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Please don't ever retire, Joe Paterno


I will get to all of the important Illini stuff up later, but there is an anecdote I want to share with you that will easily be the one lasting memory of today's Big Ten Media Day.

I couldn't get anywhere near Tressel, where there was easily the thickest  crowd of journalists hanging on his every word. Sat in for a few minutes at the Rich Rod, who of all the coaches I saw, seemed the least comfortable around the media, and lastly I sat down at the table of one Joe Paterno.

If you don't know how the whole shtick works, each coach is basically seated at a nice round banquet table and the journalists arrange their recorders in front of him while they ask him questions. I was seated too far away from Coach Paterno to actually hear anything he said, but I was hoping to get a small question in so I waited patiently.

Then I noticed that in front of Paterno, right next to his cup of coffee there was something written on the table cloth, so I took a picture with my camera phone.

 

Picture_001_medium

Can you tell what it is? That's right, it is a play diagram.

Apparently Paterno wanted to demonstrate some of the intricacies of the spread offense to the reporters. The story was related as follows by one the photographers who heard the whole thing. (Note: All of this is paraphrase, not direct quote)

Joe wanted to show the reporters that the spread offense was nothing new, in fact according to Joe, "we were running it back in the '40s!"

Joe then proceeded to draw up an example of how he would run the backfield at Brown, drawing it up on the table cloth next to his coffee with a pen.

"Sometimes I would hand it off to him, sometimes to this guy, some times I would take it myself and sometimes I would throw it. But I couldn't throw for beans."

So after the room cleared out for the autograph sessions and banquet, I walked back over to the table and got this picture, evidence that the story is true.

Picture_004_medium

 

 

You couldn't name me one other coach who would do something like this. I enjoy the fact that Joe is so old/rich that he could care less about graffitoing a hotel tablecloth.   Big Ten media days was defined by political correctness and safe answers to questions. I am just glad Joe Paterno is still here to bring some life to the place.

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Thanks a cool moment

I’ve met him a few times, he’s always good for some stories and quotes.

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 28, 2009 7:16 PM CDT reply actions  

Very cool, my friend, love anecdotes like that.

Appreciate the coverage and keep up the solid work.

by GreatScawt on Jul 28, 2009 11:00 PM CDT reply actions  

Awesome Story

It is all the little things like this that just make me love JoePa. He certainly is a different breed.

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."

by Roland86 on Jul 29, 2009 1:40 AM CDT reply actions  

Joe Paterno is the man.

I hope he never dies.

"Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

by mrx0321 on Jul 29, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions  

If PSU ever forces this guy out . . .

I’m gonna drive all the way to Happy Valley my damn self and strangle some fools.

JoePa is awesome. That is all.

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Jul 29, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions  

Memorable - for sure

Thank you for sharing the story and the pic…especially the manorisms…

He always seems “comfortable” whenever / wherever he is. He is NOT out there to impress…he’s Joe Paterno; he’s here to share his fondness for the game and the people.

( Aside: I would have snagged that table cloth and took it home with me; cut out that inked grid section and black-framed it!…just saying…)

"...goon-a-la-goun-ga...gung-ga-la-gun-ga...he said; there will be no money exchanged..."

by BlueWhiteLife on Jul 29, 2009 10:45 AM CDT reply actions  

So apparently this post has gotten alot of linkage today.

EDSBS Matt Hinton and even Jay Paterno. This has been quite a week for me.

by Joe Kutsunis on Jul 29, 2009 8:41 PM CDT reply actions  

Congrats!

Dude, you deserve it. You’re doing a great job around these parts.

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Jul 29, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions  

Single Wing

The Single Wing is making a comeback. Last year 26 DI College teams ran at least 1 Single Wing series. We have been running it for the last 11 seasons at the youth level. 11 on 11 football, gotta love it. http://winningyouthfootball.com

Dave Cisar http://winninngyouthfootball.com

by davecisar on Jul 30, 2009 5:23 PM CDT reply actions  

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