For all involved at PSU, no news is not good news
POSTED: March 30, 2008
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UNIVERSITY PARK — The phone lines on Jed Donahue’s statewide radio show were burning with calls from Penn State fans eager for a future direction of the Nittany Lion program.Virtually all of the media invited to an unprecedented open practice Saturday morning were talking along the Holuba Hall sidelines about Joe Paterno’s contract — how it’s entering its final season, what will happen and what should happen.
But when it came time for Paterno himself to address the issue, he endured a dozen questions and, heels in the sand, assumed his usual position.
Though he’s 81, he was active at Saturday’s practice and said he feels good physically. He said he’d like to continue coaching beyond 2008 and joked about “another 10 years.”
Despite conflicting rumors and reports that talks have stalled and even grown contentious between Paterno and school president Graham Spanier, who has been empowered by the Board of Trustees to open the job after ‘08, Paterno said, “I don’t even care if I get a contract.”
He said he is perfectly content to continue coaching year to year.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Why would I need an extension? If I need a contract here, I’m in the wrong place.”
No news is usually good news. In this case, it’s not — for anybody involved.
It’s not good for Paterno, who may be facing the end of his illustrious career.
It’s not good for Spanier, who has been placed in an unenviable power struggle of having to convince the legend it’s time to pass the torch.
It’s not good for recruiting; Paterno has not been able to travel nearly as much as he used to, and Penn State can not provide reasonable assurance Paterno will be able to see through the class of 2008, much less the one the Lions may be able to piece together for ‘09.
It’s not good for the assistant coaches, who don’t know their futures simply because Paterno doesn’t know his.
It’s certainly not good for the most logical heir apparent, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who despite keeping Penn State alive with the nation’s top recruit, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, still has not been designated as the team’s assistant head coach.
And it’s most unfair to the players, who take a backseat to their coach’s pursuit of his enormous shadow.
Paterno, though, doesn’t see the fuss. Even though the Lions lost Pryor to Ohio State, the coach said he didn’t think the uncertainty over his status had a negative effect on recruiting.
“Absolutely none,” he said. “I thought we had as good a year recruiting as we possibly could have.”
Most insiders suspect Penn State would grant an extension to Paterno if the latter were willing to recommend Bradley and establish a clear succession plan, even one without a timetable.
To that end, it’s becoming suspiciously clear Paterno doesn’t want to make that kind of commitment to Bradley.
“I think the future needs to be defined when it needs to be defined,” he said. “It just doesn’t need to be defined today.”
Paterno said his assistants are a consideration, and he will work to protect them for “when the time comes” that he should step down. He still wants his successor to come from within, but his idea of protection may be in reality be exposing the staff.
Some believe Paterno is extending his tenure in order to somehow position his son Jay, the Lions’ quarterbacks coach, as the next head coach. While Paterno denies that, there’s no question his longevity has benefitted his son more than any staff member.
In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone not named Paterno who thinks the current course and lack of a defined transition is in the best interest of the program.
Paterno, who took some shots at those who have leaked anonymous information to newspapers and Web sites, bristled at that, too.
“The last thing I want is to do something detrimental to Penn State football,” he said. “You don’t think I’ve put this many years in to screw it up.”
And yet, over the last 10 years, the Lions have consistently underachieved on the field and been even worse off it. The players now find themselves having to address a subject that dwarfs the game itself.
“Coming in, we knew there was a chance he might not be here,” linebacker Sean Lee said. “Ten years ago, there was a chance he’d retire, too. A lot of guys came here to be in the Penn State program, the program he set up, and he’s going to leave it to somebody who will keep it the same way. I don’t think it’s a distraction.”
Neither does defensive end Josh Gaines, who said, “he [Paterno] will be here until the end of time.”
That’s how kingdoms operate, and unless Graham Spanier is willing to say otherwise, Gaines is probably right.
Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
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