Ode to Joe

Earlier today, Joseph Vincent Paterno passed away of complications relating to his recent battle with lung cancer. He was 85 years old. His death is overshadowed by the sex abuse scandal at Penn State that has surfaced in the past three months. After Paterno's firing, the elderly man with the weak and withered voice that just about everybody recognizes was turned from legend to scapegoat. Now, 72 days after a night where students took to the streets to protest the legend's less-than-ideal departure, the legend himself is no longer with us.


I have always said that Joe Paterno would not survive more than six months after retiring. That's because he lives for football and for his University. I always said he, sadly, wouldn't survive. I just always hoped that I was wrong. And I was, as he didn't last three months.

I believe Matt Millen, former Nittany Lion and current ESPN analyst, said it best, and most around the country I believe agree: Joe Paterno died "of a broken heart."

In this Ode to Joe, there are so many things to discuss. I could talk about his 62 years as a Penn State coach, 44 as head coach of the Nittany Lions.  I could talk about two national championships, 409 victories, and countless images on the field. Or I could talk about the last three months, about Jerry Sandusky and the Second Mile and the child sex abuse scandal. But anybody who is close to the University or to the Paterno family knows that none of these would truly explain what a great man Joe Paterno was.  I hope to exemplify a different side of the man known as JoePa.


Academics. In a college athletics world where it's all about winning and winning now, Joe Paterno has done that and then some. After being hired in 1966, Paterno began what was considered a "Grand Experiment" of combining quality, winning athletics with success in the classroom as well. As an Ivy-leaguer himself, Paterno sure knew about the importance of an education. This past year, Penn State ranked #1 in the BCS Academic Rankings, which takes the BCS top 25 teams and ranks them on academic performance.


I have proctored exams for the math department at Penn State for the past three years. During football season, practice interferes with scheduled exam times for math exams. The routine that the staff puts forth for the players is unbelievable. Exams start at 6:30 pm. The team ends practice around 7:00. Those who have an exam to take are personally escorted from the practice field back to the football building. They change out of their practice gear and then are escorted straight to the exam room. This structure is just a little proof that academics still come first. Not to mention that, all through the football building, little reminders are posted everywhere that education comes first. A huge picture of 18 seniors who graduated prior to their trip to the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009 hangs in the academic center. Dean's List players are posted and rewarded. Articles listing PSU as one of the top five football programs in terms of graduation rate (consistently around 80%) cover the doors. It's a sight to behold. JoePa began a mindset that few other schools can boast having.

Dedication. Numerous times throughout his career, Joe Paterno was offered big name jobs with even bigger salaries in the NFL. Some, including the Pittsburgh Steelers job in 1969, he highly considered. But he always said family first, and he considered Penn State and State College to be one big family.

Penn State would try to increase Paterno's salary, attempting to keep him on staff and as one of the top paid in the country. He always resisted.  In the end, he would finally give in, saying essentially that "pay me more if you want, you're getting it all back anyway." And that's what he always did. He would end up donating close to half of his salary during the last few years of his career. Most of the money, over $13 million, went toward renovating the campus library which now bears his name.

Personal Life. Everybody knows about Joe on the football field. Very few have had the pleasure of meeting him in person. I wish I could have. I have heard stories from numerous students who had walked past him on their walk to 8:00 am class. He lives on campus and in his prime he was seen often walking or jogging around the University. He would say hello to students on those trips around campus, give a friendly wave, and even stop to have full conversations with some. He was always interested in what was happening on campus.

His relationship with his family has always been quiet, as any should be. But in every major interview he's done, Joe and his wife Sue have talked about how great they have it with their five kids and 17 grandchildren. It is reported that his entire family was able to make it to his bedside on Saturday night to say their goodbyes.

Not a Figurehead: Sadly, many have said that Joe only stayed head coach for so long because he was a figurehead, that he was only coach "in name", that somebody was "pulling the strings", that he was senile and didn't know what was happening. The last few years it's no secret that his assistants took over a bigger role, but to say Joe didn't know what was happening is just wrong. As shirts across campus say, "Joe Knows Football" and he showed it every week. Few forget that in 2008, a Rose Bowl bound season for the Nittany Lions, Paterno ended up coaching from the press box for all but two or three games that year. Many forget why he was up there: he hurt his hip when he physically demonstrated how to properly execute an onside kick. A few years prior he was seen chasing down referees because he thought a call was missed. It's sad that people think he was unaware of what was going on out there.

The best moment I remember from the end of Joe's coaching tenure that showed he still was in it was the Rally in the Valley before the Alabama game this past September. "Let's show some respect (for Alabama)...but that doesn't mean we don't want to beat their you know what!" he shouted as he waved around "this...pardon me ladies...this damn cane!" His words that day and every day resonate with Nittany Nation. He preaches family. "Stick together." He's still in it to say the least. Just listen for yourself.

Final Words: After the Sandusky scandal, Paterno turned to a scapegoat. Some called him an old perv. After his passing, it's only words of reverence. Which will last beyond the next few days? Such a great man should be remembered for what he was: a great man who turned a small "Cow College" into a national prowess and did countless good deeds for his school.

Looking back, how fitting was the last game under Joe Paterno. In a defensive struggle in the cold, snowy Happy Valley, a walk-on QB Matt McGloin leads his team down the field for the go-ahead touchdown to put the Nittany Lions up 10-7. It was textbook Paterno with the stingy defense and the run-first offense that wears down the team down the stretch. That stingy defense had to make one more stand, which ended with a field goal attempt with just a couple of seconds left. In the greatest moment I've witnessed at Beaver Stadium, the "Great Migration" occurs. Over 20,000 students all rush behind the goal posts for the final kick. The ball was in the air for less than three seconds, but it felt like thirty minutes as the crowd waited in silence. DOINK. Eruption. Pandemonium. Sheer excitement by over 100,000 fans.

That was JoePa's 409th career victory, passing Amos Stagg. It was also the last game he ever coached. He went out in style, at least on the football field.

But we need to remember the man he was off the field. That corny little guy in the coke-bottle glasses with the one-of-a-kind voice. A voice that I personally will never forget hearing. RIP Joe.