Joe Paterno
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{{College coach infobox
| Name = Joe Paterno
| Image = Joe Paterno Sideline PSU-Illinois 2006.jpg
| ImageWidth =
| Caption =
| Title = [[Head coach]]
| College = [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]]
| Sport = [[American football|Football]]
| Conference = [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]
| CurrentRecord = 372-125-3
| DateOfBirth = {{birth date and age|1926|12|21}}
| Birthplace = [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn, NY]]
| OverallRecord = 372-125-3
| Contract = $512,664<ref>[http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=311935 Sporting News: Joe Pa's salary revealed: about $500,000]</ref>
| BowlRecord = 23-10-1 <small>(Most all-time)</small>
| TournamentRecord =
| CFbDWID = 1825
| Championships = 1982 [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|NCAA Championship]]<br/>1986 [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|NCAA Championship]]<br/>1994 [[Big Ten Conference football champions|Big Ten Conference Championship]]<br/>2005 [[Big Ten Conference football champions|Big Ten Conference Championship]]
| Awards = 1972 [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]]<br/>1978 [[Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year]]<br/>1981 [[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]]<br/>1982 [[Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year]]<br/>1986 ''[[Sports Illustrated|SI]]'' Sportsman of the Year<br/>1986 [[Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year]]<br/>1986 [[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]]<br/>1994 [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]]<br/>2002 [[Amos Alonzo Stagg Award]]<br/>2005 [[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]]<br/>2005 [[The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award]]<br/>2005 [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]]
| CoachingRecords =
| Player = Y
| Years = 1946-1950
| Team = [[Brown University]]
| Position = [[Quarterback|QB]] / [[Cornerback|CB]]
| Coach = Y
| CoachYears = 1950-1965<br />1966-Present
| CoachTeams = [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] <small>(Assistant)</small><br />[[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]]
| FootballHOF = 2007
| CollegeHOFID =
| BBallHOF =
}}
'''Joseph Vincent Paterno''' (born [[December 21]], [[1926]], in [[Brooklyn, New York]]), nicknamed '''JoePa''', is the head coach of [[Pennsylvania State University|Pennsylvania State University's]] [[college football]] team, a position he has held since 1966. Paterno, along with [[Chris Ault]] and [[Bobby Bowden]], is one of three active coaches who have also been inducted in to the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. While Paterno has won the most football games against teams which are currently in [[NCAA]] [[Division I#Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I-FBS]] (formerly Division I-A) Bobby Bowden holds the official record for this feat as his 33 wins while at Howard (not Division I-FBS) are counted as Division I-FBS wins by the NCAA. Joe Paterno also has more bowl game wins and more FBS undefeated seasons than any other coach in college football history.
==Early life==
{{Refimprove|date=March 2008}}
Joe Paterno grew up during the [[Great Depression]]. He nearly had to leave high school because the tuition of $20 a month was such a burden for his family. In [[1944]], Paterno graduated from [[Brooklyn Preparatory School| Brooklyn Prep]] and headed to [[Brown University]] to study and play [[American football|football]]. At Brown he was a member of [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]] fraternity. There, he was a capable but unspectacular [[quarterback]] and also played [[cornerback]]. He currently still shares, along with Greg Parker, the Brown University record for career [[interceptions]] with 14.<ref name="brown football">{{cite web|url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/brow/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FootballMediaGuide.pdf|title=2005 Brown University Football Media Guide|format=pdf|publisher=Brown University Sports Information Department|accessdate=2006-12-28|year=2005}}</ref> It was at Brown that he honed his skills as a leader, allowing him to go into coaching after graduation in [[1950]], joining Hall of Famer [[Rip Engle]] at [[Penn State]] as an assistant coach. Paterno thought his stint as an assistant coach would be brief, before going to law school. He never went to law school and instead became one of the most famous and recognizable coaches of any sport in the United States.
==Records and accomplishments==
At age 81, Paterno is coaching his 59th season at Penn State as an assistant or [[head coach]] in 2008, holding the record<!-- what record? --> for any football coach at any university. The 2008 season marks Joe Paterno’s 43rd season pacing the sidelines as [[head coach]] of the [[Nittany Lions]], passing [[Amos Alonzo Stagg]]<ref name="GoPSUSports">[http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/paterno_joe00.html Joe Paterno] GoPSUSports.com</ref> for the most years at a single institution.
