Joe Paterno on his dalliance with Michigan, supporting Rich Rodriguez
Paterno said he met with then Michigan athletic director Don Canham in Pittsburgh after the 1968 season.
“We talked, and he offered me the job when they hired Bo Schembechler,” Paterno said. ”And once a year Don used to write me a letter and say, ‘Thanks.’”
Paterno, in his 43rd year at Penn State, joked that he might not have lasted as long as he has if he'd gone to Michigan.
“If I could have gotten rid of some of the guys out there, I might have - in the press - I might have,” Paterno said. “I thought they were pretty tough on Rich (Rodriguez) last year, but that's beside the point.”
Michigan (5-2, 1-2) is one win away from bowl eligibility after going 3-9 last year in Rodriguez's first season.
"My first year people wanted to get rid of me," Paterno said. "I lost five games the first year I coached. Next year we only lost two. I think it takes a while sometimes for kids to get adjusted to a different style, different interpretation of certain situations that arrive in a game or in practice and so forth.
"I think if you look at Rich's record ... he's had a history of maybe the first year hasn't been the one that everybody would like to have, but his second year he's had football teams."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
tresselowns
Sat, Oct 24, 2009 : 12:03 a.m.
My father was in the Penn St Blue Band in 1966, and Joe Paterno was the head coach--the head coach. Dad died last year and Joe Pa is still the head coach. That's amazing longevity. One of his fondest memories was going to Columbus when they beat #1 OSU 28-0. Any PSU fans remember that?
azwolverine
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 9:29 p.m.
JoPa is unquestionably a great coach and a class act and, as some have already said, PSU should be very proud to have him as the face of their university. How about former UM athletic director Don Canham? He offers the job to Paterno, then gets Bo. Not bad either way you slice it. I like the fact that he sent Paterno letters every year saying "thanks." Classic. Paterno is awesome, and I have great respect for the PSU program...that's why I want Michigan to pound them into the turf tomorrow. Go Blue!!!
Neptune
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 6:26 p.m.
I think it's worth noting that from a more objective viewpoint outside our immediate community, that it's pretty obvious that the witch hunting, bush league journalists bashing Rich Rod, are way over the top. Kudos to legendary Joe Pa for calling BS when he sees it. Too bad more (fair weather),so called M fans don't.
NC Wolverine 20
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 6:25 p.m.
dzuck: I'm not sure I would lump PSU and FSU together. Academically, Penn State would be a well-respected university with or w/o Paterno. FSU, OTOH, would have very little reputation at all if Bowden had not put it on the map.
81wolverine
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:27 p.m.
It's hard to believe Joe Vs. Woody would have been as entertaining as Bo vs. Woody was. But, Woody's blind hatred of Michigan and everyone/everything in the state would certainly have kept up his end of the rivalry regardless of who coached U-M.
Fresh121
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:05 p.m.
As a michigan fan, I think joe pa is a class act but sometimes like him and bobby bowden ur both older, and ur Assistants are doing alot of the work and either good or bad the head coach is getting the credit.Just a few short years ago joe pa was underfire about bein past his prime(personally i think he needs to let someone else take over) He had more then a few players in trouble with the law, it dident look good for him but then he pulled of A winning seasons..as bowden cant have a positive season and save his job as he also is past his time also.....but anyway we beat Penn ST and RR gets alittle more respect he deserves......Go Blue
blueiniowa
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 1:59 p.m.
JoePa, The Bear, and Bobby Bowden are the Alexander the Greats of College Football. Nobody stands higher in the Pantheon. They did more for their schools as football coaches than any Trustee or President could ever hope to accomplish. I hope those who ask 'what have you done for me lately?' are reminded this by others. What if JoePa had taken the job here? Instead of Bo, Woody Vs. Joe? Where does Bo end up? Does JoePa stay at MI for 40+ years? A scholarly paper could spring from all the questions.
81wolverine
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 1:22 p.m.
That's a funny story about Don Canham sending him a thank you note every year for turning down the job! Joe Pa's longevity at Penn State really is amazing. It's good to see that Penn State is not trying to force him out in a classless manner like the Florida State people are trying to do to Bobby Bowden. Of course winning consistently with no scandals helps to keep the negative-nellies away. Joe Pa has surrounded himself with great assistant coaches who have done a great job - give them credit for that. But, it won't be enough to win this weekend. Michigan by a touchdown.
MiamiBlue
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 12:45 p.m.
Actually MichFan4BorW, As a loyal Maize and Blue fan I really don't have a problem with Dantonio of MSU BUT what I do have a problem with are the MSU FANS. I have never experienced more vitriol, out right hatred for our program, our coach and our fans as I have with Spartan fans. Even OSU fans pale in comparison with them! As I stated above, Joe Pa is a class act! Let's GO BLUE!
MichFan4BorW
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 12:31 p.m.
Exactly. PSU has been a successful program over the years, and while I want Michigan to beat PSU when they play heads-up, I can say I root for PSU at all other times b/c of Joe Paterno. He's a CLASS act all the way. Conversely, I have a hard time rooting for MSU simply BECAUSE of M. Dantonio. I understand he has passion for beating Michigan, but I think he goes about it in a CLASSLESS way. I think COACES are TEACHERS and MENTORS for these young men and should NEVER get in verbal arguments with PLAYERS; Dantonio's belittling Mike Hart (about his height?!?) in RETALIATION to Hart's "sibling" comments about MSU was IMMATURE, CLASSLESS, and nearly JUVENILE. I think his "3-9" comment last year after his loss to PSU provides more evidence of his low character. Blow out someone else's candle to make yours shine brighter, right, Coac D.? Then Dantonio's handling of the situation involving Glen Winston, after Winston went out of his way to attack a different Spartan student-athlete (hockey player A.J. Sturges) and subsequently offered ZERO apologies to the victim, proved inadequate and hypocritical. Dantonio talks about the "family environment" at MSU but it apparently has room only for his football players who help him win; otherwise, Coach D. would have made Winston at least apologize personally and publicly to A.J. Sturges. It appears karma eventually provided the true justice here by taking Winston out of football for the next 8 months after Dantonio had invested so much effort "coaching" him back from jail. Humble pie, Winston. That's what it was. That's what happens when Dantonio values the skills a player provides on the field far more than he values the character (or lack thereof in Winston's case) inside that player. I expect the uneducated MSU fans who respond to this post to IMMEDIATELY start attacking Coach Rodriguez based on free press "journalism" that is anything BUT real journalism. The more reasonable MSU fans will instead defend Dantonio using logic and facts rather than attack Michigan or its coach using pure emotion (insecurity). I'll also try to anticipate MSU feedback by pointing out that R. Robinson was a player and NOT a coach/mentor. It doesn't excuse his behavior, but my post holds coaches to a higher standard.
UMFAN22
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 10:47 a.m.
You should tag Rothstein in this arcticle, because Joe Pa is talking about him, and the rest of the Freep.
MiamiBlue
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 10:32 a.m.
I bleed Maize and Blue all the way. But I have to say this, Joe Pa is a class act! Showing his support for Coach Rod truly shows the class act and character that Joe Pa has. PSU fans, you got yourself a great coach! Now I hope we Wolverines kick your teams ass this week Coach Paterno! Let's Go Blue!