Paterno has his hip replaced

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno underwent what was described as “successful” hip replacement surgery Sunday, one day after his team clinched a likely Rose Bowl bid with a win over Michigan State.

The school reported in a statement that Paterno was expected to be “on his feet” by today and resume coaching duties Dec. 1, a month in advance of Penn State’s bowl game.

The Nittany Lions are headed to Pasadena unless they finish No. 1 or No. 2 in the final Bowl Championship Series standings.

Paterno, who turns 82 in December, has been ailing all season because of the hip he injured while giving an onside-kick demonstration during an August practice.

Paterno has been forced to the press box to watch his team play and has needed a cane to assist him in walking.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Wayne Sebastinelli at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Paterno is in his 43rd season as Penn State’s coach.

-- Chris Dufresne

Snyder to return

Bill Snyder, whose turnaround of Kansas State has been called “the Miracle in Manhattan,” has told school officials he’ll return to coach the Wildcats again.

A person with knowledge of the hiring told the Associated Press that the 69-year-old Snyder would be introduced at a news conference today. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement was made.

Snyder retired three years ago after taking the losingest program in major-college football history and turning it into a winner, an achievement that many in college football thought impossible. He left with a 136-68-1 record and will replace the man who replaced him, Ron Prince, who was fired with three games left but finished out the season.

Long is fired

Chuck Long spent the last 4 1/2 weeks presumably thinking his job as San Diego State’s coach was safe through next season.

His bosses, President Stephen Weber and Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel, spent the last two weeks working behind Long’s back to raise just more than $1 million in private money to help buy out the last two years of his contract.

Once the money was secured, Long was gone. The school announced Sunday that Long was fired; the coach was informed of the move by Schemmel on Saturday morning, several hours before the Aztecs’ surprising 42-21 win over Nevada Las Vegas. San Diego State finished 2-10, the school’s first 10-loss season.

Hired in December 2005 with no previous head coaching experience, Long was 9-27 in three seasons.

Etc.

Wyoming fired Coach Joe Glenn, a day after the Cowboys finished their fourth losing season in his six years at the school. Wyoming finished the season 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the Mountain West, placing them eighth in the conference. The 59-year-old Glenn was 30-41 overall and 15-31 in conference. . . . Jamar Taylor ran 25 yards for a touchdown, breaking a fourth-quarter tie and helping South Florida end a losing streak at three games with a 17-13 victory over Connecticut at Tampa, Fla. Benjamin Williams also scored on a three-yard run for South Florida (7-4, 2-4 Big East). Connecticut fell to 7-4 and 3-3.