I just listened to Joe Paterno at the Big Ten Media Day, and he looks better than he has in the last couple of years.
He's the best, no doubt about it, and the last of the oldtimers. Nobody else out there comes close to his longevity, which brings me to my point, and this is not wishful thinking.
He will be gone before long, and I'm betting the new coach does not come from within.
To think the next guy - probably much younger like Pat Fitzgerald, Bret Bielema, Luke Fickell etc. - will be a duplicate of Joe, there's just no way, shape or form.
Obviously, Joe's run a clean program since day one. The people in Pennsylvania that are so quick on the trigger to criticize and point fingers might want to back off a bit.
I don't have to tell you how much the game has changed and how differently you deal with the blue chippers, boosters etc.
I'm sure PSU wants to become a major player again, winning championships.
The bottom line is there aren't any more Joe Paternos out there anymore, so who knows what lies ahead with the new coach and what extremes he'll go to to become an elite team again?
And when the new coach does come in, you know he'll bring his broom and make a clean sweep assistant-wise.
Rich Foust
Troy, Ohio
