really good back one day,” Paterno said ... The road team in the Penn State-Michigan State series has won just eight times in 25 meetings, the last coming in 2005 when the Nittany Lions wrapped up the Big Ten title in East Lansing.