Paterno planning to fulfill contract
Saturday, October 13, 2001
By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
The worst start in the 115-year history of the Penn State football program has not deterred Coach Joe Paterno from finishing out the final three years of his contract and possibly coaching longer.
Although sports columnists and other media members are calling for him to step down after the season, Paterno, 74, has no such plans. Despite an 0-4 start to this season and 14 losses in his past 20 regular-season games, he doesn't intend to call it quits any time soon.
"I feel good physically," Paterno said yesterday before attending a Nittany Lion Club alumni luncheon at the Airport Hyatt. "If I could eliminate going into the office and having to autograph 40 things or having [Sports Information Director] Jeff Nelson sticking 28 things in front of me saying 'this guy from New York wants to talk to you' ... if I could eliminate all that kind of stuff and eliminate press conferences and having a television game every week, because the commentators want to spend time with you ... if I could eliminate that, I might coach until I'm 90. If I stayed healthy. I really enjoy the coaching part of it, to be honest with you."
But part of being a head coach is fund-raising and glad-handing as was the case at this annual event yesterday. Paterno spent the early part of the day with his coaches in staff meetings before boarding a plane for Pittsburgh. The luncheon ended at 2 p.m., and Paterno had to be back on campus for a team meeting at 2:45. Penn State is off this week and plays at Northwestern next Saturday.
"I debated coming here today," he said. "I don't feel great. I haven't had a lot of sleep. I have a little bit of the flu going on. But if I don't show up today, people would be saying I'm in hiding."
Paterno received three standing ovations from an estimated 250 alumni who paid $35 for the fund-raising event. He told them his team has talent equal to or better than three of the four teams that have beaten the Lions.
"I don't think Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan are better than we are," Paterno said. "We just haven't had people come to the front and make plays. I thought we would make a lot more big plays, to tell you the truth. I thought we had a couple of people on offense and defense who could do that, and they have not. That'll happen. The worst thing for us to do is to sit and wonder if we're doing things the right way. Should we change this, change that. The difference is little things.
"I don't think there is any need for anyone in this room to panic. Penn State football is not in bad shape. I'm not going to sit here and say it's all gloom and doom at Penn State."
Total denial by Joe. |