Paterno's loyalty is so strong with Penn State that he turned down an offer to coach the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 1969, an offer he initially seriously considered. (The Steelers ended up hiring [[Chuck Noll]], who would win four [[Super Bowl]]s with the team in a 23-year head coaching career.) [[Michigan]] Athletic Director [[Don Canham]] also contacted Paterno in 1969 to see if Paterno (who Canham respected and knew personally) would accept the vacant Michigan job. Paterno turned down the offer and Michigan went on to hire [[Bo Schembechler]]. In [[1972]] Paterno also turned down a head coaching position with the [[New England Patriots]] which included a percentage ownership position.
After five years of court battles, the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) released, in November 2007 the highly anticipated salary of coach Paterno: $512,664. The figure is not inclusive of other compensation, such as money from television and apparel contracts as well as other bonuses that Paterno and other football bowl subdivision coaches may earn, said Robert Gentzel, SERS communications director. The release of these amounts can only come at the university's approval, which Penn State Spokeswoman Lisa Powers said will not happen. "I'm paid well, I'm not overpaid," Paterno said during an interview with reporters Wednesday before the salary disclosure, The Associated Press reported. "I got all the money I need." The 80-year-old coach was paid $427,220 in the first 10 months of 2007, putting his year-end salary on track to exceed $500,000. He was paid $490,638 last year, The Associated Press reported.
===Career record===
With [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]'s latest win over [[2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M]] in the [[2007 Alamo Bowl]], Joe Paterno has a career record of 373 wins, 124 losses, and 3 ties. Based on the criteria used by the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], this ties the record of Florida State's [[Bobby Bowden]] for most victories by a Division I-FBS football coach.
Both Paterno's and Bowden's 373 win total includes a win by forfeit. One of Bowden's wins came by forfeit in 1983 when [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane]]'s 34-28 victory over [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] was reversed because of ineligible players.<ref>{{cite web|title=FSU not worried about forfeits|publisher=Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.fbcnotes21dec21,0,6433199.story|accessdate=2008-01-08|date=2007-12-21}}</ref> Paterno's 373 wins includes the 1972 [[Sugar Bowl]] game, a 14-0 [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] win which Oklahoma was later forced to forfeit for using ineligible players.<ref>{{cite web|title=Time To Set The Record Straight|publisher=ABC 7 News|first=Tim|last=Brant|url=http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/time_to_set_the_record_straight.html|accessdate=2008-01-08|date=2007-12-31}}</ref> However, Paterno declined to accept the win while Bowden accepted Tulane's forfeit, so the NCAA officially recognizes that Bowden holds a one-game advantage over Paterno in the wins column.<ref>{{cite web|title=After Further Review... The NCAA Weighs-In|publisher=ABC 7 News|first=Tim|last=Brant|url=http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/after_further_review..._the_ncaa_weighs-in_on_bowden_and_paterno.html|accessdate=2008-01-08|date=2008-01-11}}</ref>
However, 49 of Bowden's 373 coaching victories came against schools that are not currently in Division I-FBS,<ref name="bowdenrecord">{{cite web|title=Bobby Bowden Records by Opponent|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_opponents.php?coachid=212|accessdate=2007-04-05}}</ref> while only 5 of Paterno's victories came against non-Division I-FBS schools,<ref name="joeparecord">{{cite web|title=Joe Paterno Records by Opponent|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_opponents.php?coachid=1825|accessdate=2007-04-05}}</ref> so that Paterno has 368 wins against teams currently in Division I-FBS while Bowden has only 324. Following a 3-[[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] victory over FSU in the 2006 [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]], Paterno has a 7-1 all-time record against Bowden (6-0 against Bowden's [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]] teams and 1-1 against Bowden's Florida State teams).
