Joe Paterno returns to sideline for No. 9 Penn State’s season-opener with Akron

JoePa back on sideline for No. 9 Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno has returned to the sideline for No. 9 Penn State’s season-opener against Akron.

Sporting his familiar khakis and black sneakers, the 82-year-old Paterno jogged out of the tunnel to lead his Nittany Lions on to the field on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium.

Paterno had surgery last November to fix an achy hip that kept him in the press box on game days for much of the 2008 season.

Paterno’s 383 career wins are the most among major college coaches, one ahead of Florida State’s Bobby Bowden.