Why was Joe Paterno the Greatest Football Coach That Ever Lived?

[Sophiebabybob]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,

If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

 

[psu1969a]

He won 409 D1 games, but others have won more in lower divisions. What made Joe outstanding was his belief in creating fine young men. His philosophy epitomized the concept of student-athlete.

 

[mbahses]

Joe was an educator and philanthropist first and second, and the Greatest Coach of All Time third. Joe was responsible for bringing CFB into the modern era.

 

[PSU73]

It's debatable and depends on what the definition of greatest is.
I'd like to see a poll on who was the greatest football coach that never lived.

 

[LionJim]

It's debatable and depends on what the definition of greatest is.
I'd like to see a poll on who was the greatest football coach that never lived.

Coach Nickerson, Coach Taylor, or Coach D'Amato? I vote for Coach Nickerson.

 

[mbahses]

Coach Nickerson, Coach Taylor, or Coach D'Amato? I vote for Coach Nickerson.

Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban (cheat), Jim Tressel (cheat), Urban Meyer (cheat).

 

[bmw199]

Your question seems to suggest at any level.. And I would say no. He certainly had consistency and success in 4 decades which is incredible. No one is going to like this answer but what Pete Carroll is doing right now is really incredible. After having a dynasty as USC, which he probably cheated at, now he has one going in the NFL. That is pretty incredible. Other great football coaches to consider: Belichek, Lombardi, Bear, Saban, Walsh.

As others have pointed out Joe was by far the best educator. Which in terms of a college coach makes him number 1. Just in football though I don't know that you can say that.

 

[CF LION]

Coach Nickerson, Coach Taylor, or Coach D'Amato? I vote for Coach Nickerson.

Hayden Fox?

 

[Obliviax]

First, I would say that Joe was the greatest "college" football coach of all time. Why? I have to agree with mbahses above. It's because he was a successful win/loss coach but in his several decades of coaching college ball, he never lost sight of the fact that they were "student/athletes" and not semi-pro players. He always put the player and education above the game. (and several of his losses were a result of this).

 

[fairgambit]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,
If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

Reflecting what others have said, I consider him the greatest college football coach that ever lived. A college coach, by definition, should be more than an X and O guy. He should be one who values academics and instills that value into his players. No one did that better than Joe Paterno. Add in his philanthropy which was directed toward the betterment of Penn State for all students, not just football players, and Joe has no peers. Given the nature of college athletics today, and the win at all cost mentality, I doubt we will ever see another coach like him.

 

[Obliviax]

Reflecting what others have said, I consider him the greatest college football coach that ever lived. A college coach, by definition, should be more than an X and O guy. He should be one who values academics and instills that value into his players. No one did that better than Joe Paterno. Add in his philanthropy which was directed toward the betterment of Penn State for all students, not just football players, and Joe has no peers. Given the nature of college athletics today, and the win at all cost mentality, I doubt we will ever see another coach like him.

That's right...and if I can add.....today a good college coach brings in money to help support the overall health of the institution and allowing more students to participate. i think that it is clear that no coach ever meant more to a university in helping them advance that prime directive through a football program. (one can argue other universities have made more money, ohio state, ND, USC, etc., these are not attributable to one coach).

 

[psu00]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,

If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

I think these type questions are almost impossible to answer. People weigh different factors differently. Comparing different eras is a mess (1920s vs 1980s etc). Comparing NFL to college D1 to the lower divisions creates difficulty. I certainly think he's in that upper group of greatest coaches but I think it's impossible to say coach X is the greatest ever.

That said, looking at D1 college football, I think he was clearly one of the top 3- not just because of his all time wins record but because of his focus on academics for his players and his actions to improve the university (like his and Sue's support for the library). What other football coach quoted the Aeneid, the Odyssey and the classics? I'd say none in his era. He truly focused on the student athlete (not just lip service) and also won games. Not many other coaches can say the same.

 

[m.knox]

I am skeptical if this question is genuine.

 

[fairgambit]

I am skeptical if this question is genuine.

Yes, I kind of felt that way too, but I will give the OP the benefit of the doubt and I saw no harm in sharing my thoughts.

 

[LionJim]

Hayden Fox?

Hayden Fox used to be Coach Nickerson; he changed his identity when angry fans ran him out of town (after he left Ampipe).

 

[dawgduice]

If I was asked that question 20 years ago, the answer was obvious.

