In hindsight, Penn State’s Joe Paterno should have taken the advice he once gave Ohio State’s Woody Hayes in their pregame meeting at Ohio Stadium in 1975.

It was the first game between the two football coaches, and while each had already earned a quality reputation, Hayes was 62 — considered old in those days — and Paterno was just 48.

Just a few months before, Hayes had suffered a heart attack, but not from the way his Buckeyes played. He was about to lead his team — with the help of a tailback named Archie Griffin — to a fourth straight Rose Bowl, and Paterno’s Penn State team was still trying to earn respect playing an independent schedule, mostly in the East.

Widely reported is that Paterno irked Hayes by saying, “Woody, you look great.”

Hayes, taking offense where none was offered, huffed, “Well, what did you expect me to look like?”

Apparently, Paterno also suggested that Hayes “take it easy,” and not work so hard. By the time Hayes reached the pre-game locker room, he was in a froth.

“Take it easy?” he allegedly roared to his players. “He thinks I should take it easy?”

And then, you know, some other words. Ohio State won that game, 17-9.

A lot of mention was given this week that Paterno was hastened to death at age 85 by a broken heart over the current Penn State/Jerry Sandusky child abuse tragedy.

I’m no doctor, but Paterno already had a rebuilt hip because he couldn’t get out of the way of his players. He had lung cancer. He looked so frail, he “coached” most of his games from the press box.

Joe Paterno’s the one who should have taken it easy.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.