Sept. Games Highlight Salvage Down Lives

NCAA Football Betting Lines

Paterno was born December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. He went on to play football at Brown University (1946-49) and landed at Penn State in 1950 under then head coach Rip Engle, Fifteen years later, Paterno took over for the retired Engle and remained at that post up until this past November.

Paterno amassed an FBS-record 409 victories in his 46 years at the helm, was named the National Coach of the Year five times, winning two national titles (1982, 86) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

There were certainly times over the years that it seemed like the game had passed JoePa by, but he stayed the course and continued to build a program that achieved both on and off the field. He mentored thousands of young men that have gone on to live richly fulfilling lives. He stayed loyal to his university and although he certainly made his fair share of money, he funneled a good portion of it back into the school.

"He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community."

Paterno's loyalty, although one of his greatest assets, was also a huge reason for his downfall.

Regret is something Paterno admitted in a Washington Post interview published a few days before his death.

"In hindsight," Paterno told the Post reporter, "I wish I had done more."

"So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did," Paterno said. "It didn't work out that way."

Certainly in looking back at the events that unfolded, it was naive on his part to "pass the buck" and hope for the best. However, naivety does in no way make him complicit in Sandusky's alleged crimes.

comments

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•    My TL = Joe Paterno last week at this time

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•    #nw - One Stop Football

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•    Got my 1st win as varsity head coach 2nite. #goladybuffs

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•    his degree of theology at the University of Leiden

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•    Damn. I love this university.

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•    Football in 1 1/2 hours -_- tired.

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•    When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality. - Joe Paterno

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