Should he stay or should he go?
That’s the question. The coach is coming off of
another disappointing 9-4 season where his team
challenged for nothing meaningful. In the last five
seasons, his squad is 36-25. His teams have won a
couple of National Championships (and was robbed of
another), but it has been 22 years since the last
one. In the meantime, he has taught hundreds of young
men, has been a great ambassador for his university,
and a wonderfully cranky media target. Still, sizable
portions of his fans believe the team would be better
off without him.
The year is 2034. The coach is Jim Tressel.
That is the best way I can describe the
uncertainty and emotion surrounding the Penn State
coach. It is one of the great ongoing debates in
college football (besides conference strength, of
course) and has been addressed recently by the
Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Should Joe Paterno retire? Moreover, does the
university have the right to force him out?
The obvious, and technical, answer to the second question is, yes. But it is loaded with ethical and social ramifications rarely broached in college football. The man has given (almost) everything he has to Penn State. Literally. He has worked for the school for 58 years and donates millions to the university while taking a salary far less than he has earned.
The answer to the first question is more difficult. I think few would argue that Paterno is one of the marquee coaches in college football, in the true sense of the phrase. So, PSU should replace him, right? No so fast. Several high profile programs have recently struggled to hire their first choice. Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami, Alabama and, even, Ohio State did not get their first choice. There is no guarantee Penn State would improve overnight. So, the devil you know …
The flip side of the argument is equally palatable. His replacement may not become a legend, but every year Paterno stays on is an additional year Nittany Lion Nation will have to wait for the next era to begin. Who knows how much damage has been done already?
I do not have any answers to this one, but I can honestly say if I were a Penn State fan I would want him to retire. I can say the same if Tressel were in his shoes.
Agree with me? Think I am nuts? Let me know. You can send your thoughts to feedback [at] buckeyecommentary.com or click the contact link above.
The year is 2034. The coach is Jim Tressel.
The obvious, and technical, answer to the second question is, yes. But it is loaded with ethical and social ramifications rarely broached in college football. The man has given (almost) everything he has to Penn State. Literally. He has worked for the school for 58 years and donates millions to the university while taking a salary far less than he has earned.
The answer to the first question is more difficult. I think few would argue that Paterno is one of the marquee coaches in college football, in the true sense of the phrase. So, PSU should replace him, right? No so fast. Several high profile programs have recently struggled to hire their first choice. Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami, Alabama and, even, Ohio State did not get their first choice. There is no guarantee Penn State would improve overnight. So, the devil you know …
The flip side of the argument is equally palatable. His replacement may not become a legend, but every year Paterno stays on is an additional year Nittany Lion Nation will have to wait for the next era to begin. Who knows how much damage has been done already?
I do not have any answers to this one, but I can honestly say if I were a Penn State fan I would want him to retire. I can say the same if Tressel were in his shoes.
Agree with me? Think I am nuts? Let me know. You can send your thoughts to feedback [at] buckeyecommentary.com or click the contact link above.
