Toggle sidebar

Joe Pa's Comments

I went to the game. Watched the tide roll. I went with 3 Penn State fans and listened to their complaints and I listened to the Penn State fans calling into the radio station after the game. The coaching staff reminds me on the frustration we had when Shula was here (i.e. players never developing or being coached up; questionable play calling such as not going for it when your 17 points behind with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter and your on the opposing teams 40 yard line; and inability to get plays into the quarterback on time and have to use up your 3 time outs on the first drive of the game). Penn State needs to do to Paterno what Florida State did to Bowden. Sometimes, there is no other way. If the coach can't see he is not helping, but is hindering the program, then you have to help him see in the most graceful way as possible. Penn State fans deserve a lot better than they are getting. Penn State needs to revamp their strength and conditioning program. Some of their fans said our players look 1 1/2 times the size of their players and they are right. The coaches are all "comfortable" there is no attitude like what Saban brought to our program when he said, "We want the teams that play against us to dread playing us because we are so relentless and dominate them" (i.e. my own paraphrase). Penn State is going to continue to go down until Paterno and his cronies go. Hate to say it. Love Paterno as a man, but his coaching days are over! Roll tide!
 
I hope thy don't treat him like the did Bowden @ FSU, yes he needs to retire, but it is hard to figure out how when he helps bring in 108,000 fans
 
Elephant Stomp said:
Sometimes, there is no other way. If the coach can't see he is not helping, but is hindering the program, then you have to help him see in the most graceful way as possible. Penn State fans deserve a lot better than they are getting. Penn State needs to revamp their strength and conditioning program. Some of their fans said our players look 1 1/2 times the size of their players and they are right. The coaches are all "comfortable" there is no attitude like what Saban brought to our program when he said, "We want the teams that play against us to dread playing us because we are so relentless and dominate them" (i.e. my own paraphrase). Penn State is going to continue to go down until Paterno and his cronies go. Hate to say it. Love Paterno as a man, but his coaching days are over! Roll tide!
Click to expand...

This... That said, right after the flashed the days attendence they put up on the score board the number of people who have attended a Penn State game at Beaver Stadium since Joe Pa became head coach. Anyone want to venture a guess as to how many people that might be....? Over 23 million people! He truly is a legend of the game and I get the sense that he will go on his own terms. I also think the majority of Penn State fans seem to have accepted this.
 
I agree with the comments here and hope there is a way to handle this in a private way without embarrassment to Joe Pa. Maybe his son could convince him to take a position that would have him present on campus and at games without being involved with coaching. He is an inspiration to many there but the football program needs to move on now.
 
Penn State is a unique place. It's not just Paterno that's been around forever. They've only had like 5 total coordinators in the history of the program. Five. In its history. Tom Bradley and Jerry Sandusky have been the only DCs. Dick Anderson, Fran Ganter, and Galen Hall are the only OCs they've had. They are just not in the business of letting go of coaches. There are programs that have 5 coordinators within a 3 or 4 year period.

No chance PSU ever lets go of Paterno. He went 7-6 last year, but was 11-2 the year before, and 11-2 the year before that. Another 7-6 season might get most coaches fired. Paterno will be the head coach until he dies. Even if he's only HC in title only, and my guess is that's what is true right now.

Plus, Paterno is still a big marketing tool...
 
I think it is similar to the FSU situation with Bowden. You have a coach that has done so much for the University and it makes it hard to ask him to step down, even when it becomes obvious that it is probably time. I am someone that loves and respects the history of all sports, MLB, NCAA, NFL, NBA, and I respect Joe Pa without a doubt. But I also think there comes a time when you just have to let it go, look back on all you have accomplished and move on.
 
Elefantman said:
you

I'm a big Joe Pa fan, but I agree he should step down. But how do you ask Joe to retire? Who would you get to approach him? What if Bear Bryant continued coaching and every year we finished in the middle of the SEC wining 6 or 7 games. How many years would Bear have lasted before he was forced out?
Click to expand...

A few years ago, when he was asked about retiring, he specifically mentioned Coach Bryant and his early death after retirement...
 
I do not think JoePa really coaches anymore. I think he is just a figure head that they keep around for the program. Unlike Bowden who still tried to coach and call plays. I doubt very seriously JoePa does any of that any more. I think out of respect they allow him to be there. Bowden would have been awarded the same respect but he thought he could still coach.
 
Paterno is taking advantage of the good will he built during a great career, but college football ought to be more fun for the Penn State fans. Every week should be "fight, fight, fight for the team" instead it's more like a trip to the old folks home to see how cantankerous Grandpa is this week.

I bet if a 64 year old Paterno could see the 84 year old Paterno sitting up in the box, with his head propped on his hand watching the game, he would say "get an effective coach, not a figurehead, 84's way too old to coach."
 
