Paterno accepts NCAA's Gerald R. Ford Award

[smupony94]

Paterno accepts NCAA's Gerald R. Ford Award

Penn State coach Joe Paterno talks Thursday at the NCAA convention after receiving the Gerald R. Ford Award.


Penn State coach Joe Paterno sidestepped a question about his legacy.

Asked about how he wanted to be remembered 50 years from now, he didn't go into any great detail.

Paterno, in San Antonio on Thursday to accept an award from the NCAA, said he's just tried to do things the right way.

“You try to be competitive, and you hope your guys have a good experience,” he said. “You play on the road and you have some players come around with their families — those kinds of things make you feel like you've done some good.”

Paterno accepted the Gerald R. Ford Award at the NCAA Convention. The award goes annually to an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for college athletics on a continuous basis in the course of their career.

The coach has been long on leadership since he took over at Penn State in 1966. He holds the record for most Football Bowl Subdivision victories with 401.

He has coached more bowl games (37) and has more postseason victories (24) than any coach in history.

Just as important to the NCAA, Paterno's team has an 84 percent graduation rate.

“I think reputation has a lot to do with it,” said Paterno, who, coincidentally, turned 84 last month. “If a kid is really interested in getting an education and playing a competitive schedule, we've got a shot at him.”

Paterno doesn't kid himself, though. He knows he needs to get the talent to survive.

“You still got to get good players,” he said. “I'd be looking for a job if we were 2-9.”

Despite rumors about how his health might prevent him from returning next season, Paterno said it's his intention to come back to try to build on a 7-6 record.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, smiling at the assembled media. “I'm hoping I'm going to coach. Our athletic director is here. Maybe we should ask him. But, no, I'm in good health. It's amazing how the Internet will spread rumors.”

The Nittany Lions have strung together seasons of 11-1, 9-4, 9-4, 11-2, 11-2 and 7-6 in the past six years. To cap last season, Penn State lost 37-24 to Florida in the Outback Bowl.

“I think we should be a little better (next year),” he said. “We had a lot of young kids this year. We had some injuries. If we have a good spring, we'll be a better team. How much better — we'll see.”

[DiamondM75]

You can just ##### (an inclined plane wrap around a central axis) Joe Pa.

He #####ed us out of a national championship because he was going to retire 25 years ago.

[smupony94]

Better not make Mitch McConnell mad

[MrMustang1965]

You can just ##### (an inclined plane wrap around a central axis) Joe Pa.

He #####ed us out of a national championship because he was going to retire 25 years ago.

I second this!

[Dutch]

well June Jones gets the Gerald J. Ford award.

[Arkpony]

In my opinion, Parterno is a foul-mouthed a#s! He is deserving of nothing.

[ponyscott]

Paterno is a legend and a character that is good for the NCAA...gives us all something to talk about. If you like him or not is always the question.....he didn't screw SMU out of anything, just don't go for the tie against Arkansas..go for the win. Yeah there was still time left but when you are down there and can go for the throat, we would never still have this discussion.
I hate to see guys like him or Bobby Bowden go away....end of era's are always sad to see.

[Mexmustang]

I hope he never retires and Penn St. is forced to leave the BCS.