Joe Paterno: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:22, 25 October 2004

Revision as of 18:17, 19 November 2004

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'''Joseph Vincent Paterno''' (born [[December 21]], [[1926]] in [[Brooklyn, New York]]), nicknamed '''Joe Pa''', is a [[coach (sport)|coach]] of [[Pennsylvania State University]]'s [[college football]] team.

Paterno began life as the child of the [[Great Depression|Depression]]. He nearly had to leave high school because the tuition of $20 a month was such a burden for his family. In 1944, Paterno graduated from Brooklyn Prep and headed to [[Brown University]] to study and play [[American football|football]].

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Paterno had his first undefeated season in [[1968]]. He followed it by going undefeated in [[1969]]. From 1973 to 1983, Paterno's teams made a bowl game after every season. He also claimed his first national title in [[1982]].

He is admired for his "Grand Experiment", which started in the [[1970s]] and requires his players to excel in academics as well as football. Over the decades, Penn State's football players consistently had above-average graduation rates that were often among the top 10 in [[Division I]]-A.

Many thought Paterno crowned his Hall of Fame resume by going 12-0 with a national championship in 1986, but Paterno was not finished. He continued to field a top team throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.

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Paterno is an icon at Penn State. In [[2000]], Joe, and wife Sue, gave Penn State $2 million to expand the library, and the expanded wing (formerly East Pattee Library) was named the Paterno Library in their honor. The [[2004]] season will be his 55th season at the University either as an assistant or head coach, a record for any football coach at any university.

==External link==

* [http://www.psu.edu/sports/football/Paterno/paternobio.html PSU sports: Joe Paterno biography]

[[Category:1926 births|Paterno, Joe]]