THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
So I finally get a normal day off and my wife and I are on exodus from our two sons. We've just finished some Christmas shopping and we're going to some swanky restaurant for dinner. All is good ... my cell phone rings. It's a fellow Penn State beat reporter. I ignore it. It rings one minute later. Same guy. I answer it. Did you hear Paterno got a three-year contract extension? F---. I check my cell again. I have four missed calls. Doh! I check my office voicemail. Four missed calls. Why don't I have a Blackberry? Oh, right, I work for a newspaper.
I call the missed calls back and all my other sources. No one's answering. Heck, I'm going to dinner. I have the best Striped Bass I've ever had. We're driving home. My editor calls. Did you hear? Yeah, I'm (kinda) working on it. Penn State just released a statement. OK, I'll be home in an hour. I'll have the story to you asap. (Here's the end result, this morning's story.)
Another great day off.
This is what it's like covering Penn State football. I'm not complaining (sorta). I love it. But I'm not sure if I can take another three years of the Paterno watch, because that's what it's going to be (By the way, there are several reporters who have been on this beat for years, God bless their hearts). When you cover Penn State you are, of course, covering the team, but more important, you are covering an icon. His every move is followed like he's the President. His every move is diagnosed like a Beatles cover album. You're always on call. The Internet hasn't helped. But you get to cover an legend, godangit. It's a blessing and a curse.
So what does this extension mean? No much really. Every one knew he was getting it. Well, we thought he'd get the one year, maybe another. The other two? They're just for show. They're for the recruits. Of course, who here thinks Joe -- barring unforeseen events -- doesn't last those three years? Raise your hands. Didn't think so. The clause in the contract that says both sides can re-evaluate the contract, perhaps cutting it short or adding years was at the behest of the administration. They need an out in case Joe gets sick, insane, says something crazy in public ("Ahh, a girl knocks on your door ..."), ten players get arrested for rape in one weekend spree or the team goes 0-12 next season. Those are about the only things that could keep Paterno from not finishing out the contract.
So it's three more years -- at least (!). I thought I could outlast him. Many reporters felt the same way. They could not. I'll try my best. But it should be an interesting three years. Hope my marriage survives.
Penn State University president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley announced today an agreement that will provide for the opportunity of coach Joe Paterno leading the football program through the 2011 season. It was also agreed that the parties might re-evaluate their circumstances and alter the arrangement by either shortening or extending its length as necessary.
Kevin Newsome Jr., a top dual-threat quarterback, announced he will attend elected Penn State at a news conference in Chesapeake, Va..
Newsome, a 6-3, 217-pounder who runs a 4.57-second 40, had narrowed his choices down to Penn State and Virginia Tech. He originally committed to Michigan in his junior year but decommitted over the summer.
Check out his highlight reel below and imagine him replacing Daryll Clark at quarterback in two seasons.
Most of the e-mails I receive from readers are usually of the "you suck" kind. Every now and then, however, I'll get a doozy or two. In light of Pat Devlin's transferring out of Penn State one reader, an alum, composed a funny little poem about the dearth of Irishmen to thrive at Penn State under coach Joe Paterno. It's a tongue-in-cheek ditty, so please don't take offense. Give us your best Penn State poem. Now laugh away ...
Most Old Lions Know
The "real issue" with Joe
And those called PaternO
Is: "No Irish need ApplyO."
To the Rose Bowl we go
Where the Claret Winds blow,
With Jay and Old Joe,
But no Mcs in tow,
As the Blue makes its stand
In that hostile Red land,
Let's all raise a bumper
To Ed Monaghan!
There will obviously be more fallout from the Pat Devlin transferring debacle (and that's a debacle created from both sides), but here's this morning's story on what occurred over the last few days that led to Devlin's leaving Penn State. There's more to the story -- some of it I couldn't write, some of it to come -- but the divorcing was something that obviously shouldn't have happened had either side handled the situation properly. It appears neither side wanted this, but egos and agendas got in the way and one thing led to another and Devlin was gone. Too bad, really. I'll have more as the day progresses, but a full story will be in tomorrow's paper.
