The coaches’ pre-season poll came out today and the Nittany Lions were hard to find in it. To nobody’s surprise, I suppose, the pre-season pick for NCAA Division I-A football champion is Ohio State. Here’s they way they picked the top ten:

[Read more…]

Yesterday I wrote about Paterno’s statue. How many people who are still living have ever had the pleasure of viewing a statuary tribute to them? ????? ?????? ???????? Saddam Hussein and Joe Paterno are the only two I can think of straight away. bet 365

Joe is still alive and kicking, still full of—whatever he’s full of—as was apparent at yesterday’s Big Ten Kickoff in Chicago, where he took the podium and said:

I hadn’t had a physical in 8 or 10 years, so I figured I better have one. I had a good physical. The doctor said I could coach another 10 years. When I got back we had a staff meeting. I told [the assistant coaches] that, and all nine guys put their heads [in their hands].

So, in ten years, a ninety year-old Paterno could be coaching his fifty-first season. He actually believes this. Unlike prior years, when he’s grumbled about coaching as long as he gets up in the morning wanting to coach, or some such thing, he’s apparently been re-energized by the past great season and he actually wants to coach ten more years. ????? ???????

Actually, Joe had a bit of a health scare this summer, which is what prompted the physical exam. Read the whole story in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

I’m back from my Pennsylvania vacation, having spent one afternoon and evening in State College, first walking around the Penn State campus and then later, wining and dining downtown. I returned with a little Nittany Lion football quiz for you.

I visited the All-Sports Museum, making a couple of purchases in the obligatory gift shop. At one point in the football section of the museum I had to laugh out loud when the PA system blared out a recording of Paterno addressing the troops in the locker room with the Hamlet’s “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy, Joe’s all-time favorite. The old coach was, of course, a contemporary of William Shakespeare. But I digress.

Around the corner from the All-Sports Musem, on the east side of Beaver Stadium, is the famous Paterno sculpture by Angelo di Maria. I spent some time examining it and photographing its nuances. In this connection, I have some questions for you savvy Nittany Lions fans.

[Read more…]