{{CFB Yearly Record Start|type=coach|conf=yes|bowl=yes|poll=both}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno (as an Independent)|Penn State Nittany Lions]]
| conf = [[NCAA Division I-FBS independent schools|Independent]]
| startyear = 1966
| endyear = 1992
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[1966 college football season|1966]] | overall = 5–5–0 }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 11 | ranking2 = 10
| year = [[1967 college football season|1967]] | overall = 8–2–1
| bowloutcome = T 17–17 | bowlname = [[Gator Bowl|Gator]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 3 | ranking2 = 2
| year = [[1968 college football season|1968]] | overall = 11–0–0
| bowloutcome = W 15–14 | bowlname = [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 2 | ranking2 = 2
| year = [[1969 college football season|1969]] | overall = 11–0–0
| bowloutcome = W 10–3 | bowlname = [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 19 | ranking2 = 18
| year = [[1970 college football season|1970]] | overall = 7–3–0 }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 11 | ranking2 = 5
| year = [[1971 college football season|1971]] | overall = 11–1–0
| bowloutcome = W 30–6 | bowlname = [[Cotton Bowl (game)|Cotton]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 8 | ranking2 = 10
| year = [[1972 college football season|1972]] | overall = 10–2–0
| bowloutcome = L (forfeit) 0–14 | bowlname = [[Sugar Bowl|Sugar]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 5 | ranking2 = 5
| year = [[1973 college football season|1973]] | overall = 12–0–0
| bowloutcome = W 16–9 | bowlname = [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 7 | ranking2 = 7
| year = [[1974 college football season|1974]] | overall = 10–2–0
| bowloutcome = W 41–20 | bowlname = [[Cotton Bowl (game)|Cotton]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 10 | ranking2 = 10
| year = [[1975 college football season|1975]] | overall = 9–3–0
| bowloutcome = L 6–13 | bowlname = [[Sugar Bowl|Sugar]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[1976 college football season|1976]] | overall = 7–5–0
| bowloutcome = L 9–20 | bowlname = [[Gator Bowl|Gator]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 4 | ranking2 = 5
| year = [[1977 college football season|1977]] | overall = 11–1–0
| bowloutcome = W 42–30 | bowlname = [[Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 4 | ranking2 = 4
| year = [[1978 NCAA Division I-A football season|1978]] | overall = 11–1–0
| bowloutcome = L 7–14 | bowlname = [[Sugar Bowl|Sugar]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 18 | ranking2 = 20
| year = [[1979 NCAA Division I-A football season|1979]] | overall = 8–4–0
| bowloutcome = W 9–6 | bowlname = [[Liberty Bowl|Liberty]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 8 | ranking2 = 8
| year = [[1980 NCAA Division I-A football season|1980]] | overall = 10–2–0
| bowloutcome = W 31–19 | bowlname = [[Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 3 | ranking2 = 3
| year = [[1981 NCAA Division I-A football season|1981]] | overall = 10–2–0
| bowloutcome = W 26–10 | bowlname = [[Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 1 | ranking2 = 1
| year = [[1982 NCAA Division I-A football season|1982]] | overall = 11–1–0
| bowloutcome = W 27–23 | bowlname = [[Sugar Bowl|Sugar]] | championship = national }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 17 | ranking2 =
| year = [[1983 NCAA Division I-A football season|1983]] | overall = 8–4–1
| bowloutcome = W 13–10 | bowlname = [[Aloha Bowl|Aloha]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[1984 NCAA Division I-A football season|1984]] | overall = 6–5–0 }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 3 | ranking2 = 3
| year = [[1985 NCAA Division I-A football season|1985]] | overall = 11–1–0
| bowloutcome = L 10–25 | bowlname = [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 1 | ranking2 = 1
| year = [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]] | overall = 12–0–0
| bowloutcome = W 14–10 | bowlname = [[1987 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] | championship = national }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[1987 NCAA Division I-A football season|1987]] | overall = 8–4–0
| bowloutcome = L 10–35 | bowlname = [[Capital One Bowl|Citrus]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[1988 NCAA Division I-A football season|1988]] | overall = 5–6–0 }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 14 | ranking2 = 15
| year = [[1989 NCAA Division I-A football season|1989]] | overall = 8–3–1
| bowloutcome = W 50–39 | bowlname = [[Holiday Bowl|Holiday]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 10 | ranking2 = 11
| year = [[1990 NCAA Division I-A football season|1990]] | overall = 9–3–0
| bowloutcome = L 17–24 | bowlname = [[Champs Sports Bowl|Blockbuster]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 3 | ranking2 = 3
| year = [[1991 NCAA Division I-A football season|1991]] | overall = 11–2–0
| bowloutcome = W 42–17 | bowlname = [[Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | conference = | ranking = 24 | ranking2 =
| year = [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]] | overall = 7–5–0
