COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY BOWL REPORT : CITRUS BOWL : Paterno Is Anything but Amused

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno found himself cast as a villain Tuesday when he complained about the rigors of visiting amusement parks while in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl. Paterno expressed his displeasure at a noon “Day With the Kids Barbecue,” an annual event where players from both teams meet with underprivileged children amid a backdrop of Disney characters and a petting zoo.

“We were tired yesterday from going around to all the amusement parks,” Paterno said. “They (the players) didn’t have a lot of bounce, and I thought I’d let them sleep in this morning, get over here and eat and then work out. But I didn’t realize we would be on our feet this long.”

Paterno even insisted that his players get in the chow line first, hoping to expedite their departure.

“I’m a little bit uncomfortable with the way things are going right now,” he said. “ . . . Standing around in the sun sure isn’t helping us.”

The Penn State itinerary includes the normal Central Florida standards of a mammal aquarium, a reptile farm and Disney World, a rodent-inspired theme park, among other attractions. Penn State will play Tennessee Saturday in the Citrus Bowl, which likes to bill itself as the most-fun game for players to attend.