The Last College Football Head Coach

When Bill O'Brien left PSU last week for the NFL's Houston Texans, it marked the second time in two years that Nittany Lions are searching for a new head football coach.  From 1950 until 2011, Penn State were only led by Rip Engle and Joe Paterno. They were the only two head coaches most of us knew.  If you count the interims, the Lions will be on 5th head coach in 26 months.  For now, it is "Nervous Valley" for Happy Valley, but not for the rest of us.

Like it or not, scandal or no scandal, the stability at Penn State over the last half century was living on borrowed time.  With the advent of the BCS, internet, conference television networks, and radio, college head coaching gigs are now approaching 6 million dollars on what we know.  Then there are other endorsements. 

As a fan of the University of Notre Dame, I would tease my PSU brethren that there are going to be some rough patches in the post-Paterno era.  When you look at coaches like the Bear, Bo, and Woody (date yourself if you know their last names and universities), all of their universities had some trouble after they left their respective post.  Alabama has won 4 titles without the Bear, Ohio State and Michigan each have 1 title without Woody and Bo. 

The last few days have yielded the hiring of James Franklin for the Nittany Lions and the departure of Larry Johnson.  Johnson was the last coaching link to the Paterno era at Penn State.

I would ask Penn State fans to look at the Red River rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas.  Bob Stoups and Mack Brown only have one year separating them in years of service at their respective schools.  Brown has one more year at Texas and has decided to step down.  Even with a national championship in 2005, he is referred to as "Mr. February" in some parts.  Stoops also has one championship plus is only 53 years old.  He has been mentioned for some job both NFL and college, but has not been the white hot candidates that Franklin and O'Brien have been.

No one how a playoff system and monopoly money with effect coaching staff and universities in the future, but the landscape is about to change once again.  My advice to Penn State fans is this:

1. Joe Paterno was the last of the great coaches in a wonderful time of college football.  Appreciate and savor it.  His time at State College built the university (A trial in the future may have an effect good or bad on his lasting legacy.)
2. Don't worry about statue.
3. A playoff system will help the game in the long run.
4. 2014 will be a trying one with only 10 seniors, the Lions are still young.  With that in mind and the recruits on the way, the Nittany Lions will survive the sanctions more than people thought.
5. Franklin is Pennsylvania guy.
6. He played college football in the Poconos and could relate to recruits what is like being from an urban area and life in central PA.
7. Franklin is 0-0.
8. He is 2 years away from being 15-9 or 9-15 where he might be judged with greater scrutiny.
9. Franklin has two young daughters which would help him staying put for awhile. 
10. Franklin will make sure Beaver Stadium is full in 2014 and beyond.

Head football coaches are kind of like Supreme Court Justices, Popes and Presidents.  You don't know where your getting until they step into the command chair.  Stay tuned.

So Long Joe

Funeral services for Joseph Vincent Paterno will be held this afternoon.  Here is an article by Bob McKinnon who had dealing with the Paterno family outside of football.

Godspeed Joe.

Joseph Vincent Paterno, 1926 - 2012

There are two guarantees in life, death and taxes. In Pennsylvania, you could say we may have had three.  For most of us for the past 60 years, it was death, taxes, and Joseph Vincent Paterno.  Today, Joseph Vincent Paterno left this world at the age of 85.  His death was prematurely reported as early as 8:15 pm eastern time last night.

Besides the Los Angeles Dodgers and Greg Maresca, Brooklyn's most famous export set up residence in the middle of farm country in central Pennsylvania.  Over the next 60 years, Paterno through his leadership with the football program helped transform a agriculture, land-grant university into something of envy throughout the nation and the world.

Joe Paterno's football teams won on and off the field.  His players became doctors, lawyers, teachers, Hall of Fame football players, composers and who touched many people in every walk of life.  I would venture to say, 90 percent of any incoming freshman class were influenced in attending the university for what leadership they saw on and off the football field and the history behind it.

