Nittany Lions rise to the occasion

STATE COLLEGE, PA. -- Penn State Coach Joe Paterno has no plans to go out on top of the Big Ten Conference.

After the Nittany Lions routed No. 17 Michigan State, 49-18, on Saturday to earn a share of the conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl, Paterno said he doesn’t intend for his 43rd season as head coach to be his last -- at least not yet.

“I’m planning on coming back, yeah,” Paterno said. “I never planned otherwise.”

Daryll Clark threw for career highs of 341 yards and four touchdowns and a stingy Penn State defense held Javon Ringer to a season-low 42 yards for the Spartans (9-3, 6-2).

With Paterno coaching again from the press box because of a sore hip, No. 7 Penn State (11-1, 7-1) secured a share of the conference title and the school’s first trip to Pasadena since 1995.

The Nittany Lions claimed a share of the Big Ten title with Ohio State, which beat Michigan earlier Saturday.

But Penn State owns the conference’s automatic BCS bid by virtue of its 13-6 win over the Buckeyes in October. Some players tried to get defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who has taken the lead role on the sideline with Paterno in the press box, to hold a rose in his mouth in the closing seconds.

Bradley tried to stay serious, fighting back a smile, as the players celebrated.

The final home game for Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and 15 other seniors ended with the school joining Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Nebraska and Ohio State as programs with 800 victories.