UNIVERSITY PARK – The Hollywood producer wanted to know. So did the editor at the New York Times. As did the radio guy in Pittsburgh.

"How's Joe's health? How is he doing?" each wanted to know, the e-mails from Penn State alumni rapidly peppering me.

"Wait until Penn State's Media Day," I replied. "We'll see him then. I can tell you then."

Well, Media Day was on Thursday in Beaver Stadium, and Paterno addressed an assembled group of more than 120 media types for 50 minutes and 28 seconds. The first 14 minutes and 30 seconds were off the record, as Joe b.s.'d with the guys and photographers in the front rows, waiting for the press conference to officially begin at exactly 3 p.m., for the TV satellites.

(Click here for the full transcript of Paterno's press conference. Click here for video of his press conference.)

As he waited, Joe chatted up the group, with an easy smile and a relaxed demeanor. As is his wont, Dave Jones – he of the faded orange baggy T-shirt who columnizes for the Patriot-News – leaned on the dais and talked with the coach more than any other. The two are buddies now, I guess, their relationship cemented by a hard drink or two at those off-the-record sessions the night before road games.

My initial notes of Joe: "White Oxford shirt, no tie, clear glasses, thin face, hair really graying, tan. Blue blazer with four gold buttons on the sleeves. Dapper for an older guy, not unlike Hugh Hefner, who's same age."

Paterno, though, is different than Hef: He spends his time with Lions, not bunnies.

When the 35-minute, 58-second press conference commenced, Joe was sharp and amusing, although his cadence has slowed and he's raspy all the time, his famous throat-clearing no longer effective. He looked and sounded better than the guy the Hollywood producer and the Times editor watched on TV 10 days ago.

He doesn't seem a day older than 4,349 weeks. (He's actually one day older than 4,349 weeks.)

AGE OLD QUESTION

Paterno's opening comment on Thursday set the tone, brought down the house and kept the session from turning into a retirement/health question fest that was his initial Big Ten appearance last Monday.

"I have one request," began Paterno. "Please don't ask if I'm going to die. Believe me, I have a few more days left."

The team began preseason drills last Thursday, had yesterday off and did not practice. That may accounted for Paterno's sunny countenance and relaxed demeanor. Age has softened him. He lacks the hard edge these days of when he used to spar with reporters and cut off or criticize questions.

A couple of times yesterday Paterno did not catch the gist of a question, and it had to be repeated. And one TV type asked Paterno about Evan Royster three times, rephrasing the question each time and Joe still didn't get it. But I must admit I didn't understand the question myself the first time around.

So who knows about Joe? I really don't. And neither do the other 119 writers, reporters, bloggers, anchors, TV hosts, talk show guys, photographers, cameramen and digital imagers in attendance. We're not at practice, in meetings or at home with Sue.

His family is, though. His Penn State family.

THEY KNOW FATHER BEST

It being Media Day and all, the Penn State players were on the Beaver Stadium field, ready to be interviewed. The big white sign with OL written in black marker was at the 30-yard line on the west side. K/P was across the grass turf on the 20. QB was at the 30, at the south end along the visitors' sideline. Paul Jones and Robert Bolden, the latest QB darling, were nowhere to be seen; like all freshmen, they didn't attend.

The players. The players know infinitely more about Joe than the media can glean from a half-hour-plus press conference and a few exchanges on the playing field.

And what players know best Joe, and vice versa, than those who came from Penn State families? The ones whose dads played football for Paterno. Or their brothers.

Some met Joe as little kids. (Others, somewhat surprisingly, didn't formally meet Paterno until their recruiting visit.) Most heard all about Paterno from their fathers or brothers before they came to campus. One player's grandfather was good friends with the coach.

So we went from white position sign to white position sign, scouting out the legacies to learn what they make of Paterno now and Paterno then -- if they do indeed know.

The results were almost unanimous. When asked about what Paterno is like at practice or off the field, almost to a person they did not pause in their reply. Joe's involved, Joe yells, Joe gives them grief, Joe compares them to their dads, Joe's funny, Joe's tough. They all answered too quickly, too earnestly, to be faking it.

If they think the coach is still The Coach, that's good enough for me.

Here's what they have to say about Paterno as he enters his 45th season as the Nittany Lion head coach, and his 61st on the staff, with 709 games on the sidelines for Penn State:

MICHAEL ZORDICH

Michael Zordich is a sophomore running back whose father Mike was a first-team All-American at strong safety for Penn State in 1985, and his mom Cindy was a PSU cheerleader:

"He's the same old Joe that I remember back from when I was a kid. He's around, telling jokes and having fun with the team. He's doing what he's always been doing -- coaching football. He's Joe Paterno. He knows what he's doing. He's with us every play, every snap and telling us what we're doing wrong."

Zordich was twice cited for underage drinking in the past year, but remained on the team. "Joe's tough on me, he knows that I'm better than that. I made a mistake and he knows I made a mistake, and I'm grateful he gave me another chance. I really respect him for that."

NATHAN STUPAR

Nathan Stupar is a junior linebacker from State College whose father Steve was a lineman at Penn State from 1976-79. His mom is a Penn State grad. His uncles Ron, Doug and Jeff Hostetler (who transferred to West Virginia) played football at PSU, too.

"My first memory was going to practice as a recruit and watching (Anthony) Morelli throw a deep pass and almost get an interception. And Joe starts yelling in his high voice (Stupar imitates Paterno in a falsetto), "Morelli, what are you doing? You praying to God, Oh please let him catch it?' It was fun. That voice just stuck with me."

"Joe doesn't age, he doesn't age at all. The first time I saw him compared to now? He's exactly the same. He's a smart guy, he's really witty, he's really with it.

"I get questions, like, 'Does he actually coach?' And yeah, he coaches. He'll get on someone if they're not working hard. He's out there like every other coach."

MICHAEL MAUTI

Michael Mauti is a sophomore linebacker who sat out the 2009 season after tearing his ACL in practice last August. His dad Rich played wide receiver for Penn State in the 1970s and his brother Patrick was a wide receiver for the Nittany Lions from 2005-09.

"The first time I met Joe was in my sophomore year of high school. I wasn't even being recruited at the time. My dad brought me to the football building. I shook hands with Joe and that was about it.

"I heard things in the media about what a legend Joe was, but my dad never tried to persuade me to come here. He wanted me to make the decision myself and for the right reasons, not because of what he did here.

"It's always cool when Joe comes up to me and say, 'You're a lot smarter than your dad.' When I was being recruited, he'd send me letters, like, 'I don't know if there's room for one more Mauti.'

"Joe's sharp as a tack. He's always spitting out names of guys who played here with my dad."

JOE SUHEY

Joe Suhey is a junior running back whose dad Matt was also a running back at Penn State, from 1976-79, gaining 2,919 yards. His mom went to Penn State, and his uncles Paul and Larry played football at PSU. His great-grandfather, Bob Higgins, was the second All-American in Penn State football history. His grandfather, Steve Suhey, lettered three times at guard for Penn State in the 1940s, earning All-American honors in 1947. His cousin Kevin played for the Lions in 2005-07.

"I'm sure I met Joe a bunch of times as a kid, but I don't remember him. The first time I remember talking to him was when I came in on my visit. My dad was in the room and they started talking about their old times and people they know.

"My dad always talked about how intense Joe was, how he was tough on guys, and a tough, good coach. And that's what he turned out to be for me.

"On the practice field, Joe is tough and always getting on guys. He has so much intensity, really pushes guys to get the best out of them. Everyone is getting questions (about Paterno). He's been the same ever since I got here."

"He comes out with the same intensity every day, with the same preparation. Still getting on guys."