Detroit Free Press Takes Cheap Shot At Paterno

Howie Beardsley wrote a piece for the Detroit Free Press in which he slams paterno for being too old, criticizing him for how he is coaching through a hip injury, and attempts to hint that Joe will be fired after the 2008 season.

What is odd is that this article comes out after Penn State but a 29 point whooping on Michigan. That seems like an odd time to go after Paterno and the program that just hosed the Wolverines. I would think this could be a better time to criticize Rodriguez for his early struggles than to throw the coach of a top 3 team under the bus.

Howie's premise that Paterno is getting too much credit for the team's success:

What bothers me about Penn State's current success is that Paterno's not the sole reason for it. Rather, it's his staff and the tradition of the program that have the Nittany Lions in the running for another national title, and Paterno seeking his eighth undefeated season since 1966.

For example, when Penn State rolled over Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan without Paterno on the sideline, that told me his assistants are doing the actual coaching.

Really? Too much credit? For the man who is literally the head of the team and the face of the program? Really?

This notion that Joe is due less credit because he has assembled a reliable and skilled staff is just moronic. By this logic, we should give Tommy Tubberville all the credit in the world for a middling Auburn team. After all, Tubberville had to fire a coordinator so he is clearly getting things done down there.

Joe is coaching from the press box. Are offensive coordinators not coaching when they are up there? All coaching takes place on the field? Really? Why do I keep seeing QBs putting on head sets as soon as they come off the field? Phone sex? No, they are talking with coaches in the box. The are, in fact, being COACHED.

Howie is quick to point out that Penn State struggled in the early part of the decade. This is true, PSU did struggle then. That, however, is a moot argument for why Paterno should've been fired after 2004. It is not an argument to fire Paterno NOW.

Howie closes this schlock festival down with this:

But it has become obvious to me that Penn State's football past and Paterno's capable assistants now run the show on the sideline and with regard to recruiting for their elderly boss, and they're the real reasons for the Nittany Lions' return to the national championship marathon.

Would it interest you to know, Howie, that most of Paterno's assistants are long-time assistants and they were on the staff when it struggled in the early part of the decade just like Joe was. For example:

Dick Anderson Asst. Coach & OL: 31 years on staff.

Tom Bradley Asst. Coach Defense: 30 years on staff.

Galen Hall Asst. Coach Offense: 5 years on staff

Larry Johnson Asst. Coach D-line: 13 years on staff

Jay Paterno Ass. Coach QBs: 14 years on staff.

John Thomas Strength Coach: 17 years on staff.

Ron Vanderlinden Asst. Coach LBs: 8 years on staff.

Kermit Buggs Asst. Coach Safeties: 8 years on staff.

Bill Kenney Tackles & TEs: 21 Years on staff.

Mike McQueary WRs & recruiting: 5 years on staff.

Not seeing a lot of "new blood" which completely turned Penn State around despite Joe's incompetence

The assistant coaches do deserve a lot of credit, but the idea that this credit makes Joe a bad coach is patently absurd.

This article is poorly thought out.

GO STATE! BEAT OHIO STATE!

Coaches Poll Is Out!

USA Today released the 2008 preseason coaches poll and PSU is on there! WOOOOO!

The Lions are sitting at #22 directly behind the Bulls of South Florida and just ahead of Michigan who clocks in at #24. This really brings us to how the Big Ten faired in the polls.

The Big Ten has five teams in the top twenty five; Ohio State (3), Wisconsin (12), Illinois (19), PSU (22), and Michigan (24). Not bad, I agree with the teams on the list but not necessarily the order. I would put PSU, Wisconsin, and Illinois much closer together. I don't see Wisconsin being 10 spots better than PSU this year. Also, how did the Illinis get better this year? They didn't. So I'd go Ohio State (3), PSU (15), Illinois (16), Wisconsin (17).

Also, by my count, the SEC has five teams in the top 25 just like the Big Ten. Albeit, the SEC teams are generally ranked more highly. The average rank of the SEC teams is 8.2 compared to the Big 10s of 16. No, I don't think it is that big a difference. No, I'm not a moron. YOU ARE!

The Pac 10 brings a measly 3 teams to the top 25.

The Big 12 has five ranked teams also (avg. Rank of 9.6)

ACC has 3 teams ranked.

Big East has 2 two teams ranked.

As such, it seems clear that the coaches think the SEC and Big 12 are the cream of college football this year and that the Big 10 is good but not a great conference. We then have the rest of the lower conferences (PAC-10, ACC, Big East, etc.)