| bowloutcome = L 3–24 | bowlname = [[Champs Sports Bowl|Blockbuster]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno (in the Big Ten)|Penn State Nittany Lions]]
| startyear = 1993
| conf = [[Big Ten Conference]]
| endyear = ''present''
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 7 | ranking2 = 8
| year = [[1993 NCAA Division I-A football season|1993]] | overall = 10–2–0
| conference = 6–2–0 | confstanding = 3rd
| bowloutcome = W 31–13 | bowlname = [[Capital One Bowl|Citrus]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 2 | ranking2 = 2
| year = [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]] | overall = 12–0–0
| conference = 8–0–0 | confstanding = 1st
| bowloutcome = W 38–20 | bowlname = [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose]] | championship = conference }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 12 | ranking2 = 13
| year = [[1995 NCAA Division I-A football season|1995]] | overall = 9–3–0
| conference = 5–3–0 | confstanding = T–3rd
| bowloutcome = W 43–14 | bowlname = [[Outback Bowl|Outback]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 7 | ranking2 = 7
| year = [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season|1996]] | overall = 11–2
| conference = 6–2 | confstanding = T–3rd
| bowloutcome = W 38–15 | bowlname = [[Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 17 | ranking2 = 16
| year = [[1997 NCAA Division I-A football season|1997]] | overall = 9–3
| conference = 6–2 | confstanding = T–2nd
| bowloutcome = L 6–21 | bowlname = [[Capital One Bowl|Citrus]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 15 | ranking2 = 17
| year = [[1998 NCAA Division I-A football season|1998]] | overall = 9–3
| conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 5th
| bowloutcome = W 26–14 | bowlname = [[Outback Bowl|Outback]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = 11 | ranking2 = 11
| year = [[1999 NCAA Division I-A football season|1999]] | overall = 10–3
| conference = 5–3 | confstanding = T–4th
| bowloutcome = W 24–0 | bowlname = [[Alamo Bowl|Alamo]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]] | overall = 5–7
| conference = 4–4 | confstanding = T–6th }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = Penn State | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]] | overall = 5–6
| conference = 4–4 | confstanding = T–4th }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2002 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = 15 | ranking2 = 16
| year = [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]] | overall = 9–4
| conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 4th
| bowloutcome = L 9–13 | bowlname = [[Capital One Bowl|Capital One]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2003 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]] | overall = 3–9
| conference = 1–7 | confstanding = T–9th }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2004 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]] | overall = 4–7
| conference = 2–6 | confstanding = 9th }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = 3 | ranking2 = 3
| year = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]] | overall = 11–1
| conference = 7–1 | confstanding = T–1st
| bowloutcome = W 26–23 | bowlname = [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]] | bcsbowl = yes | championship = conference }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = 25 | ranking2 = 24
| year = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]] | overall = 9–4
| conference = 5–3 | confstanding = T–4th
| bowloutcome = W 20–10 | bowlname = [[2007 Outback Bowl|Outback]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry | name = [[2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] | ranking = | ranking2 =
| year = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]] | overall = 9–4 | ranking = 25
| conference = 4–4 | confstanding = T–5th
| bowloutcome = W 24-17 | bowlname = [[2007 Alamo Bowl|Alamo]] }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Penn State
| overall = 372–125–3
| confrecord = 73–47
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 372–125–3
| bcs =
| poll = two
| polltype =
}}
===Bowls and championships===
Paterno holds more bowl victories (24) than any coach in history. He also tops the list of bowl appearances with 34.<ref name="bowlsespn">{{cite web|title=Paterno says he has no plans to leave Penn State|publisher=ESPN.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2685245|date=2006-12-04|accessdate=2007-04-05}}</ref> He has a bowl record of 24 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie with his latest win in the [[2007 Alamo Bowl]]. Paterno is the only coach with the distinction of having won each of the current four major bowls—Rose, Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar—as well as the Cotton Bowl, at least once. Under Paterno, Penn State has won at least three bowl games each decade since 1970.
Overall, Paterno has led Penn State to two [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|national championships]] ([[1982]] and [[1986]]) and five undefeated, untied seasons ([[1968]], [[1969]], [[1973]], [[1986]], and [[1994]]). Four of his unbeaten teams ([[1968]], [[1969]], [[1973]], and [[1994]]) won major bowl games and were not awarded a national championship.
