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Nittany Lions appear no closer to naming a permanent successor to legendary coach.

DALLAS — Having now passed 50 days since Joe Paterno was fired, it’s hard to tell if less is known about the old coach or a new one.

Penn State acting athletic director Dave Joyner said Thursday that the interview process is still ongoing and, as always, played things close to the vest.

On Friday, however, a little more light was shed on Paterno and his health.

A week after his 85th birthday, the deposed coach continues to battle lung cancer and is back in his State College home after a recent hospital stay for an injured pelvis.

Most updates have come through his son, quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, though they have been very brief. But this time, Jay Paterno went into more detail about how his father and family have been handling the maelstrom that has engulfed them.

“He’s doing well, he’s doing very, very well,” Jay Paterno said. “For his birthday, we had all 17 of his grandkids there. It was fun for a while and then it got to be a little hectic. It’s not because he’s sick, but he said, OK, I’ve had enough. Which is what he always does.”

Jay admitted that the fall that sent Joe to the hospital earlier this month was hard for everyone to take. Father and son had been taking daily walks around the neighborhood before the injury.

As one would imagine, the doctors’ aggressive treatment of the cancer has taken a toll on Joe.

“Like anybody else going through that stuff, he gets tired,” Jay said. “(You tell him) Dad, don’t feel bad. Guys who are 30 and go through this get tired. He takes everything with a positive attitude and fights it.

“He fights. He never gets down. It’s about the next challenge and this is another challenge for him.”

Another challenge is battling public perception in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal that led to Joe’s ousting by Penn State’s board of trustees.

“I think once everything comes out and once everybody sees what happened … I think people will realize – without giving you specifics – that Joe conducted himself in a way that is consistent with his character,” Jay said. “I think we’ll see that.

“I think there’s been some criticism about what he did and didn’t do. I think that will all come out without getting into specifics because I can’t.”

Jay said medical and legal considerations have prevented his father from talking publicly in the past several weeks, but that he imagines that will change in the future.

As for Jay himself, Monday’s TicketCity Bowl will almost certainly be his final game with the program. He is reportedly one of four current Penn State coaches to have interviewed for the full-time head coaching job along with interim coach Tom Bradley, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden.

Bradley and Johnson have both confirmed they have interviewed. Vanderlinden has not addressed it and Jay only laughed when asked about it.

“I think that’s something you to ask (Joyner) about,” he said. “I don’t want to get into the specifics. I’m not denying it or confirming it. You have to ask Dave.”

If nothing else, Jay has managed to keep a sense of humor through these past two hectic months. When asked if he might stay active in politics, Jay joked, “Let’s just say I’m not going to run for attorney general any time soon.”

Up next

Penn State vs. Houston

WHEN: Noon, Monday

TV: ESPNU