Joe Paterno on his dalliance with Michigan, supporting Rich Rodriguez

At his press conference earlier this week, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was asked if legend is true and really did have a chance to replace Bump Elliott as Michigan coach years ago.

Paterno said he met with then Michigan athletic director Don Canham in Pittsburgh after the 1968 season.

“We talked, and he offered me the job when they hired Bo Schembechler,” Paterno said. ”And once a year Don used to write me a letter and say, ‘Thanks.’”

Paterno, in his 43rd year at Penn State, joked that he might not have lasted as long as he has if he'd gone to Michigan.

“If I could have gotten rid of some of the guys out there, I might have - in the press - I might have,” Paterno said. “I thought they were pretty tough on Rich (Rodriguez) last year, but that's beside the point.”

Michigan (5-2, 1-2) is one win away from bowl eligibility after going 3-9 last year in Rodriguez's first season.

"My first year people wanted to get rid of me," Paterno said. "I lost five games the first year I coached. Next year we only lost two. I think it takes a while sometimes for kids to get adjusted to a different style, different interpretation of certain situations that arrive in a game or in practice and so forth.

"I think if you look at Rich's record ... he's had a history of maybe the first year hasn't been the one that everybody would like to have, but his second year he's had football teams."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.