Quote for the Day
This is a perfect quote that relates to just about everything and anything. After a bad day – I always come back to this.
“Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.” -Joe Paterno
We Are…A Family
My kids with Joe.
Some people do not understand it, others think I/we are crazy, but losing Joe was hard. He was more than a coach, a public figure, and an educator…he was part of the family.
After watching the Joe Paterno memorial yesterday one thing was made very clear – we the Penn State community are one big family. Sure – we have our problems, but what family – especially such a large family – does not? Seeing everyone together, supporting one and other, and sharing memories about Joe was pretty amazing and finally made me feel a bit more at peace.
A big thanks to the Big Ten Network for airing it!
Joe Paterno Bread Commercial
For those of you that remember – I found a link to the bread commercial Joe did in the 90s…
Give It To The Fullback
Thanks Joe for a lifetime of service, advice, and hope. 1926-2012
Doing the Right Thing – Giving Back
I had been waiting for the call since November 9th, 2011 when everything started to unravel. I went over the conversation in my head over and over. Sometimes nasty – other times supportive. When I saw “Penn State University” on the caller ID last night as the phone rang I was not sure what I would say or how the conversation would go.
I generally get these calls a few times a year by current students looking to raise money for the school. I have been donating money to Penn State since I graduated and look forward to talking to the students on the phone to hear what they are studying, doing, etc. I at first did not know which way the call was going to go until I, in an instant, realize I had two ways to play this out: 1. act out of response to others (Penn State current leadership) or 2. act out of response to what really matters and be true to the core of our being (Joe). At that point I decided I would spend a few minutes talking to this student about his well being and his thoughts/feeling about all of this and what it means to be a Penn Stater. I told him I would be happy to give to the Paterno library fund.
Lesson learned: as Penn State alumni/students/staff – we need to stick together and show people who we really are. It is and always has been more than football. The media and some of the general public just do not “get it” and that is understandable. I am hopeful that living by example will show eventually show everyone what Joe Paterno taught us and what it truly means to be a Penn Stater.
Jay Paterno Interview
Jay Paterno did a nice job with this interview. I wish him and his family well.
Feel Better Soon Joe Paterno
There are few people that I admire more than Joe Paterno (Penn State’s head football coach). He inspired me when I went to my first Penn State football game when I was three years old, and he still inspires me today. During our last game in Wisconsin, one of the plays ended up on the sideline, coaches and players were knocked over, but nothing out of the ordinary…until I heard and saw Joe Paterno was among the people who got knocked down. Joe, the tough guy he is, stood up, and as soon as he did, his leg unnaturally hyper extended and I almost got sick to my stomach. I yelled “his leg is broken, his leg is broken” to Amy and I watched him try to keep standing. Finally the trainers and other coaches got him to go over to the bench where they could look at his leg/knee.
What I love about Joe is he is such a strong and positive role model. He wanted to stay strong for the team by trying to stand. He did show his fear or his pain, or even want to sit down. After he flew back to State College, Joe had surgery on Sunday and while in the hospital, started preparing for the next game on Sunday. He is not flashy, he is not concerned about money, and he just wants to keep doing what he loves. I can only hope I live to his age and can still be as happy with my favorite pastime as he is. Feel better Joe!
[tags]Joe Paterno, Penn State, PSU[/tags]
coach of the year: Joe Paterno.
Not surprising to me, but finally Joe Paterno gets the respect he deserves: Coach of the Year. Good job Joe. I never doubted you. PS. Happy birthday Joe Pa!
Why I love Joe: he makes me want to be a better person.
(from ESPN article):
Now Paterno is in vogue again. Maybe more than ever.
The doubters who cried for change, who thought Paterno was hurting the school by refusing to let go, have had to eat their words.
But don’t expect Paterno to call out his critics.
“To be honest, I really have never thought that way. It’s not my nature,” he said. “I’m not a vindictive guy. I don’t read the papers. I realize the media’s got a job to do and I realize the alumni, if they’re interested in your program, are going to die when you lose and so forth, and a lot of them get carried away.
“What good does it do for me to say, ‘I told you so.'”