Joseph V. Paterno
Photo by Steve Manuel
Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
“They ask me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.” A special edition of the Nittany Lion Club Newsletter
JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
Remembering Joe Paterno
Fran Fisher (inset left), the first executive director of the Nittany Lion Club, called Joe Paterno his friend for more than a half century. Fisher also served as the voice of Penn State football, calling games for years on radio with George Paterno (inset right).
gave me the opportunity to see first hand the positive By Fran Fisher and inspiring effect of his charisma. I first met Joe Paterno in 1960 at a Lewistown, Pa., I was in awe. Still am. Lion’s Club father-son night. He accompanied Penn Penn State will never be the same without Joe Paterno State freshman football coach Earl Bruce, who was the and neither will I. speaker. Fran Fisher was the first executive diAs I write this I still can’t believe The last time I saw Joe Paterno rector of the Nittany Lion Club. He was we’re without him. Without him? was Nov. 24, 2011. As I left his His presence will be forever felt home, he said, “Remember the good also the longtime radio voice of Penn State sports, an athletic administrator at far beyond this community and this times, Fran.” The memory of those the University, co-host of “TV Quartercampus through the players he good times sustained me through backs” (with Paterno, above), a radio coached, their children and their two emotionally draining, sorrowpersonality known across the state of children’s children; by osmosis ful experiences: the way his career Pennsylvania and beyond, and so much through the hands he has shaken; came to an abrupt end and his submore. At 88, he’s a living legend who regby the Paternoisms he uttered; sequent passing. ularly attends Penn State sporting events through a huge alumni base, colFor me there were no bad times and remains active with Penn State Inlege football fans everywhere, associated with my relationship tercollegiate Athletics as well as many activities in the community. In this piece, teachers, coaches, school children with Joe Paterno, either as a broadhe shares some perspectives and memoof all ages, Presidents, celebrities, caster or as a member of the athries about Coach Paterno. letic administration. royalty … and Penn State students from the classes of 1966 through Early on Joe guaranteed good times for me when, in 1966, my 2012 who can proudly say “Joe Paterno was the coach of my football team!” Hundreds of first year as a member of the Penn State Football Radio thousands of people touched by Joe Paterno. Network broadcast team, he and Sue welcomed CharOh, how I will miss him. lotte and me (and Jeff and Jerry) to the Penn State footEvery time I was with him I felt the exhilaration of ball family. A lasting, unforgettable relationship. Later as executive director of the Nittany Lion Club, being in the presence of greatness. No more. my travels with Joe to many dinners and fundraisers
Paterno as a Coach and Family Man JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
His records for career victories (409) and bowl victories (24) were important, but not as cherished as and his five children, 17 grandchildren and hundreds of former student-athletes.
“With coach Paterno it was always team. Football was his experimental lab for that, because there was no greater place to teach the value of team than the football field, with 11 people having to be on the same page and sacrifice individual desires for the benefit of the team.” — Todd Blackledge Photo by Mark Selders
Paterno as an Educator JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
With his Ivy League degree from Brown, Paterno understood the importance of a quality education, and he emphasized that to the student-athletes in his program and others at the University.
Photo by Joe Rokita
“My eligibility was over, I was finished, and I get a call saying, ‘Joe wants to see you in his office.’ I went in there and he said, ‘What are you doing? Look at your class schedule. This is beneath you.’ It just showed his true commitment to what was really important to him. It was family, it was faith, it was education.” — Jimmy Cefalo
Paterno as a Philanthropist JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
Joe and Sue contributed more than $4 million to Penn State during his career. The libraries, the liberal arts and the campus spiritual center were among the biggest benefactors.
“Joe and Sue have been steadfast supporters of the academic mission of Penn State. They have not only given generously themselves, but they’ve invited alums into their homes, planted seeds for major gifts with other donors and helped solicit many of those gifts. Just by being at an event, Joe called attention not to himself but to our students and programs.” — Susan Welch, Dean, College of the Liberal Arts
Paterno in Photos
JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
His success brought adoration from fans, respect from coaching colleagues and a place in the public eye that enabled him to make an impact far beyond Happy Valley.