 

[BobPSU92]

Simple.

409

The Grand Experiment

Success With Honor

Teaching

Philanthropy

Ethics

Loyalty

Class

 

[Mr. Potter]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,

If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

Just Because.

That's like asking why is the sky blue, why is water wet, why did Judas go to the Romans while Jesus wept?

 

[Mr. Potter]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,

If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

If you want a good story you can email me at blatsteinb@yahoo.com, to talk. I know it would interest you because I was asked for a penn state book to publish but I would not give permission. But for a Joe Pa book your in.

 

[psu1969a]

Coach Nickerson, Coach Taylor, or Coach D'Amato? I vote for Coach Nickerson.

and what planet have you been living on for the past 50 years?

 

[marshall23]

Joe Paterno was the greatest Teacher-Coach of all time at the D1 level. I would consider Eddie Robinson in that conversation however.

 

[PSU73]

and what planet have you been living on for the past 50 years?

Coach Nickerson, Coach Taylor, or Coach D'Amato? I vote for Coach Nickerson.

Planet Hollywood.

 

[21Guns]

In his PRIME, 1966-1999, he was the second greatest collegiate coach ever, only behind Bear Bryant, who, unfortunately, he never figured out how to beat. I believe Joe would have EVENTUALLY beaten the Bear had the Bear not tragically passed away, but we will never know.
They were two very different coaches, and the difference was tiny, tiny, tiny, but the slight edge to Bryant for winning the head to head games. Again this is Joe's PRIME, which I have as 1966 to 1999. I do not count the years from 2000 to 2011, as those were years in which his greatness declined, for many and various reasons. Yes, there were good seasons such as 02, 05, 08 and 09, but there were also very very poor seasons, such as 00, 01, 03, and 04. From 66 to 99, the great seasons outnumbered the poor seasons, by a large, large margin.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

I am skeptical if this question is genuine.

Sorry you feel that way I would love to hear a great heartfelt story from you!

 

[Sophiebabybob]

and what planet have you been living on for the past 50 years?

Guess you have nothing to add so I don't have to hear from you again!

 

[BUFFALO LION]

To Joe Paterno Players, Students and Fans,

If you have any great stories you want to share, may it be personal, professional, friends or family, I would love you to post. I am doing a collection for a book . All stories will be reviewed and will be published in a book with your permission and your name.

Let's put it this way. If I was a College President, and I wanted to start a College Football Team, and I could hire anyone in the History of College or Professional Football to be its Head Coach, I would hire Joe Paterno. He had the greatest combination of coaching ability, academic integrity, loyalty, skill identification, clean recruiting approach, morality, and in-game, halftime adjustment capability of any coach that ever lived.

Would he have made it in the pros?? We will never know. But we know one thing. He sure made it in College. And whereas the Bear had to admittedly buy players at Texas A&M to win before he escaped to the safety of Alabama, Joe brought them to Penn State by simply speaking to the Parents about the quality education their son would get, and complimenting Mama's spaghetti.

Yes. Joe was simply the Greatest Football Coach of all time. We were truly blessed at Penn State to call him our own.

Thanks Joe. You will never be forgotten. We truly and sincerely miss you. God Bless.

 

[fairgambit]

Let's put it this way. If I was a College President, and I wanted to start a College Football Team, and I could hire anyone in the History of College or Professional Football to be its Head Coach, I would hire Joe Paterno. He had the greatest combination of coaching ability, academic integrity, loyalty, skill identification, clean recruiting approach, morality, and in-game, halftime adjustment capability of any coach that ever lived.

Would he have made it in the pros?? We will never know. But we know one thing. He sure made it in College. And whereas the Bear had to admittedly buy players at Texas A&M to win before he escaped to the safety of Alabama, Joe brought them to Penn State by simply speaking to the Parents about the quality education their son would get, and complimenting Mama's spaghetti.

Yes. Joe was simply the Greatest Football Coach of all time. We were truly blessed at Penn State to call him our own.

Thanks Joe. You will never be forgotten. We truly and sincerely miss you. God Bless.

Well said.

 

[L.T. Young]

Joe was an educator and philanthropist first and second, and the Greatest Coach of All Time third. Joe was responsible for bringing CFB into the modern era.

Please clarify how he brought CFB into the modern era?

 

[mbahses]

Please clarify how he brought CFB into the modern era?

Check out SI and other rags. Post #2.

