At age 77 shouldn’t he have the grace to let someone else take the helm after his 4th straight losing season? Aside from that why don’t the Regents make him step aside? It’s not like he’s the Pope.
He still thinks he can do it, and he certainly still has the energy, and maybe, like so many prospective retirees, doesn’t know what else he’d do with his life. He has certainly suffered in recruiting in recent years, as other coaches tell prospects “Sure, Joe is one of the great coaches of all time, but are you sure he’d be there for all of your four years?”
Why isn’t he pushed out? Remember that *he * built the PSU program into one of the top teams in the country for decades, and there obviously is a feeling among the administration that he deserves to wrap up his career under his own terms.
They haven’t had four straight losing seasons, they’ve had four losing seasons in five years. They were 9-4 in 2002.
Prior to 2000 the team won 75-80% of its games with astonishing consistency. Paterno was 73 at that point. I’m not sure that it’s reasonable to believe that he suddenly got Alzheimer’s in 2000.
Maybe he’s trying to catch up to John Gagliardi before he retires.
Like in the old joke – a good pig like that you can’t just eat all at once.
Joe Paterno has done a lot, nearly everything for Penn State Varsity Football. When a guy has given a college all that he has you can’t just haul him out to the 50 yard line at half time, hand him a gold watch and a bus ticket and wish him a happy life. A little respect for the coach and a little self respect for the school means that Paterno gets to pick his own time and way to leave. Good for them both.
As an Iowan I can tell you that winning the Big Ten every damn year isn’t the be all and end all. Michigan and Ohio State fans should remember that. Good Lord, how long did THE Ohio State University keep Woody Hayes when it was pretty apparent that the poor old guy couldn’t cut the mustard any more. It wasn’t until he pulled off a major gaff with the whole world watching that the University took the decision out of Woody’s hands. Please God that sort of thing does not happen to Coach Paterno.
But, but, but . . . he’s JoePa!!! He is Penn State Football!