Joe Paterno - No Ordinary Joe!

“They asked me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach.” – Joe Paterno

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Everyone who follows the game of soccer would know who Alex Ferguson is. As the longest serving and most decorated manager in the English Premier League, Alex Ferguson is regarded as one of the game's greatest managers. Similarly, in the world of college football, the name Joe Paterno is equally revered! In Dec 2007, Joe Paterno was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor in college football.

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Joe Paterno, is the legendary coach of Penn State football team. Next year, will be his 43rd year as the head coach, which is remarkable for a sport in which the players change with each season. Joe Paterno, who is 81, said he tackled each new season with the same energy and enthusiasm as the one before. However, his days as football coach of Penn State are numbered! The university recently announced that his contract will not be renewed when the current deal expires next year.

In 1982, Paterno & Penn State finally broke through, defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to win their first national championship. Another followed 4 yrs later.

Joe Paterno came to Penn State, as a 23 year-old kid, in 1950. That’s 58 year ago!After serving as a member of the coaching team for 16 seasons, he was promoted to head coach in 1966. Since then, he has led Penn State to two national championships and five undefeated seasons. Indeed, JoePa, as he is affectionately called, is an iconic figure on and away from the football field - a symbol of tradition and pride for generations of Penn State alumni and fans and a chief ambassador of college football.

How much does Joe Paterno earns? US$ 512,664 annually! That is only the base salary, which does not include additional fees from television and apparel contracts as well as other game bonuses. But if Paterno has earned the status of a celebrity, he does not show off. It was noted that he lives in the same modest home in State College where he raised his five children and where he entertains recruits with his wife’s lasagna dinners and quiet conversation. His wardrobe is simple and unchanged, .., and ties that outdate many of his players.
Paterno’s contribution to the university transcends the football field. Over the years, he has also donated more than US$4.2 million to Penn State. Joe Paterno, along with his wife, also engineered a $14 million campaign to expand the university library, which is now called the Paterno Library.

“The purpose of college football is to serve education, not the other way round.”

"What are coaches? Number one, we're teachers and we're educators. We have the same obligations as all teachers at our institutions, except we probably have more influence over our young people than anyone other than their families."

Although we have not met Joe Paterno in person, we share something in common. Well, we learned from our landlord that JoePa, in his early days in State College five decades ago, used to live in the same house we are currently staying in. In fact, he occupied the smallest room in the house, which is currently our study room. If you can imagine living in a house Alex Ferguson used to stay as a young man, then you can imagine our feeling staying in a house with such a history!

==================I see that you posted something about Penn State football on your blog. I can't remember whether we told you this or not, but Joe Paterno used to live in our house. His bedroom was the study on the main floor. The house was built by a family named the O'Horas in 1957-8. Jim O'Hora was the defensive coordinator at Penn State, and for a while after he moved to town, JoePa lived with the O'Horas.

Once a few years ago, Jim's children drove Jim past the old house to have a look. I wasn't home but Cricket and the girls were, so they had a chance to talk to him. Another time, Cricket called his wife Elizabeth before she died and learned a little bit about the house. For instance, Elizabeth had wanted a larger entry to the kitchen from the garage (where the pantry is now), but they had to make it smaller in order to provide a large closet in JoePa's bedroom to hold his suits. :) So when you wrote on your blog that some people have a Nittany Lion room in their house, it turns out that you do too! - Dave.

Reference: No Ordinary Joe, The Daily Collegian "Paterno's base salary: $512,664" (Nov 30, 2007), "Commerative Edition - History in the Making" (Dec 2007), The New York Times "Question of Age is Getting Old" (Apr 20, 2008).