Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno News Conference Comments
December 28, 2010
Opening statement:
“We’re a lot like Urban, we’ll have a tough practice today and it’s Tuesday of game week. Our kids have worked hard. We’ve spent a lot of time down in Clearwater. We’ve had about six practices down there and gave them off a couple of days and started back yesterday. I think we’re going to be ready. We’re banged up a little bit, but we have been most of the year. I think we’re getting a little better. I think we’re going to have a good football game. We’re a little better right now than we have been at different times this year. I think both teams will play well and the fans will enjoy it.”
On the state of college football:
“I’m worried about the game. I think football has had a dimension to it that is very, very meaningful to young people, particularly at that age when they have that competitive spark and an opportunity to understand what it is to be a part of something bigger than they are, to be a member of a team and a bunch of guys that go out there and make the kind of sacrifices that are necessary to be successful as a group. Sometimes you have to do some things that are very unselfish, take a back seat to somebody else. But there’s a feeling about being a part of a good program. I personally am very sad to see guys like Urban get out of coaching. We’re losing sight of it. If we’re not careful, we’re only in it for entertainment for television. You take those television cameras and they dominate some of these things, we’re playing at certain times. We’re playing games at ten o’clock at night. Ten o’clock at night? I’ll see the kickoff, I’ll be asleep. Hopefully we don’t diminish something that’s truly a great experience for kids.”
On Coach Urban Meyer:
“I have said this privately and publicly, and that’s why I hate to see him go, I think that Urban has been one of the innovators with some of the things they’ve done on the field. I haven’t been to his practices, but some of my coaches have had some experience with him. My son, Jay, worships the guy. I keep telling him, ‘Your old man’s a head coach too you know.’”
On assistant coach Galen Hall:
“I recruited Galen Hall in high school. Galen has a great football mind. He’s really good at teaching, the kids really like him. He’s great for the staff because he’s had a lot of ups and downs and he’s been through a lot of things. He’s been a real asset to our program.”
On when he will retire from Penn State:
“I don’t know Urban’s situation, but he’s got a lovely family, no question. I certainly have some empathy towards the way he wants to go. I’m being selfish when I say I hate to see guys like that leave the game. I’m different than Urban. I’ve got people calling up saying, ‘When the hell are you getting out?’ I’ve got a whole different slant on it. People think I’m going to quit this year or next year; I haven’t even thought of it. I, honest to goodness, have not thought of it. The situation around me is very stable. The athletic director is a kid I recruited as a walk-on. The coaches have been with me, I haven’t had a lot of guys leave. Our president has been with us now for 14 or 15 years. We have a lot of fun together. I don’t see any reason for getting out of it yet. We had a big problem in State College last week. Somebody said that I was down at Hershey Hospital. I was chewing out somebody for being late for a meeting. It’s ridiculous. I don’t know when I’ll get out, I honestly don’t know. I haven’t even thought about it yet.”