Penn State under Paterno has won the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] ([[1968]], [[1969]], [[1973]], and [[2005]]), the [[Cotton Bowl (game)|Cotton Bowl]] ([[1972]] and [[1974]]), the [[Fiesta Bowl]] ([[1977]], [[1980]], [[1981]], [[1986]], [[1991]], and [[1996]]), the [[Liberty Bowl]] ([[1979]]), the [[Sugar Bowl]] ([[1972]], [[1982]]), the [[Aloha Bowl]] ([[1983]]), the [[Holiday Bowl]] ([[1989]]), the [[Capital One Bowl|Citrus Bowl]] ([[1993]]), the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] ([[1994]]), the [[Outback Bowl]] ([[1995]], [[1998]], and [[2006]]) and the [[Alamo Bowl]] ([[1999]] and [[2007]]).
Since joining the [[Big Ten Conference]] in 1993, Penn State under Paterno has won the [[Big Ten Conference football champions|Big Ten football championships]] two times (1994 and 2005). Joe has had 21 finishes in the Top 10 national rankings.
===Awards===
Following the 1986 championship season, Paterno was the first college football coach named "Sportsman of the Year" by [[Sports Illustrated]] magazine. In 2005, following an 11-1 comeback season in which the Lions won a share of the Big Ten title and a [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] berth, Paterno was named the 2005 [[The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award|AP Coach of the Year]], and the 2005 [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]].
*'''[[Amos Alonzo Stagg Award]]''' - [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
*'''[[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]]''' - [[1981 NCAA Division I-A football season|1981]], [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
*'''[[Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year]]''' - [[1978 NCAA Division I-A football season|1978]], [[1982 NCAA Division I-A football season|1982]], [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
*'''[[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]]''' - [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
*'''[[The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award]]''' - [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
*'''[[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]]''' - [[1972 NCAA Division I-A football season|1972]], [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]], [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
On [[May 16]], [[2006]] Paterno was elected to the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] after the National Football Foundation decided to change its rules and allow any coach over the age of 75 to be eligible for the Hall of Fame instead of having to wait for an individual to be retired.<ref name="gopsusports hof">{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=10333|title=Paterno & Bowden to Receive National Football Foundation's Highest Honor at Hall of Fame Induction|date=2006-05-25|accessdate=2006-12-28|publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics}}</ref> However, on [[November 4]], [[2006]], he was injured during a sideline collision that occurred during a game against [[University of Wisconsin-Madison|Wisconsin]]. As a result of his injuries, he was unable to travel to the induction ceremonies in New York City and the National Football Foundation announced that he would instead be inducted as a part of the Hall of Fame class of 2007.<ref name="postponed induction">{{cite web|url=http://www.collegefootball.org/news.php?id=1035|title=Paterno Postpones Hall of Fame Induction|accessdate=2006-12-28|date=2006-12-21|publisher=National Football Foundation}}</ref> Paterno was inducted on December 4, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title = JoePa enters Hall of Fame after 57 years on sidelines|url = http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/12/05/joepa_enters_hall_of_fame_afte.aspx|publisher=The Daily Collegian|first=Mark|last=Viera|date=2007-12-05|accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref>
==Officiating and instant replay==
In 2002, Paterno chased down referee [[Dick Honig]] in a dead sprint following a 42-35 overtime home loss to Iowa.<ref>{{cite web | first=Ray | last=Fittipaldo | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/20021002psu1002p4.asp | title=Paterno says no apology needed | publisher=''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' | date=2002-10-02 | accessdate=2007-09-20}}</ref> Paterno saw Tony Johnson catch a pass for a first down with both feet in bounds on the stadium's video replay board, but the play was ruled an incompletion; Penn State had rallied from a 35-13 deficit with 9 minutes left in the game to tie the score at 35, and were driving on their first possession in overtime for a touchdown to tie the game at 42. Penn State failed on fourth down and Iowa held on for the win.
