updated 8:43 p.m. ET Sept. 23, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Joe Paterno had never left the field during a game in 60 years as a player, an assistant or Penn State’s coach — until Saturday.

Midway through the second quarter of his team’s game with top-ranked Ohio State, a bout with the flu forced the 79-year-old Paterno to the locker room. He returned briefly at halftime, then left before coming back at the start of the fourth quarter.

“I’ve never walked off the field early,” Paterno said after Ohio State turned a close game into a 28-6 victory. “I’ve had some kind of a bug during the week. I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t like to take pills or see a doctor. I thought I’d be fine.”

Paterno complained that reporters asked him too many questions about his illness — “Guys, can we talk about the game? Are you guys writing for a medical journal?” — and said he was prepared for what he’d likely face the following day.

“I always thought if I could read the Sunday paper after a loss, I didn’t need a doctor,” he said. “I’ll see if I can read tomorrow’s paper.”

Paterno’s team was facing a critical fourth-and-5 at its own 6 when he jogged down the Penn State sideline and then cut through the end zone on his way to the locker room in the second quarter.

His players didn’t know what to make of their elderly coach running across the end zone.

“I saw him jogging and I didn’t know where he was going,” running back Tony Hunt said. “I thought he was going to yell at the ref.”

Paterno led his team out of the locker room after halftime, clapping and offering encouragement as it headed to the visiting sideline. But before the second-half kickoff, he returned to the locker room.

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He then came back at the start of the fourth quarter. Just five plays later, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith’s acrobatic play led to a 37-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie. The Buckeyes then piled it on with two late interception returns for touchdowns.

Paterno has a record of 356-118-3 in 41 years as the Nittany Lions’ head coach and is in his 57th season on the Penn State staff.

Asked how tough it was for him to leave the sideline, Paterno was ready with a quip.

“It was easier than if I had stayed,” he said with a laugh.

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