Penn State Coach Joe Paterno (official thread)

[tibor75]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Despite three losing seasons in the last four years, Joe Paterno got a four-year contract extension from Penn State on Thursday that will take him past his 80th birthday, a decision that thrilled some Penn State fans and frustrated others.

"I'm stunned," said Bill Earley, a retired Wall Street executive and longtime Penn State booster now living in suburban Philadelphia. "I'd have been surprised with two years, but four? I'm flabbergasted."

Penn State went 3-9 last season, the worst record in Paterno's 39 seasons as head coach of the Nittany Lions. It was just the fourth losing season since Paterno joined the coaching staff in 1950.

Penn State didn't win a road game for the first time since the 1936 season, and finished below .500 in the Big Ten (1-7) for the first time since joining the conference for the 1993 season.

"I appreciate this extension and show of confidence in me and our football program," Paterno said in a statement. "I still enjoy coaching and I'm excited about the upcoming season and the incoming recruiting class."

In a statement, university president Graham Spanier praised Paterno's "success on the field, the graduation rate of his student athletes and the positive impact his players have made on society."

Terms of the deal were not released.

The contract for the 77-year-old Paterno was scheduled to end after the 2004 season and, because of Penn State's recent lack of success, many questioned if the coach would return.

"I don't know how anyone could say they did this thinking about the future. The data just doesn't support it," Earley said. "This is a decision not just for the next three to five years, but for five years beyond that."

But on the street in State College, the mood was very different. Some, like Penn State student Ricky Laderman, said they thought it was time for Paterno to go. Most, however, supported the decision to keep the venerable coach.

"He's brought us success in the past, and I'm sure he can do it again," said Tiffany Brown, who graduates this weekend.

Jim Brown, a 40-year-old university maintenance worker and no relation to Tiffany, also supported the extension.

"It's good for the university, and it's good for the program," Jim Brown said. "It will help him, if only for the high school kids who might be wondering whether Joe will step down in the middle of a season."

Paterno has repeatedly said he wants to continue coaching as long as he's healthy.

"Penn State's future is bright and we are determined to have a team which in the future will again be in the mix for a national championship," he said.

Paterno won national championships in 1982 and 1986 and has coached five undefeated teams. His overall record is 339-109-3, and he is second only to Florida State's Bobby Bowden in major-college wins.

Since Paterno took over as head coach in 1966, there have been 742 head coaching changes at NCAA Division I-A schools.

[jlb1705]

4 years??? It may as well have been an eternal contract, b/c Paterno will be there as long as he wants to be. PSU may as well stand for "Paterno State University", b/c that place wouldn't be half of what it is today if it wasn't for him. If I were a PSU fan, I'd be ashamed for the way some of those fans are treating Paterno.

[MililaniBuckeye]

PSU may as well stand for "Paterno State University"

Could also stand for:

Paterno Senile University
Paterno Sure is Ugly
Paterno Seldom Undefeated

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

I don't think PSU will be as bad this year. Of course I said that last year too.

[osugrad21]

That is the best news I've heard all day...

[BuckBackHome]

Are they literally afraid this guy is going to die if he is NOT coaching? I'm sorry, but this is sad. Does this guy have nothing more important in his life than this game? If Coach Pa feels that being the head football coach at PSU is all that defines him then he needs a wake up call.

[buckiprof]

I don't think PSU will be as bad this year.

I agree mainly because 4-8 is better than 3-9.

PSU is caught between a rock and a hard place with this situation. They simply cannot get rid of him yet I honestly believe that for PSU to challenge for the Big 10 title, they need a new coach. Hopefully, this 4 year extension can send more blue chip PA recruits JT's way.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by buckiprof

I agree mainly because 4-8 is better than 3-9.

PSU is caught between a rock and a hard place with this situation. They simply cannot get rid of him yet I honestly believe that for PSU to challenge for the Big 10 title, they need a new coach. Hopefully, this 4 year extension can send more blue chip PA recruits JT's way.

Yes, PSU can't fire him, and SenilePa is stoopid enough to keep staying.

[vrbryant]

What will people do when he dies on the sidelines, a la Blue (from Old School)?

[LordJeffBuck]

I think that Joe Pa must have connections with Luca Brasi's "family".

[3yardsandacloud]

The guy has flat out earned to right to stay as long as he wants. Good for him. It's also good for us!

[gregorylee]

Isn't he credited with the Official Discovery of Dirt or somthing?

[Buckeye737]

The guy has flat out earned to right to stay as long as he wants. Good for him. It's also good for us!

I have to disagree with you on this point. I don't think anyone earns the right to stay at a job when they aren't meeting the job demands. It's great to try to let someone go out on their own terms, but Joe's making that awfully tough. I don't care how long he has been at PSU. I love JoePa and PSU is one of my favorites outside of OSU, but Paterno is killing the program. Look at how that state got pillaged in recruiting last year.

EDIT: CRAP. Sorry Buckeye737, instead of responding I somehow edited your post. I will try to restore it. My apologies. 3yards

[BuckNutty]

This sounds like a recruiting tool to me. Chances are Paterno is gone before this new contract expires. Penn State has enough trouble getting quality players without letting these recruits know they are going to sign on to play for a coach that will be gone well before many of them graduate. They had a decent class last year and Joe Pa wants another class or two of solid players so he can go out on some sort of high note before he hangs it up, IMO. I think he deserves as much and as it's been pointed out, it shouldn't bother Buckeye fans a bit.

[FCollinsBuckeye]

I was thinking the same thing, Bucknutty. This will give the illusion of some stability for the next class or two of recruits - but I seriously doubt he'll be there for four more years....but then again, my Grandpa probably said the same thing before I was born!