Photo by Steve Manuel
Paterno: By the Numbers JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
139,000
200
41
Square feet in Paterno Library, which opened in 1999
Earned 200th win vs. Bowling Green (45-19) on Sept. 5, 1987
Shutouts by Penn State under Paterno
37 60,288
162
First-team Academic All-Americans
Increase in capacity of Beaver Stadium from Paterno’s first season as head coach, 1966 (46,284) to his final season, 2011 (106,572)
Victories by Paterno-coached teams as members of the Big Ten
37
150
Bowl trips as head coach, the all-time leader
Earned 150th win at Pitt (48-14) on Nov. 28, 1981
36
1,077 Penn State lettermen
Paterno’s jersey number at Brown
100 888 Number of coaching changes in Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) while Paterno was the only coach at Penn State
Earned 100th win vs. North Carolina State (41-20) on Nov. 6, 1976
35 Teams ranked in the final Top 25
87
31
NCAA Graduation Success Rate under Paterno (October 2011)
Longest unbeaten streak (30-0-1; 1967-70)
548 Games as head coach, second all-time
69
26 Father-son combinations coached
400
Length of Paterno’s game-winning punt return for Brown vs. Holy Cross in 1949
Earned 400th win vs. Northwestern (35-21) on Nov. 6, 2010
21
66
Number of teams to finish season with at least 10 wins
Different stadiums Paterno coached in as head coach
18
66
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners
300
First team All-Americans (79 selections overall)
17
Earned 300th win vs. Bowling Green (48-3) on Sept. 12, 1998
62
324 Earned 324th win and established Division I-A career wins mark vs. Ohio State (29-27) on Oct. 27, 2001
New Year’s Day bowl wins Years on the Penn State coaching staff
16
279 Academic All-Big Ten selections under Paterno, most in the conference from 1993 to 2011
50
National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes
Earned 50th win vs. Maryland (63-27) on Nov. 6, 1971
9
250
47
Number of U.S. presidents who served while Paterno was head coach
Earned 250th win at Iowa (31-0) on Sept. 18, 1993
Academic All-Americans
1 46
231 Victories in in Beaver Stadium under Paterno (231-54)
Years as head coach, most by FBS coach at one school
Earned first win vs. Maryland (15-7) on Sept. 17, 1966, before a Beaver Stadium crowd of 40,911
JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO / Dec. 21, 1926 — Jan. 22, 2012
THE PATERNO RECORD
Photo by Mark Selders
“At Penn State Joe Paterno would find a way to deliver on his promise to make an impact. He delivered in a way that roared out of this valley and across the world.” — Jay Paterno
Year 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 TOTALS
W 5 8 11 11 7 11 10 12 10 9 7 11 11 8 10 10 11 8 6 11 12 8 5 8 9 11 7 10 12 9 11 9 9 10 5 5 9 3 4 11 9 9 11 11 7 8
L 5 2 0 0 3 1 2 0 2 3 5 1 1 4 2 2 1 4 5 1 0 4 6 3 3 2 5 2 0 3 2 3 3 3 7 6 4 9 7 1 4 4 2 2 6 1
T 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
409 136
3
Bowl Game Gator: Tied Florida State, 17-17 Orange: Beat Kansas, 15-14 Orange: Beat Missouri, 10-3 Cotton: Beat Texas, 30-6 Sugar: Lost to Oklahoma, 14-0 Orange: Beat LSU, 16-9 Cotton: Beat Baylor, 41-20 Sugar: Lost to Alabama, 13-6 Gator: Lost to Notre Dame, 20-9 Fiesta: Beat Arizona State, 42-30 Sugar: Lost to Alabama, 14-7 Liberty: Beat Tulane, 9-6 Fiesta: Beat Ohio State, 31-19 Fiesta: Beat USC, 26-10 Sugar: Beat Georgia, 27-23 Aloha: Beat Washington, 13-10 Orange: Lost to Oklahoma, 25-10 Fiesta: Beat Miami (Fla.), 14-10 Citrus: Lost to Clemson, 35-10 Holiday: Beat BYU, 50-39 Blockbuster: Lost to Florida State, 24-17 Fiesta: Beat Tennessee, 42-17 Blockbuster: Lost to Stanford, 24-3 Citrus: Beat Tennessee, 31-13 Rose: Beat Oregon, 38-20 Outback: Beat Auburn, 43-14 Fiesta: Beat Texas, 38-15 Citrus: Lost to Florida, 21-6 Outback: Beat Kentucky, 26-14 Alamo: Beat Texas A&M, 24-0
Capital One: Lost to Auburn, 13-9
Orange: Beat Florida State, 26-23 Outback: Beat Tennessee, 20-10 Alamo: Beat Texas A&M, 24-17 Rose: Lost to USC, 38-24 Capital One: Beat LSU, 19-17 Outback: Lost to Florida, 37-24 BOWLS: Won 24, Lost 12, Tied 1