 

[BobPSU92]

Let's put it this way. If I was a College President, and I wanted to start a College Football Team, and I could hire anyone in the History of College or Professional Football to be its Head Coach, I would hire Joe Paterno. He had the greatest combination of coaching ability, academic integrity, loyalty, skill identification, clean recruiting approach, morality, and in-game, halftime adjustment capability of any coach that ever lived.

Would he have made it in the pros?? We will never know. But we know one thing. He sure made it in College. And whereas the Bear had to admittedly buy players at Texas A&M to win before he escaped to the safety of Alabama, Joe brought them to Penn State by simply speaking to the Parents about the quality education their son would get, and complimenting Mama's spaghetti.

Yes. Joe was simply the Greatest Football Coach of all time. We were truly blessed at Penn State to call him our own.

Thanks Joe. You will never be forgotten. We truly and sincerely miss you. God Bless.

Outstanding!

 

[BobPSU92]

Please clarify how he brought CFB into the modern era?

Please clarify why you are here, mr. two posts.

 

[L.T. Young]

Please clarify why you are here, mr. two posts.

So even a simple question about football, on message board which exists for such discussions, is met with paranoia and contempt?

 

[mick8844]

It's just a damn shame that it ended as it did with that damn pervert Sandusky. It changed many people's mind about Joe. The media still will not use his name in a positive manner, in fact they just ignore it.

 

[BobPSU92]

It's just a damn shame that it ended as it did with that damn pervert Sandusky. It changed many people's mind about Joe. The media still will not use his name in a positive manner, in fact they just ignore it.

One thing that has changed is now that the wins were properly restored, btn has the courage -- They still suck -- to air those games. Just last night, they showed the 2008 game against Tosu, twice. Aside from re-watching a great win, it was nice to see those shots of Joe in the press box and hearing the announcers speak positively about him, as they still should.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

He was a really great football coach, until the last 15 years. At that point, PSU no longer had a great coach, and on offense the staff was very dysfunctional. Until Lloyd Carr retired, PSU could count on an L vs. Michigan as soon as the game was scheduled. It was almost the same story with Iowa, but not as extreme. Some coaches were able to get into Joe's head at the end, which was no longer indicative of a great coach. In fact, I would argue that Tressel was the last great B1G HC who Joe ever outcoached, as he let Joe pull him into field position battles in '05 and '08. Other than that, PSU was mostly beating B1G teams on talent and not coaching. There were some impressive bowl wins in that time, as he was still good at getting ready for those. Week-to-week he was not that great anymore.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

Hayden Fox used to be Coach Nickerson; he changed his identity when angry fans ran him out of town (after he left Ampipe).

Thank you no interest in hearing back from you.

It's just a damn shame that it ended as it did with that damn pervert Sandusky. It changed many people's mind about Joe. The media still will not use his name in a positive manner, in fact they just ignore it.

. I think it's time that we hear great stories about a man that cared about college football as one said he had the greatest combination of coaching, academic, integrity, loyalty etc. that we will never see again.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

Outstanding!

Great summary.

and what planet have you been living on for the past 50 years?

Don't need you to waste my time on looking at your negative spin on life. Thank you and have a beautiful day.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

It's just a damn shame that it ended as it did with that damn pervert Sandusky. It changed many people's mind about Joe. The media still will not use his name in a positive manner, in fact they just ignore it.

I not going to have him ignored if just give me a great Joe Pa story that works for me.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

Let's put it this way. If I was a College President, and I wanted to start a College Football Team, and I could hire anyone in the History of College or Professional Football to be its Head Coach, I would hire Joe Paterno. He had the greatest combination of coaching ability, academic integrity, loyalty, skill identification, clean recruiting approach, morality, and in-game, halftime adjustment capability of any coach that ever lived.

Would he have made it in the pros?? We will never know. But we know one thing. He sure made it in College. And whereas the Bear had to admittedly buy players at Texas A&M to win before he escaped to the safety of Alabama, Joe brought them to Penn State by simply speaking to the Parents about the quality education their son would get, and complimenting Mama's spaghetti.

Yes. Joe was simply the Greatest Football Coach of all time. We were truly blessed at Penn State to call him our own.

Thanks Joe. You will never be forgotten. We truly and sincerely miss you. God Bless.

 

[Sophiebabybob]

Buffalo Lion you are in the book. I need people like you to help shine the light on a man that gave his all to Penn State for 50plus years.