October 9, 2008

What's the status of Joe Paterno?

Jay has a prettying interesting piece on the current state of affairs at Penn State.

Penn State is about to embark on the most crucial part of its season, but much of the focus this week has centered on Joe Paterno's deteriorating physical condition. Paterno has coached at least part of the last three games from the press box and from all indications he will be back upstairs for Saturday's game at Wisconsin.

Paterno, 81, is said to be slowed by an injury to his right knee. He has been hobbling badly this week and was forced to coach from a golf cart, an indication he is not getting better.

After Saturday's game at Purdue, Paterno wore unmatched shoes and used a lectern for support during his postgame news conference. He was helped to a waiting van afterward and whisked to the airport, where he boarded the university's private plane and was back in State College before his team left West Lafayette.

Paterno also left ahead of the team after the Sept. 13 game at Syracuse and has been doing his weekly radio show from home.

"Paterno's physical health has declined to the point where it could cause him to do something no one expected: retire of his own accord," writes Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

I must admit that I am deeply saddened to watch age get the better of JoPa. The vigor and pep that has defined Coach Paterno for decades - present just a few months ago - is absent from the 81-year-old coach. The decline in his health has been notably rapid over the last two months.

Paterno is determined to coach the remainder of the season, be it from a golf cart or the sky box, but it is become more and more apparent that the all-time winningest coach is nearing the end of his long and distinguished run.

Comments:

What's the status of Joe Paterno?
Jay has a prettying interesting piece on the current state of affairs at Penn State.
Penn State is about to embark on the most crucial part of its season, but much of the focus this week has centered on Joe Paterno's deteriorating physical condition. Paterno has coached at least part of the last three games from the press box and from all indications he will be back upstairs for Saturday's game at Wisconsin. Paterno, 81, is said to be slowed by an injury to his right knee. He has been hobbling badly this week and was forced to coach from a golf cart, an indication he is not getting better. After Saturday's game at Purdue, Paterno wore unmatched shoes and used a lectern for support during his postgame news conference. He was helped to a waiting van afterward and whisked to the airport, where he boarded the university's private plane and was back in State College before his team left West Lafayette. Paterno also left ahead of the team after the Sept. 13 game at Syracuse and has been doing his weekly radio show from home. "Paterno's physical health has declined to the point where it could cause him to do something no one expected: retire of his own accord," writes Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
I must admit that I am deeply saddened to watch age get the better of JoPa. The vigor and pep that has defined Coach Paterno for decades - present just a few months ago - is absent from the 81-year-old coach. The decline in his health has been notably rapid over the last two months. Paterno is determined to coach the remainder of the season, be it from a golf cart or the sky box, but it is become more and more apparent that the all-time winningest coach is nearing the end of his long and distinguished run.