Don't go, Joe! 
by Jacob Oberdorf, Staff Writer
November 23, 2010
Over the past decade, Penn State’s head football coach Joe Paterno has received a lot of criticism. Many people, including fans and enemies alike, say Paterno is too old to coach and is hurting Penn State by staying.
The 83-year-old Paterno has seemed to silent his critics the past few years with Penn State’s top football programs in the country. He proved his greatness even more on Nov. 6 when JoePa became the first major college coach to win 400 games when Penn State rallied for a comeback victory against Northwestern.
Over Paterno’s 47-year career, he has accumulated the most bowl appearances along with the most bowl victories of all college coaches in NCAA history. Two of those bowl wins were for the national championships. Paterno also has accumulated more wins as head coach at Penn State than have many major college teams since Paterno assumed the reins in 1966.
Besides all of his on-the-field accomplishments, Paterno has made State College, Pa., a better place with his love for the community and his emphasis for academics. Paterno has led Penn State to rank among the top football programs in the country in player graduation rate. The Paterno Library, built with funds raised by Paterno and his wife along with several million dollars out of his own pocket, sits right across the street from the famous Penn State Creamery on the PSU campus.
Joe Paterno has not only become the face of Penn State football but of college football in general. Many people may crack jokes about him implying he has no business being on the sidelines. But in my opinion, Joe must be doing something right if people are so worried about breaking him down. Do you really think all of these people would be slinging half the criticism they do if he coached at New Mexico State?
Joe Paterno has made Penn State football a tradition that people look forward to experiencing every fall. I think Paterno shoud continue his work at PSU as long as he can. I know I speak for many people when I say that it will be a very sad day when JoePa does decide to retire from coaching. It will take a very long time for Penn State fans to get used to looking down at the sideline and not seeing Joe there.
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