JoePa says he’s coming back in 2011

[ATENEARS]

JoePa says he’s coming back in 2011

By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer

11 hours, 38 minutes ago

 

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)—Joe Paterno plans to return as Penn State coach next season, ending the latest round of speculation about retirement.

 

The Nittany Lions meet No. 11 Michigan State in the regular-season finale on Saturday, and some fans and members of the media were wondering if this would be the 83-year-old Hall of Famer’s final appearance at Beaver Stadium. Illness slowed him down in the offseason, and the Nittany Lions’ midseason stumbles even had some fans griping for change.

 

The rumor mill churned anew in recent weeks, but major college football’s winningest coach said Tuesday at Beaver Stadium he hadn’t even given thought to leaving a job he’s held a record 45 seasons.

 

NCAAF Gallery “I had no intentions, and I’ve never indicated to anybody, including myself, that I was not coming back,” he said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. “No, it’s always been in my mind that now is not the time to go. I think we’ve got a good young team. They may not be there yet but they will be soon.”

 

And with Paterno leading them again. He turns 84 on Dec. 21.

 

“Joe Paterno publicly confirms what we suspected all along—he will be back coaching Penn State in 2011,” son and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno tweeted.

 

Speculating about Paterno’s future is an end-of-season ritual in Happy Valley. The 2011 season would be the last year of a three-year extension signed in late 2008.

 

When asked, Paterno said returning was “entirely my call. … But I would hope that what I want to do would be taken into consideration and go from there.” Paterno’s annual season-in-review meeting with school president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley awaits.

 

Curley said the immediate focus was on Michigan State.

 

“We’re glad to hear of coach Paterno’s excitement for next season,” he said in a statement. “We share his optimism about the team’s potential and look forward to our annual postseason discussion with coach Paterno about next year.”

 

Paterno missed several offseason appearances because of an intestinal issue and a lingering adverse reaction to antibiotics prescribed for dental work. He also cut back on a number of in-season obligations on top of coaching, including taping segments instead of appearing live on a weekly radio show.

 

Paterno has had trouble hearing at times during media availabilities. On the field, a 3-3 start had a few hardcore blue-and-white backers dusting off the “Joe Must Go” phrase on Internet message boards and radio shows.

 

But his overall physical health appears to have improved over the grueling season, and Paterno was as energized as ever on Tuesday in exchanging lighthearted verbal jabs with reporters.

 

Penn State is 4-1 since the .500 start, including a come-from-behind victory earlier this month over Northwestern to secure Paterno’s landmark 400th career victory.

 

“Awesome! Maybe you guys will leave him alone now,” Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said when told of Paterno was returning. “I’m fired up for coach.”

 

Paterno said his illness wasn’t serious, and wasn’t a consideration moving forward. The first question posed Tuesday at Beaver Stadium was whether he planned to return next season.

 

“Yeah, why you know something I don’t know,” he quipped.

 

“I’m looking forward to it. … We’ve struggled a little bit this year, the youth and the injuries and the whole bit,” Paterno continued. “But I think with a good spring and preseason practice … We’re going to be a good football team, and I’d like to (be) part of it.”

 

Linebacker Chris Colasanti wasn’t surprised JoePa was returning.

 

“He’s still vocal and energetic on the field,” Colasanti said. “He still loves to come out and coach, be vocal. … He has fun with it, we see that and we feed off of that.”

 

 

 

[miktoxic]

“He still loves to come out and coach, be vocal. … He has fun with it, we see that and we feed off of that.”

 

god bless the guy BUT if he's doing any coaching on game day then i believe in santa claus and the tooth fairy etc. let's hope they either move in a port-a-potty close to the sidelines or reup on the depends.

 

[Kosar_For_President]

I just crapped my pants.

[Bodogjoe]

Penn State, brought to you by AARP and Geritol.

[Bodogjoe]

I can see why he wants to keep coaching though. Lot of time when older people retire from a job or hobby. They seem to die alot quicker. He seems to be able to do it. So let em go as long as he can .

[Kosar_For_President]

I just crapped my pants.

 

I'm not joking.

[ATENEARS]

I love Joe Pa, College football won't be the same without him.

[Kosar_For_President]

[slowburn]

god bless the guy BUT if he's doing any coaching on game day then i believe in santa claus and the tooth fairy etc. let's hope they either move in a port-a-potty close to the sidelines or reup on the depends.

saw him on sports center this am.....slowin down a bit but still amazing he is on the field contributing at 83 fyo!!!

[hoorta]

6 Undefeated Season, 3 national championships, an amazing bowl record and the second best record in the Big Ten since 2005.

 

Yeah, he's old. Let's all make jokes.

 

This team was very young this year, they'll be very good next year.

 

I hope he goes out on top. Class act all the way.

 

Zombo

 

Ya know Z, I think Joe is going to wind up like that guy in the movie "Weekend at Bernie's". When he's dead, they'll just stuff him, and prop him up on the sidelines- he could "coach" another 50 years that way- at least.

 

But seriously- if he still wants to coach, and the AD is OK with it, let him. He can't be doing it for the money- he's long passed the age where he has to start taking Social Security, and mandatory pension disbursements. There's a few (very few) people that love what their doing so much and are such workaholics, that they won't quit until they're dead- because as others have mentioned they're afraid if they retire, they WILL wind up dead in short order.

 

On a personal level, we had a pathologist who was on the high side of 80 who had tons of West Palm beachfront property to his name that the other docs in the group literally had to drag out to his car one day and tell him "you've been retired, enjoy Florida". (and then they guy went out and started his own private practice) So yeah, I know the type who can't quit while they're ahead.

 

[darubes]

The NCAA just announced that next year ALL Penn State games must start at 1:00PM. Anything

later would be past JoePa's bedtime.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

Lets face reality. When you are 84 years old, you say "I hope to be back to coach next year". But more power to him if he is mentally able to coach. How many, if any of us will still be alive or in that kind of shape at that age?

[BROWNandORANGE]

I have all respect in the world for this guy, but I dont wanna see what happened to him last year (broken leg) happen again. He has more wins than any other coach ever, so you gotta respect that.

[BendMeOver]

Penn State will never have another coach.

 

When he's dead they'll just wheel his frozen carcass/coffin out on the sideline and let a computer program based upon his history of playcalling determine what PSU will run next.