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Paterno: New contract no problem

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Joe Paterno's standoff with Penn State may be the second most pressing issue facing Pennsylvania, trailing only the April primary. In one corner is Paterno, the 81-year-old icon entering his 43rd season as the Nittany Lions' football coach. His contract expires after the 2008 season. In the other corner is the university, which has been trying to get Paterno to set a timetable for his retirement or agree to a succession plan. If he doesn't, Paterno faces the possibility of getting pushed out. Paterno talked to reporters for the first time in three months yesterday. He was peppered with questions about his contract and future for roughly 10 minutes before someone finally asked about his football team. "I don't even care if I get a contract," Paterno said, shrugging. That would be fine with one member of Penn State's Board of Trustees, who said yesterday the university doesn't want to extend Paterno's deal beyond this season anyway. Earlier this month, Paterno met with president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley about his future. Two trustees previously told the Post-Gazette that the meeting did not go well, although Paterno disputed that interpretation yesterday. "We talked about what the situation was because there was some pressure on some people about doing something," he said. "I have no problem. I'm not looking for a contract. I'm not looking for anything. If I've got to have a contract to keep my job here, I'm in the wrong place."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Joe Paterno, AP Joe Paterno, AP
March 30, 2008  10:00 AM ET

Ignorence or arrogance? The days when deals were settled with a hand shake or a peace pipe are gone. But don't throw your pipe away Joe, there is this place called Ebay----------------------

March 30, 2008  11:19 AM ET

Sounds like he's being pushed out already.

March 30, 2008  11:28 AM ET

81 years old, coaching for 43 seasons. I get the feeling coaching the Penn State Nittany Lions is what's keeping him alive.

March 30, 2008  11:42 AM ET

JoePa must GoPa.
The sooner the better.

March 30, 2008  12:13 PM ET

Leave JoePa alone. He doesn't know what's going on. He probably has never heard of the Internet. Or phone. Or radio. Or running water.

March 30, 2008  12:20 PM ET

Irish, I disagree with your comments about JoePa, but your sentiments regarding the Olympics are dead on. I don't see why the Olympic Committee didn't just let North Korea host The Games.

March 30, 2008  01:30 PM ET

I just figured he was like the stapler guy from Office Space. Been there so long, and hasn't been on the payroll for years. Seriously, I'm suprised they even pay him still, I'm not sure he would know the difference.

Can't you just picture Pa saying, "Have you seen my stapler."

March 30, 2008  01:34 PM ET

i can^

March 30, 2008  01:43 PM ET

I like the fact that ol' Conservative Joe basically told Bill Clinton to go to hell when he came to the PSU campus to speak on behalf of Hillary. I'm sure he doesn't support Obama as well, but it's cool that he isn't hoodwinked by Slick's lies.

I'm a Buckeye, but I like this old guy.

March 30, 2008  02:14 PM ET

"I like the fact that ol' Conservative Joe basically told Bill Clinton to go to hell when he came to the PSU campus to speak on behalf of Hillary. I'm sure he doesn't support Obama as well, but it's cool that he isn't hoodwinked by Slick's lies."

Yeah. Better he follow that old truth bearing duo of "Bring 'em on" George & " I had other priorities" Dick.

March 30, 2008  09:56 PM ET

Is this all about Joe, or about the team and the school? He is only one person, or did "i" get added to "team" to make an exception for Joe. Its time to move on and give someone else a shot. Nothing lasts forever and I think the games would be alot more interesting with a new head coach with new ideas and someone interested in scouting, working out with the team, running new plays... basically coaching like a real, live coach. He should go out with dignity, not get pushed out because he doesn't understand when its time to leave with grace.

March 30, 2008  10:28 PM ET

this old fossil is too stupid to know when he's not wanted anymore. Don't kid yourself, the old man thinks Penn State still owes him, even though they paid him millions.

March 30, 2008  11:23 PM ET

Love him or hate him, these personal attacks are completely out of line and un-deserving.

March 30, 2008  11:26 PM ET

I'd also like to point out that PARTYPIMP is a guy (according to previous posts) who is at least 45 years of age, spent most of his life 30 minutes from State College (the boonies, literally), and calls himself...."PARTYPIMP". This explains his posts.

March 30, 2008  11:29 PM ET

Yeah. Better he follow that old truth bearing duo of "Bring 'em on" George & " I had other priorities" Dick.
Last Call | 03/30/08, 02:14 PM Report Offensive Comment

Last Call - Pull out buddy! And i'm not talking about the war.

March 30, 2008  11:31 PM ET

The last time talks were this heated over JoePa, the team went 11-1 and won the BCS Orange Bowl.

I think Penn State is in for another good year in '08 so then it should be real interesting.

March 31, 2008  09:25 AM ET

Last Call - Pull out buddy! And i'm not talking about the war.

NWPA

You should be talking about an egotistical stubborn old man that doesn't know when to let go.

Oh wait, that could apply either way.

March 31, 2008  09:52 AM ET

JoPA is a football icon, but for the sake of the program (specifically recruiting) he needs to do what is best for PSU Football. And that is a decision that needs to be made by the PSU family.

April 1, 2008  03:19 PM ET

JoPA is a Depends Icon (Mens Diapers) Time for him to get out.

 
April 8, 2008  06:38 PM ET

All the cracks aside, I hope he doesn't become yet another aged coach who keels over 18 months after he retires. He's done a lot for the program and the player's he coached - he deserves a better exit than that.

Unless he sets his own timetable for a succesion in the VERY near future, there is no good ending to this story.

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