ccrunner609;616421 wrote:Just saw a interview on ESPN with JoPA and he was saying he hasnt ever thought of leaving but ESPN said there were rumors out there about PSU forcing him out.

I think that if PSU could land a coach like this, JoPa is becoming dead weight.

derek bomar;616429 wrote:JoePa will die 6 months after he is no longer the head coach. You can take it to the bank.

dwccrew;616476 wrote:I never understood why people claim JoePa will die after he steps down at PSU. I mean, it could happen, but why would retiring be the result of it? I mean, the guy is 84, he could go tomorrow while still being the head coach, so I don't get the talk about why retiring will cause him to die.

karen lotz;616477 wrote:I assume people that say that are thinking he will continue to coach until he is too sick to do so, at which point he will retire and be near death.

krambman;616531 wrote:People think this for the same reason why perfectly healthy people often die shortly after their spouses pass away. Football has been his life pretty much forever. Once his purpose in life is no longer there I certainly wouldn't be surprised is he passed shortly after.

krambman;616531 wrote:People think this for the same reason why perfectly healthy people often die shortly after their spouses pass away. Football has been his life pretty much forever. Once his purpose in life is no longer there I certainly wouldn't be surprised is he passed shortly after.

krambman;616531 wrote:People think this for the same reason why perfectly healthy people often die shortly after their spouses pass away. Football has been his life pretty much forever. Once his purpose in life is no longer there I certainly wouldn't be surprised is he passed shortly after.

believer;616595 wrote:I love the "just a figurehead" and "gonna die shortly after he retires" and "purpose in life is no longer there" comments.

First, Joe is most definitely still directly involved in the football program. "Yeah but he doesn't even wear a headset when he's on the sidelines." Joe has rarely worn headsets...he hates 'em.

Second, Joe has plenty of reasons to live. He and his wife have a very close relationship and Joe is very active in university affairs. If Joe retires as coach you can bet that he'll still be an active part of the athletic department.

sherm03;616711 wrote:Come on man. I'll admit, when it comes to recruiting, I am sure that is a great honor for a high school junior/senior to come into their living room and have Joe Paterno sitting on the couch telling them why they should "COME TO PENN STATE!!!" But on the sidelines on Saturdays, he doesn't do much. When there's a timeout, and team comes over to the sidelines...JoePa usually isn't in the middle of the huddle telling the offense or defense what to do. He simply wanders around behind them, yelling every once in awhile, while his assistant coaches are the ones deciding on the plays and firing up the team.

Maybe he's different on the practice field. But on Saturdays...he sure as hell looks like a figurehead.

krambman;617044 wrote:I don't think he's ever been that involved in the huddle. He's not a coordinator so there isn't a huge need for him to be wearing a headset on the sidelines. Yes, it's pretty uncommon at that level of football, but in high school and lover division college football you see it all the time where the head coach doesn't wear a headset on the sideline because he doesn't call the offense or the defense and they just ask for his input on things like punts, fourth downs, field goals, etc. My guess is that the head coach not being in every huddle and not wearing a headset was more common back when Joe got started and he never saw a need to change that.

sherm03;616711 wrote:Come on man. I'll admit, when it comes to recruiting, I am sure that is a great honor for a high school junior/senior to come into their living room and have Joe Paterno sitting on the couch telling them why they should "COME TO PENN STATE!!!" But on the sidelines on Saturdays, he doesn't do much. When there's a timeout, and team comes over to the sidelines...JoePa usually isn't in the middle of the huddle telling the offense or defense what to do. He simply wanders around behind them, yelling every once in awhile, while his assistant coaches are the ones deciding on the plays and firing up the team.

Maybe he's different on the practice field. But on Saturdays...he sure as hell looks like a figurehead.

FairwoodKing;617258 wrote:The fastest JoePa ever ran was the day his bowels gave out and he had to run across the field to the bathroom. That was the fastest run I ever saw!