because Joe Paterno IS college football at its best.
He's not just a hall of fame coach as you put it, he is THE icon of college football.
For a man to have grown up around people like Vince Lombardi and then become an Ivy Leaguer who then dedicates his entire life to building one and only one university and its football team is truly the mark of ultimate greatness.
That's why they report if he has gas! LOL
Or needs a drink!!
There are loads of people that truly are concerned about his health at his age. Besides what else is there to talk about till kick-off except what player from what team got arrested today?
Class Act! He is part of a dying breed of coaches. ( no pun intended) He cares more about his team than his check book and there needs to be more coaches like him out there. Hope he is still coaching in 2010 when the tide and lions meet again.
I love Joe Pa, great coach, an icon, mad respect for him, but this should be taken as another sign to hang it up. I will say the same thing about the coach of my alum, Bobby Bowden. These guys are legends, they command respect and deserve respect, but both of them need to retire and enjoy the little life they have left. I don't see why they keep going and going, but as long as they do, I will always have the upmost appreciation for them, I just wish they would hang it up already, what's it going to take, a stroke on the sideline?
Don't take this the wrong way, Penn State fans, but.....who cares?Don't take this the wrong way BillHicks, but you took time out of your day to read the article then post a message regarding how much you don't care...so apparently, maybe you do?!?
I agree. Non story. People get dehydrated and go to the hospital get fluids and IV on a daily basis. This is just as much of a non story as when he got the runs one game. Who cares? Everyone gets the runs at some point. Joe's a private guy, I'm sure he would have rather this not got out....kinda like when he was coaching with broken ribs.
I just wish they would hang it up already, what's it going to take, a stroke on the sideline? To be honest with you, I think that is what would make him the happiest. He is the reason PSU football is what it is today, and/or what it has been through history. Being able to see him down on the sidelines while I was a student (Graduating on Saturday...) was an amazing experience, just to be around him. Seeing him walk around campus or through downtown State College would give any true Nittany Lion the chills, as I just got them while I was typing this. I hope Joe Pa lives forever, and if not, he might as well die on the football field, thats where he spent his entire life.
And when he does go (hopefully sometime after the year 2150), I hope the students adopt the tradition of hauling his statue into the stadium and posting it on the sidelines. PSU football will NEVER be the same without JoePa!!!!
The rest of you with your coaches d'jour can just bugger off!
It could be a matter of JoePa being the ultimate"old school" football coach. Back in the day, you didn't drink, you took salt tablets to prevent cramping or you drank pickle juice.
That notwithstanding, modern practice dictates that you monitor fluid depletion on everyone, (including the coach), and you hydrate appropriately to maintain proper electrolyte balance and you rest before the onset of heat stroke or prostration.
Definitely a tough old Brooklyn Italian, nevertheless, Coach Paterno should have someone keep an eye on him to make sure that he is properly hydrated, just like it is the trainer's responsibility to monitor the players.
We don't need a tragedy of this epic a proportion hanging over college football- the death or striking down of an American legend that could have been prevented with common sense.
This is why we Bruin fans say an extra prayer and show concern whenever Coach John Wooden has any kind of health issue-he is a national treasure that we want to hold onto for as long as we can.
I am sure that PSU fans in specific and college football fans in general have that same level of affection for JoePa.
I hope JoePa is well. He is a very old guy, but I can see he has that tughness to live on for many more years to come. Him being the coach of a football team must be tiring because of the work that is required of the job, but it seems that he's pulling through.
