May 14, 200421 yr Penn State's Paterno, 77, Gets Four-Year Extension Nittany Lions Went 3-9 in '03 -- Worst Record in Paterno's 39 Seasons By DAN LEWERENZ STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (May 13) -- Despite three losing seasons in the last four years, Joe Paterno got a four-year contract extension from Penn State on Thursday that will take him past his 80th birthday. Penn State went 3-9 last season, the worst record in Paterno's 39 seasons as head coach of the Nittany Lions. It was just the fourth losing season since Paterno joined the coaching staff in 1950. Penn State didn't win a road game for the first time since the 1936 season, and finished below .500 in the Big Ten (1-7) for the first time since joining the conference for the 1993 season. "I appreciate this extension and show of confidence in me and our football program," Paterno said in a statement. "I still enjoy coaching and I'm excited about the upcoming season and the incoming recruiting class." Athletic director Tim Curley said Paterno's decades of success were given more weight than the recent slump. "We certainly looked overall and very much felt that we wanted him to continue," Curley said. "We're really excited about the current squad members and the incoming group that we've got coming in. We don't think we're that far away." In a statement, university president Graham Spanier praised Paterno's "success on the field, the graduation rate of his student athletes and the positive impact his players have made on society." Terms of the deal were not released. The contract for the 77-year-old Paterno was scheduled to end after the 2004 season and, because of Penn State's recent lack of success, many questioned if the coach would return. But Paterno has repeatedly said he wants to continue coaching as long as he's healthy. "Penn State's future is bright and we are determined to have a team which in the future will again be in the mix for a national championship," he said. Paterno won national championships in 1982 and 1986 and has coached five undefeated teams. His overall record is 339-109-3, and he is second only to Florida State's Bobby Bowden in major-college wins.
May 14, 200421 yr Paterno has 1 good season for every 3-4. He's crap and they should get a new coach, but he's Jesus to the damn penn staters...
May 14, 200421 yr Jeez...i can understand bein indebt to the guy for what he has done, but c'mon JoePa...just step away from the game now while you still have some legacy to treasure.
May 14, 200421 yr I wondered if that was what Brian and his buddy were talking about on the phone last night. Penn needs their head examined...
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