GO STATE! MOVE UP THOSE POLLS!

JOE MUST STAY!

There is a great post up over at BSD regarding the coaching situation at PSU. It is a great post, go read it. This started out as a comment but it has grown out of hand. So here is my 2-cents:

You have got to let Joe coach for as long as he wants. You have to give Joe an extension for as long as he wants to coach. Penn State owes him that.

In 2005, everyone was calling for Joe to be run out of town. You know exactly what happened after that. I, for one, took great glee in calling those who wanted Joe to leave giant morons. I shall now do an encore performance, If you want Joe to be forced out than YOU ARE A MORON! What are you going to do if PSU goes 12-0 or 11-1 during the regular season? Will you be so quick to stab a legend in the back? When you have the GREATEST COACH OF ALL TIME coaching your school give him a fucking lifetime contract and say : Thanks for Staying Joe!
This is a delicate, complicated period in PSU's storied history. The ultimate transition from the Paterno-era is a great challenge which will cement Spanier's reputation for all time. However, the time to make a decision on who will be the next head coach at PSU has not come yet.

Exit strategies suck. What advantage will PSU have a successor were named regardless of whether it is Schiano, Bradley, or THE CHIN!?!?!?! The answer? Nothing. None at all. Some might say, PSU would gain a head coach who can hit the recruiting trail like a sledge hammer as opposed to Joe, who this year only visited one recruit. The assistant coaches can get it done until Joe fully retires. Also, PSU should have 22 or so scholarships to give out in '09 which will be a true test of Joe's abilities.

When Joe finally leaves, and I hope it is in the exact way he wants, it will be a terrible sad day for Penn State football. Penn State was nothing before Joe Paterno. Nothing. If you think that it will be nothing but green pastures and easy going once Joepa is gone you are kidding yourself. In 25 years, Joe's voice will be played over the loudspeaker before the team takes the field. The crowd will go crazy. However, it will be nowhere near as good as seeing Joe run out of that tunnel.

GO STATE! GO JOE!

Carr's Retirement

As I was eating lunch I caught sections of Carr's retirement speech (for lack of a better term). I left it feeling thoroughly impressed. Lloyd offered exactly the right sentiment in his retirement and in directly addressing that he was announcing it now as a benefit to the program was amazing. That is what you want your head coach to be, responsible for the program to the core.



Michigan, you may have wanted to see Lloyd go and I won't disagree with you. However, you have to admit that you have lost a good coach and a great person as the captain of your ship. Hopefully, Penn State's inability to beat Michigan was more Carr-centric than Wolverine-ish.

Good luck, Lloyd. Good luck Michigan in finding a suitable replacement.

GO STATE! I WANT JOE TO COACH UNTIL HE FUCKING DIES ON THE FIELD!

Big Ten Roundtable: Week 8

The Hoosier Report bring us the questions this week. Oddly enough, PSU plays Indiana this weekend so I urge you to check out this excellent blog for all your hoosiery-needs.

1. Call your shot. We are halfway through the Big Ten season (or, at least, most of us are). What will be your team's final record? Where, if anywhere, will your team be spending late December/early January? Who will win the Big Ten?

I will answer with my heart because that's what I am all about. PSU wins out, going 10-2 and storms it's way into the Capital One bowl. I just don't think, even in my heart of hearts, that PSU will be able to get a BCS birth. There is the outside possibility of a shared Big Ten title but I just don't see it in the cards.

2. How is your team's coaching situation? Clearly, this varies from school to school, with some coaches approaching retirement (Carr/Paterno), some who are just starting out (Brewster/Fitzgerald), the unique case of Bill Lynch, and others who seem to be in their primes. If your coach is on the tail end of his career, where do you see things going from here? If he's still early in his tenure, any buyer's remorse? If he's in he's somewhere in the middle, are you happy or wishing things would go a different direction? How does your view correspond to the "majority" view among your school's fans?

I think our coaching situation is strong. Joe Paterno is a living legend, a veritable football God walking amongst mere mortals. You don't force a legend to leave, Joe has earned that. I believe that I am in the minority by taking that position. Penn State fans are becoming more and more fickle and are refusing to accept 8-9 win seasons. I think Joe probably retires after next year as is contract will be up. I love JOE! I want him to stay as long as he wants, roll him onto the field if you have to!

BONUS BASKETBALL QUESTION: If you plan to cover basketball, give us a brief outlook for your team. Who is your best player? What do you expect from the team?

I have no idea. Sorry, I just don't know.