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“A hundred years from now, it won’t matter what car we drove, the money we had or the size of the house we lived in but the world may be a better place because we had an positive impact on someone’s life.”
Joe Paterno, who died 10 days ago, certainly lived those words. It has been well-documented that Paterno lived in a modest house throughout his coaching career, owned a modest car and was paid a modest salary compared to today’s standards.
And there is no argument that his positive impact on his players, Penn State students, the university and many others will continue for generations upon generations to come.
While the events of the last three months could never have been imagined at the start of this season and the dissection of the entire matter will continue to rage for months to come, Paterno’s 61 years at Penn State and his positive impact he had on an institution, students, athletes, Penn State fans and college football will, in all probability, never be matched.
While his football records and accolades are mounumental achievements that stand on their own and will be referenced by generations of football fans to come, Paterno’s Grand Experiment of demanding academic success by his players while also building a nationally-recognized football program was the cornerstone of his coaching career.
Away from the gridiron, each time a student walks into the Paterno Library, Paterno’s Legacy will be ever-0present and touch their lives. He and his wife, Sue were the driving force behind the $13 million raised for that project. He and his wife Sue gave $4 million of their own money for an endowment that has enhanced various curriculum and provided scholarships to students. He was the major driving force that raised $352 million during the Campaign for Penn State and a total of $1.37 billion for a Campaign effort that ended in 2003. Penn State sources estimate Paterno’s stature and his involvement alone was responsible for alumni and other donors contributing $1 billion to the university during his tenure.
That’s education money that has touched today’s students and will have an impact on generations to come.
When Paterno took over the football program, the university’s stadium seated 40,000, today it is at 107,000. Penn State had an enrollment of about 12,000. Today, it is over 40,000. As Penn State’s football prowess grew on the national level, so did it’s academic reputation. Once considered a rural agricultural college, it is now a well-respected academic institution and research university. There is no doubt, Paterno’s football success and his Grand Experiment that focused on being a “student-athlete” generated much of Penn State’s growth during his career.
The revenue generated by the football program, estimated at $100 million per year aids all other sports programs at Penn State allowing countless students to build memories in their rspective fields of competition.
While the monetary impact his program had and will have on Penn State students is immeasureable, it was the way Paterno impacted his players’ lives that is a huge part of his legacy.
Many believe the recent events over the last three months hastened his death and broke his will to fight his cancer.
When Death comes, it sparks many emotions in all of us and forces us to take a retrospective look at our own lives.
In 1969, I was a 12 year old who was a sports enthusiast. I still vividly recall, after a day of New Year’s Day football watching, back when all the big bowls were on that day, anxiously awaiting Penn State’s two-point try against Kansas in an attempt to win the Orange Bowl, They missed but Kansas had 12 men on the field, On a second try, Penn State scored for the 15-14 win. That win gave Penn State and JoePa his first unbeaten season at 11-0.
It also raised Penn State’s attention nationally. For the next 43 years, thousands of students me included, many who were undecided where to attend college or those who narrowed their choices to a few, picked Penn State as their college of choice so they could experience the fall football season excitement at University Park while earning a solid education.
In recent years, PSU students have looked to JoePa more as a grandfather, family figure then a football coach.
In the days ahead, the “firsts” will be constant reminders of Coach Paterno. The first day of spring practice, the first Blue White game, the first game of 2012, the first win, the first bowl game.
I can’t help but wonder, during the next 61 years, how many head coaches will have guided the Penn State football program. How many students will have studied at the Paterno Library or enjoyed a scholarship from the Paterno endowment. How many coaches in all of college football will have made an impact on the game and their university’s educational system like Joe Paterno.
The world is a better place because Joseph Vincent Paterno spent the last 61 years making a positive impact. The fruits of his labor will live on forever.
“A hundred years from now, it won’t matter what car we drove, the money we had or the size of the house we lived in but the world may be a better place because we had an positive impact on someone’s life.”
Joe Paterno, who died 10 days ago, certainly lived those words. It has been well-documented that Paterno lived in a modest house throughout his coaching career, owned a modest car and was paid a modest salary compared to today’s standards.
And there is no argument that his positive impact on his players, Penn State students, the university and many others will continue for generations upon generations to come.
While the events of the last three months could never have been imagined at the start of this season and the dissection of the entire matter will continue to rage for months to come, Paterno’s 61 years at Penn State and his positive impact he had on an institution, students, athletes, Penn State fans and college football will, in all probability, never be matched.
While his football records and accolades are mounumental achievements that stand on their own and will be referenced by generations of football fans to come, Paterno’s Grand Experiment of demanding academic success by his players while also building a nationally-recognized football program was the cornerstone of his coaching career.
Away from the gridiron, each time a student walks into the Paterno Library, Paterno’s Legacy will be ever-0present and touch their lives. He and his wife, Sue were the driving force behind the $13 million raised for that project. He and his wife Sue gave $4 million of their own money for an endowment that has enhanced various curriculum and provided scholarships to students. He was the major driving force that raised $352 million during the Campaign for Penn State and a total of $1.37 billion for a Campaign effort that ended in 2003. Penn State sources estimate Paterno’s stature and his involvement alone was responsible for alumni and other donors contributing $1 billion to the university during his tenure.
That’s education money that has touched today’s students and will have an impact on generations to come.
When Paterno took over the football program, the university’s stadium seated 40,000, today it is at 107,000. Penn State had an enrollment of about 12,000. Today, it is over 40,000. As Penn State’s football prowess grew on the national level, so did it’s academic reputation. Once considered a rural agricultural college, it is now a well-respected academic institution and research university. There is no doubt, Paterno’s football success and his Grand Experiment that focused on being a “student-athlete” generated much of Penn State’s growth during his career.
The revenue generated by the football program, estimated at $100 million per year aids all other sports programs at Penn State allowing countless students to build memories in their rspective fields of competition.
While the monetary impact his program had and will have on Penn State students is immeasureable, it was the way Paterno impacted his players’ lives that is a huge part of his legacy.
Many believe the recent events over the last three months hastened his death and broke his will to fight his cancer.
When Death comes, it sparks many emotions in all of us and forces us to take a retrospective look at our own lives.
In 1969, I was a 12 year old who was a sports enthusiast. I still vividly recall, after a day of New Year’s Day football watching, back when all the big bowls were on that day, anxiously awaiting Penn State’s two-point try against Kansas in an attempt to win the Orange Bowl, They missed but Kansas had 12 men on the field, On a second try, Penn State scored for the 15-14 win. That win gave Penn State and JoePa his first unbeaten season at 11-0.
It also raised Penn State’s attention nationally. For the next 43 years, thousands of students me included, many who were undecided where to attend college or those who narrowed their choices to a few, picked Penn State as their college of choice so they could experience the fall football season excitement at University Park while earning a solid education.
In recent years, PSU students have looked to JoePa more as a grandfather, family figure then a football coach.
In the days ahead, the “firsts” will be constant reminders of Coach Paterno. The first day of spring practice, the first Blue White game, the first game of 2012, the first win, the first bowl game.
I can’t help but wonder, during the next 61 years, how many head coaches will have guided the Penn State football program. How many students will have studied at the Paterno Library or enjoyed a scholarship from the Paterno endowment. How many coaches in all of college football will have made an impact on the game and their university’s educational system like Joe Paterno.
The world is a better place because Joseph Vincent Paterno spent the last 61 years making a positive impact. The fruits of his labor will live on forever.