Last edited:
Like I said I doubt he coaches at all anymore. A good friend of mine is a coach in another sport there and he says they give him an office and let him hang out but he really has nothing to do with day to day duties or coaching. I was told that they feel it helps to keep him around for boosters and recruiting. He has become a part of PSU as a shrine and not much more.

Now the concern with many though is staff that is actually coaching that they seem to be a little lacking and the concern they have with Jay Paterno being on the staff and that he might have a little to much say in the calls and how to approach that because of his dad.
 
Tide Warrior said:
Like I said I doubt he coaches at all anymore. A good friend of mine is a coach in another sport there and he says they give him an office and let him hang out but he really has nothing to do with day to day duties or coaching. I was told that they feel it helps to keep him around for boosters and recruiting. He has become a part of PSU as a shrine and not much more.

Now the concern with many though is staff that is actually coaching that they seem to be a little lacking and the concern they have with Jay Paterno being on the staff and that he might have a little to much say in the calls and how to approach that because of his dad.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I've been told by a PSU alum friend of mine. The problem as you mentioned is that they are unable to make any staff changes with him there. Also, no one can effectively question or challenge Jay on anything because of his dad. He said most fans don't really mind because they love Joe Pa so much, but a perfect scenario would be if there was someone in a position to make some staff changes while Joe held the title of HC.

I think the fact that he donates his entire salary back to the university is a sign that he knows he isn't earning his pay. Unfortunately the IRS doesn't care if its a gesture of loyalty that he continues to hold the title and draw a salary. They still want theirs so PSU still loses money in the deal.
 
Last edited:
Tide Warrior said:
I do not think JoePa really coaches anymore. I think he is just a figure head that they keep around for the program. Unlike Bowden who still tried to coach and call plays. I doubt very seriously JoePa does any of that any more. I think out of respect they allow him to be there. Bowden would have been awarded the same respect but he thought he could still coach.
Click to expand...

I don't see how he could coach, sitting up in the box with no headset on. How would he communicate?
 
crimsonbleeder said:
that's exactly what I was saying to our folks yesterday. They're paying him waay too much money for him to be letting his other coaches run the show and him be as detached during games as he has been. It was the same story in Tuscaloosa last year, except that he was on the sideline.
Click to expand...
A Penn State fan at the game told me that he only makes $500 thousand a year and he turns around and donates most of it back to PSU.

I listened to their radio show on our way back to Pittsburgh last night and their fans remind me of us a few years ago. They are tired of tipping their hat to other teams and saying job well done.
 
J4Bama said:
A Penn State fan at the game told me that he only makes $500 thousand a year and he turns around and donates most of it back to PSU.

I listened to their radio show on our way back to Pittsburgh last night and their fans remind me of us a few years ago. They are tired of tipping their hat to other teams and saying job well done.
Click to expand...

The thing is PSU fans need to understand that the SEC has set a new standard in CFB and the other conferences have yet to catch up. I am not saying that PSU does not have issues, but they are not in the same league as many others are not with the SEC. Which has been proven with how many straight NC for SEC?
 
Just because he is sitting up in the box not calling the plays doesn't mean he is not still an effective coach. I an sure he has a good coaching team working with him and he provides much overall value to PSU. I think he will know better than anyone if he should step down.
 
I just watched the video. It was painful. Almost as bad as Coach Bowden's last season when he would be in the pressers forgetting what the questions were that were asked. I love all that JoePa stands for. But as it has been stated, Father Time is undefeated.
 
Chukker Veteran said:
Paterno is taking advantage of the good will he built during a great career, but college football ought to be more fun for the Penn State fans. Every week should be "fight, fight, fight for the team" instead it's more like a trip to the old folks home to see how cantankerous Grandpa is this week.

I bet if a 64 year old Paterno could see the 84 year old Paterno sitting up in the box, with his head propped on his hand watching the game, he would say "get an effective coach, not a figurehead, 84's way too old to coach."
Click to expand...

Exactly.

When they cut the TV shots to Paterno it was pathetic, really. Listening to him speak, I'd have to guess that there is no way he is actually coaching, or anything close to it. It's sad to see.
 
:BigA: If Penn St. wants to keep him I am not the least bit worried about it. The time will come when they have no choice but to let him go, just like Bobby Bowden. It seems he would want to go out as probably the best coach they will ever have and the winningest coach in history only because of the sheer number of years he has coached. We may pick up some players in that part of the country just because he stays on. Bear Bryant was man enough to give up something he loved in what he thought was in the best interest of the program. Bear was Alabama and people will allways remember him as the best coach of all time. Saban has also become a legend and will also be remembered like the Bear when he gives it up, which I hope will be a long time from now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads

Top Bottom
Back