Truth & Rumors > NFL
Paterno almost took Patriots job
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09:47 AM ET 11.20 | The sex-abuse scandal at Penn State has thrust the football program and former coach Joe Paterno into the news like never before. But for fans with long memories, it probably makes them wonder how the course of history for Penn State and the Patriots might have been different. Not once but twice did Paterno turn down offers to coach the Patriots, including in 1973 when he verbally accepted the job. After Paterno and Penn State lost to Chuck Fairbanks and Oklahoma in the 1973 Sugar Bowl, Paterno agreed to become coach and general manager of the Patriots. Before the final agreement was reached, some of Paterno's confidants contacted then GM Upton Bell. "They wanted to know if this was a good situation," Bell said. "I told them that it was not my position to discuss what happened here but they can pass it along to the coach that if he does not have full power, he has no chance of succeeding." Can you imagine if that had been Paterno instead of Fairbanks? Paterno also turned down the Patriots in 1982.
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Comments (3122) Add A Comment
There is no denying that the Pats were just a terrible organization from top to bottom during that time.
TxHeat
Total Comments (13646)
Wow! A story that is 30 or 40 years old.
Stuart MacDougal
Indianapolis, IN
Total Comments (4172)
Morning guys...
When I saw that headline, my first thought was the same as your.
Before reading a word - I thought "Hell - that was 40 years ago!"
Otis B. Driftwood
Total Comments (30424)
one word....Paterno....
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
I was offered a hall monitor job back in kindergarden....ahhhh the memories...
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
kindergarten...
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
The story does make you think of how things might have been at PSU and the Patriots if JoPa accepted the job. Meh....not really
Mangler.
Total Comments (11428)
I was offered a hall monitor job back in kindergarden....
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
Talk about a slow news day.....this story is almost as old as I am.
Danny15
Total Comments (107)
Morning NFOM, just think how different you life might be if you had accepted....
Mangler.
Total Comments (11428)
Life of crime might have been avoided....Catchy thread title at first I thought that was recent....I'm thinking what the f.....
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
I remember reading that one time...
Otis B. Driftwood
Total Comments (30424)
In '69???
no friend of mine
Total Comments (5616)
Yes it was just a oney grab for PSU to increase his salary. He had no intention of leaving.
bluesuiter
Total Comments (1523)
oops money
bluesuiter
Total Comments (1523)
Maybe Joe and Harris go back a long way, if you get my drift!!!
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23109)
yes what is old is new again
TheMetalVagabond
Pascoag , RI
Total Comments (328)
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