PASADENA, Calif. -- The pageantry of the Rose Bowl is on full display. The Penn State blue band just finished its pre-game show and the famous Southern Cal band is about to take the field. Here are some other game-related notes as we near kickoff.

-- Joe Paterno was not on the field for pre-game drills. The 82-year-old Penn State coach will watch the game from the press box today. Paterno is still recovering from hip-replacement surgery. There was a chance Paterno might be down on the field before the game, but it appears he chose to avoid any chance of further injuring himself.

-- This is Paterno's 35th bowl game. He has a 23-10-1 record in the previous 34. USC coach Pete Carroll is 5-2 in bowl games.

-- The Lions are playing for more than just themselves. They're playing with a Big Ten-sized monkey on their backs. The conference is 1-4 in bowl games thus far. The Pac-10 is 4-0.

-- The line was down to 81/2, but it stands at 9 15 minutes before we tee it off.

-- A stealth bomber just flew overheard as the national anthem came to a close. That was cool.

PASADENA, Calif. -- Welcome to Pleasantville, home of the Rose Bowl. The weather is perfect for today's showdown between Penn State and Southern Cal. The skies are a clear blue and the temperature is steady at 70 degrees. There isn't much wind.

The bowl is pretty much empty, save for some workers, photographers and media types. The teams are expected to arrive about an hour and a half before kickoff. There was a case of food poisoning or a flu bug that affected many of the reporters that stayed at the Marriott last night. This reporter managed to avoid the illness. The Trojans, though, stayed at the Marriott last night, so it will be interesting to see if any of the players were infected.

I'll be back with more updates.

LOS ANGELES -- Let's jump right to this morning's news on yesterday:

-- When Maurice Evans got in trouble and missed three games, Aaron Maybin stepped in and had an all-American season. Now he's the hot ticket right now, a possible first round pick, while Evans' stock plummeted.

-- Pete Carroll calls Joe Paterno the living embodiment of Benjamin Button.

-- In Talkin', Bob Ford, Phil Sheridan and I discuss the seemingly ageless Paterno.

-- And this is our take on Paterno's whereabouts:

What Joe did yesterday: Joe dazzled a roomful of reporters at his last pre-Rose Bowl news conference and stoked the fire of Penn State fans at a Beverly Hills High pep rally.

What Joe might do today: Joe might kick the new year off by kissing ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. Then, feeling particularly goosy, he might lead the Rose Bowl parade with his new hip.

LOS ANGELES -- During the end of his pre-Rose Bowl press conference today, Penn State coach Joe Paterno took a gentle shot at former Nittany Lions quarterback Pat Devlin, who transferred earlier this month.

Asked about the bind Devlin's departure puts Penn State in at quarterback, Paterno interrupted the questioner after the Downingtown East product's name was mentioned.

"Who left?" Paterno said, smiling. "Who's that?"

Devlin has reportedly committed to Delaware. After Devlin informed Paterno earlier this month that he was leaving, Paterno decided that the redshirt sophomore would not remain on the team through the Rose Bowl.

If starter Daryll Clark would get injured in tomorrow's game against Southern Cal, Paul Cianciolo is the backup. The Lions, however, have a package for wide receiver Derrick Williams at quarterback, Paterno said today. Many expect Penn State to go to Williams, if need be, rather than Cianciolo, an untested fifth-year senior.

LOS ANGELES -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno just told a roomful of reporters that he's going to coach from the press box for tomorrow's Rose Bowl matchup with Southern Cal.

"I'm going to be upstairs," Paterno said. "I don't think I can handle three and a half-four hours on the sideline."

The 82-year-old coach had hip replacement surgery on Nov. 24 and had been trying to recover in time to get back to his usually perch on the sidelines. Paterno had been forced to watch the game from the coaches' box for the final seven games of the season due to his ailing right hip.

A few days ago, Paterno met with Pete Carroll, and the USC coach asked Paterno if was going to be able to down on the field.

"I said, 'I think I'm probably going to be upstairs," Paterno recalled. "But if you would agree not to throw the ball more than 15-18 times, and we get that game over less than three hours, I'll be on the sideline.

