Paterno has surgery to repair broken leg, injured knee

Monday, November 6th 2006, 6:17 am

By: News On 6

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) _ Team officials say Penn State coach Joe Paterno has had surgery to repair his broken left leg and two torn knee ligaments. The longtime Nittany Lions coach is expected to make a full recovery.

The 79-year-old Paterno was operated on Sunday night at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College. He was still in the hospital today.

The team's doctor says Paterno fractured the top of his tibia, or shin bone, after two players ran into him during the Nittany Lions' 13-to-3 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday.

Guido D'Elia is the director of communications for football at Penn State. He says Paterno had sought the ``quickest fix'' to return to work

In a statment released today, the school says the team doctor advised Paterno that surgery would speed his recovery.

The Nittany Lions' next game is Saturday at home against Temple.