Joseph V. Paterno
Standing on History and Tradition

Last night Joe Paterno was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. That was to happen last year but was postponed because he sustained a broken leg last year that prohibited him from being in New York to receive the award. Now, that is not a surprising event. What is surprising, even amazing, is the history of Hall of Fame coaches at Penn State.

Since 1918, Penn State has had 5 coaches. One, Joe Bedenk was only coach for one year in 1949, after which he asked to go back to being an assistant. The university hired Charles “Rip” Engle as head coach in 1950, and he brought with him from Brown University one of his players to be an assistant, Joe Paterno. The other four coaches Hugo Bedzek, Bob Higgins, Rip Engle and Joe Paterno are all enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Eighty nine years, five coaches, four in the Hall of Fame…that is unmatched in the history of college sports.

The coaching replacement carousal is underway again this year. Everyone wants a coach who will lead them to the promised land of a Mythical National Championship. When surveying what is going on, think about the history and tradition, or lack thereof, of the institution chasing the next winner. What is the school’s history and tradition? Not just the wins and losses, but the stability, the integrity, the commitment, the principles, the academics, the history and tradition of lives devoted to coaching young men and preparing them for life not just sixty minutes of fleeting fame. Penn State Football has an exemplary history and tradition in many areas but is unparalleled and unequalled in coaching excellence. One of the reasons Joe Paterno stands so tall today is that he is standing on the shoulders of giants who laid the foundation of the history and tradition he has enriched.