"Pete said, 'If I see you on the sideline, we're going to throw it 50 times.'"

Paterno said that he would likely be down on the field before the game and could lead his team out before kickoff. He was also going to check the logistics to see if he could go down to Penn State's locker room at halftime. More than likely, however, he'll stay in the press box until the end of the game.

LOS ANGELES -- Here's a rundown on the Rose Bowl stories in this morning's paper:

-- Rey Maualuga has overcome a rocky childhood and the death of his father to become one of the best defensive players in the country.

-- Penn State players have been constantly quizzed about their impressions of Los Angeles since their arrival last week. We asked some USC players who had never been to State College what they imagine Happy Valley would be like.

-- The quiet man, Paul Cianciolo, spoke up about this increased role as the backup quarterback now that Pat Devlin is gone.

-- Talkin' talks about practice, with Bob Ford, Phil Sheridan and I weighing on the subject.

-- And here's an update on Joe Paterno's whereabouts:

What Joe did yesterday: Joe reluctantly attended Rose Bowl Media Day, barked at a roomful of reporters to get on with their questions and left after seven softballs.

What Joe might do today: Joe might go shopping down Rodeo Drive and splurge on Gucci blue oxfords, Versace rolled-up khakis, and Prada black cleats.

LOS ANGELES -- I'm the middle of Rose Bowl media day, but I have a few minutes to post yesterday's news in this morning's paper.

-- With Pat Devlin gone, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark is a marked man. If he goes, the Lions are in dire straits with the untested Paul Cianciolo now the backup.

-- Speaking of Devlin, quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno and offensive coordinator Galen Hall weigh in on Downingtown East products' departure.

-- In today's Talkin', Bob Ford, Phil Sheridan and I try to cast the "Joe Paterno: The Movie." Hilarity ensues.

-- And here's what Paterno did yesterday and what he might do today (I think):

What Joe did yesterday: Joe hung out with his entire family before heading to Penn State's afternoon practice. Paterno's wife, Sue; his five children; and his 16 grandchildren are all staying on the same hotel floor as the patriarch.

What Joe might do today: Joe might find himself embroiled in a Los Angeles water war and a taboo relationship between a father and daughter that culminates in a shoot-out. Joe might try to intervene, but he's told, "Forget it, Joe. It's Chinatown."

LOS ANGELES -- OK, folks, you can walk away from those ledges. The three starters that were demoted to the second team unit are back with the first team. Defensive end Aaron Maybin, center A.Q. Shipley and guard Rich Ohrnberger walked onto the practice field wearing first team practice jerseys. The three players were being disciplined for missing team functions here as the Lions prepare for Thursday's Rose Bowl. Maybin skipped Friday's event at Disneyland and Shipley and Ohrnberger missed a team breakfast and were also late for a team meeting.

Penn State held its practice today at the Home Depot Center and the media was permitted to watch the first 15 minutes of practice. Basically, I got watch the players stretch and defensive coordinator Tom Bradley drill middle linebacker Josh Hull. Coach Joe Paterno was on hand, but spent most of the time in a golf cart. His status for the game and whether he's coaching from the press box or the sidelines is still up in the air.

LOS ANGELES -- Penn State wide receiver Jordan Norwood did not injure his ankle during practice last week, as reported. He injured his left foot in the final game of the regular season and has been slowly working his way back to 100 percent. Norwood, who met with the media today, said he was about 90 percent and that he expected to be close to perfect by Thursday's game. He hasn't been full go in the practice, but the senior wasn't worried about not being ready for Southern Cal. “It’s just a nagging injury," Norwood said.

Also, Penn State offensive coordinator Galen Hall said that he plans on returning next season and that he hopes to be by Joe Paterno's side through the 82-year-old coach's three-year contract extension. "I’m 14 years younger than Joe," Hall said. "I feel good. Joe feels good. He’s looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to it.”

There was no other news to come out of today's morning interviews. Penn State holds its last open practice today at 1 p.m. Pacific. The media can hang around for just the first 15 minutes. I'm heading out there, so I'll have an update asap.

Read on.