I guess it was actually a good thing that Iowa knocked off Penn State during the regular season. Otherwise, they might have slipped into the National Title game and been clobbered by Oklahoma or Florida. As it was, they did the Big Ten no favors by looking completely overmatched against the USC Trojans, who played hard for a half and then spent the second half being pleased with themselves.And I know there are legions of Paterno defenders out there who point out how he clearly hasn't lost it since his team went 11-2 this year. Fine, granted, the program is in good shape. But even if he was winning national titles, should an 82 year old codger who cannot even be on the sidelines or make it to the locker room at halftime be the head coach?
I just don't see how people think this is a good situation. He's sitting up in the press box, only occasionally donning a headset (and never when he's on the sidelines, begging the question as to how connected he can possibly be to what's going on), and just shaking his head and looking old and forlorn.
Then we get the wonderful press conferences with Joe.
"I thought the Southern Cal quarterback played a great game."
He said that over and over again. Does he not know Mark Sanchez' name? This would concern me greatly. This isn't your grandpa talking about players he doesn't know while sitting by the fire on New Year's Day. This is the head coach. Supposedly.
Asked about an injury to one of his players:
"I don't know, I haven't talked to the trainers or anything yet. I just know he got banged up and couldn't play."
Sounds very connected to his team.
Now, I'm not saying he doesn't sound like he still understands the game. He's not a joke at the press conference -- but the pages are fraying and I would be concerned if my team just inked this guy to three more years.
What are they hoping for? That he dies on the field? He's going to be coaching until he's 85, at least? He already can't stand on the sidelines and, sure, sure, he's got a new hip so I'm sure everything will work out fine. But clearly he's a brittle old man -- like all of us would be -- and so you begin to wonder about his effectiveness. Especially when his team gets taken behind the woodshed like they did yesterday.
I know, I know, we'd give anything for an 11-win season, and you'd be right if you said that. But that's not the point here. Is there any reason to think Paterno finally stepping down and being replaced by someone like Greg Schiano from Rutgers would be a bad thing?
8 comments:
I hate USC. Some thoughts....
-They sandbag to get in to the Rose Bowl every year. It doesn't matter who plays them, they will dominate.
-They shouldn't have lost to anyone this year, no one should have been within 3 touchdowns of them this year. They always bring their A+ game for Big Ten teams.
-I would like to see USC play PSU at Heinz Field in January.
-The Rose Bowl is 10 miles from their campus. Its 2,500 miles from Happy Valley.
-USC recruits an obscene amount of talent. Imagine our secondary against those receivers.
-Taylor Mays' hit was dirty.
-Pete Carroll's mantra of "having fun" is code for celebrate and show no class after every play.
-I hope Ohio State destroys them in Columbus next year.
-The officials were looking for penalties to call on PSU. That motion penalty that negated that big pass to Norwood was crap. USC got away with holding all day.
-I thought it was funny when Kirk said about Darryl Clark not watching his back while scrambling downfield, "You aren't playing Purdue, you gotta get moving!"
He is doing what so many in his profession have done. Don't know if it is a matter of pride or just knowing no other way of life. I do know one thing, it puts the AD in a difficult situation.
Ok blogger, let's try this again:
"Is there any reason to think Paterno finally stepping down and being replaced by someone like Greg Schiano from Rutgers would be a bad thing?"
Yes, I think so.
Penn State's record since 2005: 40-11, 3-1 in bowl games including a BCS win in the Orange Bowl
Purdue's record since 2005:
25-25, 1-1 in bowl games
Joe Paterno has answered critics every time there's been a question concerning whether or not he's still got it. The university was calling for his head in 2004, and he answered with a Big Ten Championship and an Orange Bowl win. When it seemed like things were slipping again, Penn State came back to win another Big Ten Championship. Clearly PSU was overmatched against USC, but I'd argue that every team in the country is overmatched against USC. Joe Pa can't play cornerback unfortunately. Regardless, how can you argue with two Big Ten Championships in 4 years? Purdue hasn't had a run like that since the '30s.
What evidence do you have that Joe PA is even coaching anymore? I just see a guy in a booth and at press conferences. Their record the past 3 years is mostly due to the coaching staff, not Joe Pa.
What's your evidence that he is not coaching? For every other football team, I see guys pacing sidelines and yelling at refs. Football teams' records the past 3 years are mostly due to the coaching staffs...
Oh, and Purdue sucks!
It has been widely known out here in PA that Joe is now just a figurehead. His assistants are the "head" coaches and he is mainly there to attract recruits and because of the school's respect for him. Joe was never one to change with the "trends" in college football, but stuck to a traditional gameplan. Do you really think that a high-scoring, passing offense is really Joe's doing???
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