LOS ANGELES — Still recovering from hip surgery, Joe Paterno will coach from the press box when No. 6 Penn State plays No. 5 Southern California on Thursday at the Rose Bowl.

The 82-year-old Paterno says he doesn't think he can handle four hours on his feet, and his doctor is concerned someone might bump him and set his recovery back.

Paterno had hip replacement surgery nearly six weeks ago to fix an injury that forced him to spend the last seven games of the regular season coaching from the press box.

Paterno, speaking at a news conference Wednesday, also worries that he might be a distraction on the sideline.