by FOXSports.com

Penn State plays Michigan State on Saturday for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

"And, by God, we're gonna win a Big Ten championship tomorrow!" he screamed.

Many of the approximately 6,500 fans at Rec Hall roared their approval, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Paterno, 81, who has said he needs hip replacement surgery, spoke for about 15 minutes without the aid of a cane. Many fans attending the pep rally wore "Joe Can't Go" T-shirts.

Paterno has been the head coach at the State College, Pa., school for 43 years after 15 seasons there as an assistant.

"Regardless of what you hear or what you read or what you think, I ain't going out after (Saturday)," he said. "I'm not gonna walk out of that press box a loser. We're going to be Big Ten champions twice in four years!"

With his team sitting behind him, Paterno spoke of his adoration for a group that few picked to win the conference.

"Of all the teams I've coached, when I go to bed at night I probably think about these guys (the most)," he said. "Don't ask me why, but I worry about some of them, I'm thrilled with some of them, some of them inspire me because they work so hard.

"They stuck together. Even with the cane. And we have a heck of a football team."