Just weeks later, in the final minute of the Michigan game, the same wide receiver, Johnson, made a catch, which would have given Penn State a first down and put them in range for a game winning field goal. Although Johnson was ruled out of bounds, replays clearly showed that Johnson had both feet in bounds and the catch would have been complete.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
In 2003, the [[Big Ten Conference]] became the first college football conference to adopt a form of [[instant replay]]. The previous two incidents, along with Paterno's public objections and statements, are often cited as catalysts for its adoption. Within the next year, almost all of the Division I-A conferences adopted a form of instant replay based on the Big Ten model.<ref name=fanblogs>[http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/005566.php Instant Replay rundown for the 2005 season]. Rivals.com College Football Fanblog. Aug 29 2005. </ref>
As Penn State football struggled from 2001 to 2004, Paterno became the target of criticism from some Penn State faithful. Many in the media attributed [[Penn State]]'s struggles to Paterno's advancing age, and contingents of fans and alumni began calling for his retirement. Paterno has rebuffed all of this and has stated he will fulfill his contract which expires in 2008. Paterno announced in a speech in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] on [[May 12]], [[2005]] that he would consider retirement if the 2005 football team had a disappointing season. "If we don't win some games, I've got to get my rear end out of here", Paterno said in a speech at the [[Duquesne Club]]. "Simple as that".<ref name="duquesne">{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05133/504023.stm |title=Paterno puts career on line |date=2005-05-13 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Harlan |first=Chico |accessdate=2007-04-04}}</ref> However, Penn State took a share of the Big Ten title in 2005, gaining the team's first BCS bowl game bid in the Orange Bowl where Penn State defeated Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles in triple overtime.
== Stances on college football issues==
Paterno has long been an advocate for some type of college football playoff system. The question has been posed to him frequently over the years, as only one of his five undefeated teams has been voted national champions.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
Paterno believes that scholarship college athletes should receive a modest stipend, so that they have some spending money. As justification, Paterno points out that many scholarship athletes are from poor families and that other students have time to hold down a part-time job. On the other hand, busy practice and conditioning schedules prevent college athletes from working during the school year.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Paterno once believed that all true freshmen should be [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirted]] as allowed under NCAA rules.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} However, he now plays exceptionally talented true-freshmen so as not to be at a competitive disadvantage. In fact, some Penn State recruits, like recruits at many other schools, now graduate from high school a semester early so that they can enroll in college during the spring semester and participate in spring practice. Several team members from the recruiting class of 2005, including [[Justin King (American football)|Justin King]], [[Anthony Scirrotto]] and [[Derrick Williams]] all received considerable playing time as true freshmen during the 2005-2006 season.
Paterno has been an outspoken opponent of gambling on college sports. He would like to see an end put to legalized college sports gambling in [[Nevada]].{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
==Philanthropist and education==
In addition to his legacy as a coach, Paterno is highly regarded for his contributions to academic life at Penn State. After the announcement of his hiring in 1966, Paterno set out to conduct what he called a "Grand Experiment" in melding athletics and academics in the collegiate environment, an idea that he had learned during his years at Brown.<ref name="post-gazette">{{cite web|title=When we say JoePa YOU SAY ...|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04144/320670.stm|last=Fittipaldo|first=Ray|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=2005-05-23|accessdate=2007-01-30}}</ref> As a result, Penn State's players have consistently demonstrated above-average academic success compared to [[Division I]]-A schools nationwide. Over the past five years, the Nittany Lions' graduation rate as measured by the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] was the highest in the country three times, most recently exceeding the national average of 64 percent by 19 points.<ref name="academics">{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=11660|title=More Than Forty Members of Penn State Football Team Earn 3.0 GPA During Fall Semester|date=2007-01-25|accessdate=2007-01-30|publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics}}</ref>
Paterno is also renowned for his charitable contributions to academics at Penn State. He and his wife Sue have contributed over $4 million towards various departments and colleges, including support for the [[Pasquerilla Spiritual Center]], which opened in 2003, and the Penn State All-Sports Museum, which opened in 2002.<ref name="gopsu bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/Football/People/paternobody.cfm|title=Joe Paterno|date=2007-01-27|accessdate=2007-01-30|publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics}}</ref> After helping raise over $13.5 million in funds for the 1997 expansion of [[Pattee Library]], the University named the expansion [[Paterno Library]] in their honor.<ref name="library">{{cite web|url=http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/special_packages/150_years/10961935.htm|title=Paterno Library|work=150 Years: Penn State Sesquicentennial|publisher=Centre Daily Times|date=2005-02-22|accessdate=2007-01-30}}</ref>
Former player, [[Franco Harris]] and his company R Super Foods, recently honored Paterno for his contributions to Penn State by featuring his story and picture on boxes of Super Donuts and Super Buns in Central PA.
