DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Another name came to mind when Jim Tressel was asked about Joe Paterno's sustained fiery nature at 80 years old.

"Have you been around Earle lately?" said Tressel, the Ohio State football coach, of the passionate Earle Bruce. "You are who you are. I've never been 80, but you hope you are who you are no matter what age you are. He's doing what he loves doing."

Tressel and the Buckeyes hope to postpone some of that enjoyment for Paterno, the 42nd-year Penn State football coach, on Saturday when they travel to State College, Pa.

On Thursday, Tressel discussed Paterno and longtime Florida State coach Bobby Bowden as greats in the profession.

"They've seen such change in the time they've been coaching," Tressel said. "You'd love to be able to sit down with them some day and really write more than a book. You'd need a documentary, because you could get hours of information about how our game has changed and what hasn't."

All-purpose recruiter

Football recruits aren't the only ones impressed with Tressel's wood-worked and roomy office inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He has served as a recruiter for several sports.

"Last weekend a men's volleyball recruit was in my office, two or three women's ice hockey recruits, Sunday afternoon there's a women's soccer recruit coming in and there was a basketball recruit this weekend that they brought his coach through," Tressel said. "We're all in it to help one another."

Don't miss assignments

Penn State ranks first nationally in sacks, with 4.38 per game. Ohio State is 15th in sacks allowed, at 1.13 per game.

Tressel said, as far as sacks go, he's as concerned about offensive line miscues as he is the Nittany Lions' defensive players.

"My experience has been most sacks, most quarterback hits, happen due to missed assignments and missed communication more so than someone running over your guy," Tressel said.

Quick hits

• Sophomore safety Aaron Gant can play Saturday after missing last week's game with a minor injury, Tressel said.

• Todd Denlinger, a sophomore defensive lineman from Troy, is "over 90 percent ready," Tressel said. Denlinger has missed three games with an undisclosed leg injury.

• Kicker Aaron Pettrey, who has been sidelined all year with a groin injury, could play Saturday. Tressel said he would kick in practice Thursday to decide.