Just read this about Paterno, thought I would share

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TennVols423

TennVols423

FOREVER a VOL!
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#1
Updated: Dec. 7, 2006, 7:16 PM ET
Paterno's recovery ahead of scheduleAssociated Press


STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Joe Paterno arrived at Beaver Stadium in a wheelchair Thursday to talk about Penn State's trip to the Outback Bowl and was greeted by photographers snapping pictures.

It wasn't the way the 79-year-old coach wanted to start his first news conference since injuring his leg in a sideline accident last month.

"I want us to be talking about our football team and where we're going. The team we're going to play," Paterno said. "I don't think I should be in the spotlight."

Looking grandfatherly in a dark plaid sweater, Paterno was wheeled up a ramp to a microphone. He hadn't met with reporters since Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless and Wisconsin linebacker DeAndre Levy ran into him on the sidelines during the Lions' 13-3 loss to the Badgers on Nov. 4.

He had surgery the next day to repair a fractured shinbone and two torn knee ligaments. Doctors told him that he wouldn't be able to put weight on the leg for at least six weeks.

Paterno missed Penn State's game against Temple -- only the second game he's missed in 41 years as Nittany Lions head coach. He coached from the press box in Penn State's season finale against Michigan State.

Paterno was eager to talk football Thursday but was asked a few questions about the injury.

He said he had not been focusing on the field and had been barking out orders on the sideline when the players came barreling at him.

"I didn't see the kid from Wisconsin. I saw the tight end come over and got away from him," Paterno said. "I didn't think I got hurt that much. ... When I started to get up, I knew I had a good shot."

Paterno said his recovery is ahead of schedule. He put weight on the left foot for the first time on Wednesday, 10 days ahead of schedule.

Paterno has said that he is optimistic doctors will let him coach from his feet on the sidelines in Tampa.

And he's got no plans to step away from coaching. He turns 80 on Dec. 21.

"I'm not looking for it to being a problem. If it turns out being a problem, then obviously I'll back away and re-evaluate my situation," he said. "Right now, I'm planning to do exactly what I planned to do before I got injured."

He's also trying to devote more time to watching Tennessee, Penn State's Outback Bowl opponent on Jan. 1, on film. Penn State sealed its bowl berth before Thanksgiving, and since then the coaching staff had been looking at tapes of Tennessee and Auburn, another potential SEC opponent.

"We're a little bit behind where we wanted to be," Paterno said. "Everyone felt it would be Auburn. I'm trying to get caught up myself."

Penn State (8-4) is making back-to-back postseason trips for the first time since getting bowl bids to cap the 1998 and '99 campaigns.

Paterno's 362 career wins are three behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden among major college coaches. The Outback Bowl will mark Paterno's record 33rd postseason appearance; he's also the career leader in postseason victories (21).

Tennessee comes into the Outback Bowl with the 13th-best passing offense in the country.

"They're not that very far away from Michigan and Ohio State," Paterno said. The Lions lost to both Big Ten heavyweights this season."The offense is more like Ohio State in that they do so many things well," he said. "Defensively, they remind me of both of those teams ... the variety, the changes of pace they give you."
 
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"They're not that very far away from Michigan and Ohio State," Paterno said. The Lions lost to both Big Ten heavyweights this season."The offense is more like Ohio State in that they do so many things well," he said. "Defensively, they remind me of both of those teams ... the variety, the changes of pace they give you."

Flattery will get you no where, Joepa!!!
 
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A thread a few days ago wanted to know what Tennessee's National Reputation is.....there you go, from one of the best coaches in the country.
 
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#6
I think Paterno and Bowden should have retired.

I know they are chasing that all time wins record but I don't want to watch these guys fall apart on the sidelines from old age. They are both great coaches thats why they have lasted this long, but at 79, its time to retire.
 
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OrangeSquare said:
A thread a few days ago wanted to know what Tennessee's National Reputation is.....there you go, from one of the best coaches in the country.
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what did you expect him to say? they can't run the ball, their defense is helter/skelter at best and special teams has never been one of their strong suits!

I am sure its a different story in the team meetings.
 
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OrangeSquare said:
A thread a few days ago wanted to know what Tennessee's National Reputation is.....there you go, from one of the best coaches in the country.
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You haven't been watching college football if you don't recognize this as typical coach-speak, especially of old school coaches. He could be playing against Asuza-Pacific and would have said the same thing.
 
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I would never underestimate a team coached by Paterno, especially when you consider the Vols have never beat him.
 
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ok, we've never beaten him in a Bowl Game. sorry, didn't think to look at regular season stats.
 
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Godfatha said:
You haven't been watching college football if you don't recognize this as typical coach-speak, especially of old school coaches. He could be playing against Asuza-Pacific and would have said the same thing.
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:eek:k: :machgun: asuza pacific
 
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Paterno is classic. He's never going to come into a conference and say anything downgrading to a team. I'm sure when he played Temple he had nothing but nice words for them and said something like we need to be ready because there underrated.

Out of all the top notch coaches in the NCAA I respect him the most alot more than I do Bobbbbbby Bowden.
 
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Just to throw this out there for anyone who isn't used to a JoePa interview. He talks about every team we play like they will stomp us. He said we'd have to bring our A game against both Temple and Youngstown State.
 
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NittanyLions94 said:
Just to throw this out there for anyone who isn't used to a JoePa interview. He talks about every team we play like they will stomp us. He said we'd have to bring our A game against both Temple and Youngstown State.
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You mean he talks like a coach! :)
 
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OrangeSquare said:
A thread a few days ago wanted to know what Tennessee's National Reputation is.....there you go, from one of the best coaches in the country.
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You dont think he was purposly trying to stay away from bulletin board material do you? What did you expect him to say? "I think we beat Tennessee by 3 touchdowns"? I dont think those comments qualify as a good indicator of national perception in regards to our program.
 
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rexvol said:
You dont think he was purposly trying to stay away from bulletin board material do you? What did you expect him to say? "I think we beat Tennessee by 3 touchdowns"? I dont think those comments qualify as a good indicator of national perception in regards to our program.
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If they were negative comments, I somehow doubt you would feel the same way.
 
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vol_in_ar said:
Joe Pa and Bowden, who's ending up at the top of the wins list.
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Depends on whether this injury ends up forcing Paterno off the sideline (you never know how you're going to heal when you're 80 years old). Paterno survived losing seasons in three out of four years, only to win the Orange Bowl last yearl; the sharks are already circling around Bowden and he hasn't even had one losing season yet. If he can't get it turned around, I think he'll get forced out.

I'd like to see Paterno come back from this injury, coach a few more years, and finish up on top. I've got a lot of respect for him.
 
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i dont really respect weiss much, he has yet to win a big game then has the nerve to get on ESPN and say that a team that jumped them was at home eating cheeseburgers, but yet this is the same team that is playing in the NT game. Weiss maybe you should go back to NFL
 
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Charlie Weiss may be the most glorious fraud in modern collegiate football.

Since he assumed command, the Irish have lost to every good team they have played -- USC and OSU in 2005, and Michigan and USC this year. Since Weiss took over, the only team with fewer than four losses that the Irish have beaten is this year's 9-3 Navy team.

I admire his ability to parlay this mediocre record into a ten-year extension.
 
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