News breaks fast, but we still have to report it around here. So while the message boards were atwitter with gossip over Pat Devlin's transfer, we went about our old school ways of reporting the story. That's why you'll have to wait until tomorrow's newspaper to read it. I know, that's a day late and a dollar short. Nevertheless, here's a tease:
The source said Devlin was never comfortable with quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno and relied more on the advice of wide receivers coach and former Penn State quarterback Mike McQueary and offensive coordinator Galen Hall.
"The relationship was never forged with him and his quarterbacks coach," said Mike Matta, Devlin's coach at Downingtown East.
Check back tomorrow for the entire story.
I kid Pete Carroll. He's no cheat. Just ask Reggie Bush. OK, bad choice. Anyway, here's this morning's story on the two coaches that will be at the center of the Rose Bowl -- USC's Pete Carroll and Penn State's Joe Paterno. One would think there are vast differences between the high-profile coaches. In truth, there are not. They're college football coaches, after all. In many ways they are of the same breed. Read on.
The Rose Bowl is shaping up to be a dandy of game and it could have further drama with Joe Paterno's game day whereabouts still in question. Last night, the Penn State coach said that he planned on being on the sidelines after undergoing hip replacement surgery two weeks ago. Paterno spent the last seven games of the season coaching from the press box. It would be understandable if he didn't make it back to the field by Jan. 1.
Penn State and Southern Cal, meanwhile, are gearing up for what should be a highly-anticipated showdown. Both teams could make the argument that they belong in the national championship game. Neither Paterno nor Trojans coach Pete Carroll made that plea last night, but Carroll did say the Rose Bowl could be the "best game in the country." Those aren't neccessarily BCS fighting words, but he's obviously making the claim that the game could rival the national title game between Florida and Oklahoma. That may be overstating things. We shall see.
I just e-mailed my Associated Press ballot in and there was some shake-up at the top, obviously, after yesterday's games. Florida is the new No. 1. Alabama, after losing to the Gators, drops to No. 4. I still have Texas ranked ahead of Oklahoma at No. 2, even though it looks like the Sooners will wind up No. 2 in the BCS standings and thus in the national championship game. Penn State remains at No. 6 right behind its opponent in the Rose Bowl, Southern Cal. Here's the ballot in its entirety:
1. Florida (12-1)
2. Texas (11-1)
3. Oklahoma (12-1)
4. Alabama (12-1)
5. Southern Cal (11-1)
6. Penn State (11-1)
7. Texas Tech (11-1)
8. Ohio State (10-2)
9. Boise State (12-0)
10. Utah (12-0)
11. Cincinnati (11-2)
12. TCU (10-2)
13. Oklahoma State (9-3)
14. Georgia Tech (9-3)
15. Oregon (9-3)
16. Georgia (9-3)
17. BYU (10-2)
18. Michigan State (9-3)
19. Pittsburgh (9-3)
20. Northwestern (9-3)
21. Mississippi (8-4)
22. Ball State (12-1)
23. Virginia Tech (9-4)
24. Missouri (9-4)
25. Iowa (8-4)
Well, it looks like we have some sort of finality to the BCS madness, although Texas (and others) will have plenty to gripe about. But after yesterday's games -- barring any sort of crazy turn of events -- we have our BCS lineup. The official pairings will be announced tonight at 8:20 p.m., but why wait? Here are the likely games:
Rose Bowl: Penn State (11-1) vs. Southern Cal (11-1), Jan. 1 at 5:10 p.m.
Orange Bowl: Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (9-4), Jan. 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama (12-1) vs. Utah (12-0), Jan. 2 at 8 p.m.
Fiesta Bowl: Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2), Jan. 5 at 8 p.m.
BCS Championship: Florida (12-1) vs. Oklahoma (12-1), Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. in Miami.
