Posted on 11/23/2010 6:29:26 PM PST by FlJoePa
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Joe Paterno plans to return as Penn State coach next season, ending the latest round of speculation about retirement.
The Nittany Lions meet Michigan State (No. 10 BCS, No. 11 AP) in the regular-season finale on Saturday, and some fans and members of the media were wondering if this would be the 83-year-old Hall of Famer's final appearance at Beaver Stadium. Illness slowed him down in the offseason, and the Nittany Lions' midseason stumbles even had some fans griping for change.
The rumor mill churned anew in recent weeks, but major college football's winningest coach said Tuesday at Beaver Stadium he hadn't even given thought to leaving a job he's held a record 45 seasons.
"I had no intentions, and I've never indicated to anybody, including myself, that I was not coming back," he said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "No, it's always been in my mind that now is not the time to go. I think we've got a good young team. They may not be there yet but they will be soon."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
That poor old geezer needs a guardian appointed by the court. He hasn’t coached in 15 years.What is the name of the real coach? We really don’t follow the lions down here at all.
Good for Ohio State...go Buckeyes!
Agreed...he’s earned the right to go out on his own terms.
I love (and I’m a huge bama fan) Joe Pa but it’s time for him to retire.....I’ve heard that he’s scared that what happened to the Bear will happen to him - he’ll retire and then within a matter of a couple of weeks will die.....I just don’t want him to hang around until he’s destroyed the Penn St program....
Isn’t former Gator HC Galen Hall the day-to-day coach?
Best wishes to him...a class act since before I was born.
If they win on Saturday, PSU’s record over the previous six seasons will be 59-17. During that span they are 4-1 in bowl games, with a BCS Bowl win. Admittedly, they’re not a top tier program right now, but I also wouldn’t say the program is in the midst of destruction.
PSU last five years under Joe:
2009: 11-2
2008: 11-2
2007: 9-4
2006: 9-4
2005: 11-1
He's also won 4 of 5 bowl games during those years, including a win over LSU last year.
How exactly is he destroying the program?
They are in a rebuilding year and have had an incredible amount of injuries. More injuries than I can remember ever. And I've been following PSU Football since the late 60's.
Since you're so interested in video, here's a video of Joe from a couple years ago (2008 pre-season) for you to chew on.
You and all the others that don't think he does any coaching. Let me know what you think.
Please watch the video I linked and tell me what you see and hear. Just curious as to your reaction because as you say, you’ve got no dog in the hunt...
I admire Joe Paterno and he deserves to stay as long as he wants.
I don’t care if he’s 100.
I think that Joe has been benefiting in recent years through recruiting the sons of players that he had during his 1975-1985 era. Not many coaches hang around long enough to coach 2 generations. That said PSU recruiting has been pretty spotty if you exclude the legacy players.
I love Joe, but his time has passed.
LOL, didn’t Bear Bryant piss himself a lot during his wahsed-up final years?
You just made my point. Thanks.
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