Words of Wisdom: Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno coached his first game as a Penn State assistant under Rip Engle in 1950. It\'s hard to imagine it now, but at the time, Paterno was merely a fresh-faced, recent graduate of Brown University, eager to start making a living in the coaching profession. Now, half a century later, JoePa is still in Happy Valley, and his 317 head coaching victories (No. 5 all-time in college history), five perfect seasons and two national championships have secured his legacy a place as permanent to State College, Pa., as the Bald Eagle and Tussey Mountains that outline Nittany Valley. In addition to his coaching records, Paterno\'s off-the-field endeavors are also impressive. Along with wife, Sue, in 1998 Paterno made a $3.5 million gift to Penn State to endow faculty positions and scholarships; he is the only college football coach to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year; and his