There are still some unresolved issues that will be written about the final legacy of JoePa.  Out of respect for the respose of the soul of JoePa and his family I will only offer my sympathy and prayers.

TO THE FANS

For the millions of fans of Joe Paterno and PSU football, Saturday afternoons will never be the same.  You have the last of an iconic college football coach who became the symbol of a state and a university.  Take pride in the fact that you also helped build PSU for what it has become today and it's influence around the world.  Time will heal and a time will come to honor JoePa.

TO THE ALUMNI

There are probably not many alumni who know PSU withough Joe Paterno. JoePa provided you with an example of leadership that you should continue in any endeavor you have chosen.  It is still a path if chosen to follow will provide you with rewards in the end.


TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In the upcoming months there will be a trial.  There will be a time to come clean.  Remember, power and greed trips you up everytime.

TO THE PATERNO FAMILY

Grieve the loss of a husband, father, and grandfather.  Eventually time will heal.  Hopefully, the family will be able to find a new purpose in life beyond football.  Maybe on the horizon valuable influence could be spread among, cancer, child abuse and early childhood education.  These are problems the state and the country faces as our lives move forward.

God Bless the Paterno family, you will be in our prayers.

Edward Washuta

The Long Road Back to Happy Valley

“This is more than just a program, this is more than a football legacy. This is about people and if we can’t protect our kids, we as a society are pathetic. So, that’s where I stand on it." - Matt Millen

For those of you who forgot, Matt Millen was part of the "Salt and Pepper" combination along with Bruce Clark who played defensive tackle for Penn State back in the mid-70's and those were his words earlier this week. 

Whether you were connected to the university or the football team, it was tough week to be a citizen of the Commonwealth.  I have known no other coach at PSU in my lifetime being born in February of 1966.  Joe Paterno came to Penn State in 1950 and in his life transformed the university into a national brand.  He saw Beaver Stadium grow from the stadium in pasture to the 2nd largest in the country.  All came crashing down this week.  In a place where doing what was right was the rule of the land, the Board of  Trustees made a business decision to in effort to save that image.

There are many to feel sorry for in this scandal.  To many of my friends, there faith in humanity has been shaken to the core.  PSU was part of their life where they enjoyed the triumphs and losses with their family for generations.  It has been a place that has molded their characters and careers.  Many met their future spouse as undergrads.  To many, it was opportunity.  To generations across the years, Joe Paterno's firing was like losing a brother, father or grandfather.  It has been that tough. 

There are people at the Second Mile Charity who thought they were working and fighting for something they believed in.   

All week battle lines across the state and country have been drawn in support for or against Joe Paterno. This week is just a small chapter of many in coming years about PSU and football.  Yes, I said years. (See Len Bias and SMU). 

Major college football has become a cesspool with the advent of the BCS and perpetuated by the NCAA.  Do you believe we actually use a computer and vote to see who will play for the national championship? Even though not a fan nor graduate, at the end of the day,  Penn State University and their football program was something I could hang my hat on as a citizen of Pennsylvania and still be proud.

Joe Paterno's time at PSU has ended.  The nation and world will never look upon the program the same way in long time if ever.  We need to get used to that as citizens, graduates and alumni.  The road back to that image will be long.  Hopefully, Joe will live long enough to see some luster restored to his legacy or live with the torment of not doing enough as further developments come to light.  The numbers we should be concerned about are NOT 409-136-3 or 24-12-1.  The numbers that matter right now stand at 9-9.  Nine victims and nine years of a suspected pedophile to have free reign to roam.   The truth will be waiting. We need to find it.

Josh Marks Reportedly Leaves Penn State

Josh Marks reportedly leaves PSU.

Josh Marks a four-time PIAA state football champion while at Southern Columbia High School. Details at the time are not available. Friday is media day at PSU. Will JoePa have any comment.

The CoalRegionVoice wishes Marks well in any decision he makes.