==Political interests==
Paterno is a political [[American conservatism|conservative]] and a personal friend of former President [[George H.W. Bush]], endorsing the then-candidate in a speech at the [[1988 Republican National Convention]].<ref name="post-gazette" \> Paterno was also a close personal friend of the late President [[Gerald R. Ford]]. <ref name="ford">{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/16371803.htm|title=Forward thinking: Paterno on board with players' great 2007 expectations|last=Fernandez|first=Bernard|publisher=Philadelphia Daily News|date=2007-01-03|accessdate=2007-01-30}}</ref> In 2004, his son Scott Paterno, an attorney, won the Republican primary for [[Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district]] but lost in the November general election to Democratic incumbent [[Tim Holden]].<ref name="election">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004//pages/results/states/PA/H/17/index.html|title=U.S. House of Representatives - Pennsylvania 17th|work=2004 Election Results|publisher=CNN.com|date=2004-11-23|accessdate=2007-01-30}}</ref> Paterno donated $250 to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee [[Barack Obama]] in February, 2008. <ref name="obama">{{cite web|url=http://newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Joe_Paterno.php|title=Joe Paterno's Federal Campaign Contribution Report|work=Donation report|publisher=Newsmeat.com|date=2008-02-29|access date=2008-06-10}}</ref>
==Additional Honors==
At the [[Penn State Creamery]], Paterno has a flavor of ice cream, Peachy Paterno, named in his honor.
==See also==
* [[Penn State Nittany Lions football]]
* [[Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno (as an Independent)]]
* [[Penn State Nittany Lions football under Joe Paterno (in the Big Ten)]]
* [[List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (coaches)]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/sports/colleges/pennsylvania_state_university/ Centre Daily Times Penn State Football coverage]
* [http://www.psu.edu/sports/football/history/ Penn State Football Searchable History (updated through 1999)]
* [http://www.gopsusports.com/docs/fb05/Opponent.pdf All Time Record by Opponent (pdf document)]
* [http://www.gopsusports.com/docs/fb05/Bowl.pdf Penn State Bowl Game Recaps]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=3346006 Biographical article by Ivan Maisel on ESPN.com]
{{start box}}
{{succession box | title=[[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State Nittany Lions Head Football Coach]] | before=[[Rip Engle]] | years=1966-Present| after=''Current''
}}
{{succession box
| title =[[Amos Alonzo Stagg Award]]
| before=[[Vince Dooley]]
| years =2002
| after =[[LaVell Edwards]]
}}
{{succession box
| title =[[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]]
| before=[[Bobby Bowden]]<br />[[Paul Johnson (American football coach)|Paul Johnson]]
| years =1981<br />2005
| after =[[George MacIntyre]]<br />[[Jim Grobe]]
}}
{{succession box
| title =[[Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year]]
| before=[[Lou Holtz]]<br />[[Danny Ford]]<br />[[Fisher DeBerry]]
| years =1978<br />1982<br />1986
| after =[[Earle Bruce]]<br />[[Howard Schnellenberger]]<br />[[Dick MacPherson]]
}}
{{succession box
| title =[[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]]
| before=''First recipient''
| years =1986
| after =[[Dick MacPherson]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]]
| before=[[Bob Devaney]]<br/>[[Terry Bowden]]<br/>[[Tommy Tuberville]]
| years=1972<br/>1994<br/>2005
| after=[[Johnny Majors]]<br/>[[Gary Barnett]]<br/>[[Greg Schiano]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award]]
| before=[[Urban Meyer]]
| years=2005
| after=[[Greg Schiano]]
}}
{{end box}}
{{The Pennsylvania State University}}
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{{Bobby Dodd Award winners}}
{{Bear Bryant Award}}
{{Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year}}
{{Home Depot Coach of the Year}}
{{Walter Camp Coach of the Year}}
{{SI Sportsman of the Year}}
{{CurrentB10FBCoaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paterno, Joe}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:American football head coaches]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania State University]]
[[Category:Italian-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Brown Bears football players]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:People from State College, Pennsylvania]]
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