Was once a great coach but it's time for him to step aside and let PSU catch up to the new era of football.

The Best ! A class Guy & Coach ! What more could be said ? He perhaps should give some thought to hanging it up in the future, tho. A younger guy could inject new life into recruiting and the program overall. JoPa has made Penn State football what it is today !

Penn State fan since Bill Higgins was "Coach" so my opinion might be considered slightly skewed. However the term "AMERICAN ICON" comes to mind. Good teams, 1st Team AA's, Academic AA's, Post-Grad award winners, 1st Round picks, 75%(?) grad rate(with not one "Basket-weaving" degree among them), not to mention...no inquiry (not even the hint of one)by the NCAA regarding anything !! Not only a great football coach, but a great leader of "men"(the kids we send ). Glad I lived in a time that included Color TV, end of the Cold War (saw the beginning) and Jo'Pa !

His record and longevity speak for themselves. I would add to that that his ability to adapt and change with the game is impressive. In the 60s through the 80s he built his success on an ultra-conservative, 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust playing style. As the game has become more aerial and acrobatic, he has adjusted, placing more importance on the quarterback and the wideouts, and adding the shotgun and a pretty fair repertoire of trick plays you never would have seen in a Penn State playbook in earlier decades. Most coaches his age would have been too set in their ways, and would have let the game pass them by. Factor in his commitment to running a clean program and to academics (how many schools name their library after the football coach? They did that because he was right there leading the fund-raising drive for it, and kicking in about $1M of his own). As for his recent "whining" as some call it, over the officiating --- yes, that is a little troubling as is it so unlike his previous conduct. But I've seen some of those games he protested -- and those calls were absolute, unequivocal howlers that would have been quickly overturned had there been an NFL-style review process. And in each case they cost Penn State the game. I can't blame him for being a little grumpy.

Joe Paterno..coach for 5 decades 602 through the turn of the millenium. How many coaches have endured that? How many coaches can boast the number of undefeated teams that he has coached? None. One of which was in the past 10 years! Too old? He's way up there.. but always maintains one of the top staffs in Div I football. His dedication to education is unsurpassed by anyone!!! Anyone!!! Add the numbers up wins...bowl wins...undefeated seasons...percentage graduates..Scholastic All-Ams...whatever!!! Is there anyone else that competes....for non-Rocket Scientists...NO!!!

I love grumpy old man coaches.

He's a great coach, but as of right now he's just okay. We'll see this year if he's anything better.

He will always be one of the legendary coaches od Div I football but unfortunately, his style of coaching, his winning results, as well as the thickness of his glasses, are starting to show some age.

Class act.

JoPa. He was the best before Tressel showed up!!! Now I want Tressel on this site!!!

an ok coach, but not the best, look at the books and stats and youll find Bobby Bowden at the top (#1) Paterno loses focus and points the blame.

If any other coach pulled the stunts Jo Pa does, he'd be thrown out. He whines and whines, and blames the refs for his teams shortcomings.

the bum should retire

jopa is the greatest college football coach of all time.

Needs to retire.

Is he still alive?

Too old. He was great, but now he needs to hang it up.

Joe Paterno seems to be a very effective coach for this team.

Joe Paterno is one of the best coaches. He rebuilt a struggling team from scratch and made it into a poerhouse.

I hate PENN StATE

Joe Paterno is perhaps the best active coach in football today