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I am going to assume that Paterno is one of those guys whose life depends on coaching, that he'd not know what to do with himself if he wasn't. But at this point, it appears he's hurting the school and team that he loves for his own selfish reasons. I hope I am wrong, but Joe needs an exit strategy and let the team get on with it's future.

Problem is that he no longer recruits, gameplans, calls plays or runs practices. He leaves it all to his assistants who are OK. PSU has lost a good amount of in-state talent the past few yars due to the fact that their is so much uncertainty with how long Paterno will be there. There is no reason that Pitt should be out-recruiting us the past 3 years but it has happened.

Being an alum, I completely understand and am grateful for what Paterno has done for both the program and university at large. However, the man is 81 years old and he is just appearing selfish by not giving a plan to step down. It truly appears he wants to be coach until the day he dies.

Greg Schiano will break the heart of New Jersey by early-January 2009, when he finally takes the dream job he has been waiting for at Penn State. This is simply how big-time college sports work these days. You can't knock Schiano.

It truly appears he wants to be coach until the day he dies.

Goon0924 | 04/11/08, 07:11 AM

Certainly seems that way. He must want to drop off on the field!

He is a legend. Let him coach.

We should be good this year so I think he'll be back in '09 if he's able. I think this is where we run into trouble if recruiting rankings are accurate.

As an alum, I don't want a succession plan. I hope we bring in a new coach who can do some house cleaning - starting with Jay Paternos office.

At his age every year is year to year. You can't sign a man of his age to a ten year contract. He might not live through it.

Shoot, every day is day to day when you are Joe Pa's age.

I'm really tired of the old "he's a legend, let him stay" defense. The longer he stays, the more damage he does to his legacy. The program is not a contender anymore. 8-4 with losses to all the BCS teams is not getting it done. Hopefully Spanier has the guts to do what is necessary.

I think Paterno has earned the right to go out on his own terms. He'd die of boredom with nothing to do. But at some point, he's going to have to step down, and needs to be planning an exit strategy.

Even if he didn't live through a signed contract, Penn St. would win just as many games.

Just take it slow, Joe.

Year to year? You mean his lifespan or his contract?

Keep the man!! A friend of his as a coach died just after retirement. He is scared. The whole thing about Penn State is me first anyway.

They could pump him full of the same stuff the whole student body is full of at games and he would be preserved forever. Like Lenin.

Coach Paterno sounds like the type of 'retiree' that goes home after the retirement party, goes to bed and dies in his sleep. Working is what's keeping him alive. As long as the job's getting done, leave him be.

Thats's the point my dear Madame...job ain't gettin' done!

Coach Paterno needs to retire about 5 or so years ago. He is not only hurting his school he is hurting the Big Ten.
Paterno has not really gotten the job done for quite awhile. There are several good points already made by other fans, THE WARDEN, GOON0924, and JJO,
"Letting him coach as long as he wants too", "he"s a legend let him stay" "I think Paterno has earned the right to go out on his own terms."
None of these opinions is good for Penn State football or the Big Ten.

That's a good idea FieldMarshallSunnyDay. Jay Paterno can behind the wheelchair pulling the strings.

BobCat ...Yes, he is a legend, but at this point in his tenure there he does the program more harm than good. It is like the great player that stays in the game too long. The greatest harm he does is from a recruiting standpoint, I am not qualified to judge his football acumen. All things in their time, at this point he is being selfish and putting his welfare above that of the school and the program.