STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State coach Joe Paterno was taken to a hospital Thursday because of apparent dehydration and was expected to be released later in the day after having a series of tests, team spokesmen said.

The 81-year-old coach was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center by ambulance after feeling nauseated, said team spokesman Guido D'Elia. Paterno had not been admitted to the hospital and was “tapping his fingers, waiting to get out,” D'Elia said.

JoePa still plans to make a trip Friday to Austin, Texas, for a dinner with Texas football coach Mack Brown, D'Elia said.

Penn State quarterbacks coach and son Jay Paterno told The Asssociated Press his father was OK.

“It's no big deal,” Jay Paterno said in a telephone interview. “If it's dehydration, he's probably all talked out.”

Paterno had been on a busy schedule of late. He traveled to the Philadelphia area last weekend and also recently returned from a meeting with Big Ten coaches. Paterno was on the phone Thursday morning talking to two recruits before he went to the hospital, D'Elia said.

Paterno is coming off two 9-4 seasons that each included bowl wins. His 372 career wins rank second only to Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's 373 among major college coaches.

Questions about Paterno's health and age have dogged him in recent years, but he repeatedly has tried to downplay the issues. His contract is up after this season, but both Paterno and school officials say that doesn't mean much.

The university president has said both the school and Paterno agree that a contract isn't necessary for a man entering his 43rd season leading the team. They have agreed to meet, as they have in the past, at the end of the season to discuss Paterno's future.