Very morbid viewpoint

by nitlion007 on Oct 15, 2008 5:57 PM EDT

I've actually said this to many of my Penn State friends, and now it looks as if my morbid theory on why Joe Paterno won't let go of his coaching job might have some truth to it. From a recent posting on deadspin, this is a quote from Brent Musberger talking on the Dan Patrick show:

"This is a tough one for me because I have to say up front that JoePa is a dear friend of mine...I'll tell your listeners the truth as to why he still does it. He is fearful — and he looks back at Bear Bryant as the example — he is fearful that he would not be with us if he stepped away. He is a man that doesn't fish, doesn't play golf...he has no other interest other than his family and football. And he's just afraid what would happen with the rest of his life if he walks away from it."

Yikes! Here's the link to the deadspin story:

http://deadspin.com/5064085/brent-musburger-offers-some-troubling-news-about-joe-paterno

Personally, Joe does eat, breathe and sleep football. I doubt fundraising for the school carries the same thrill of coaching on a Saturday for the school. Bear Bryant did die pretty much right after he left Alabama.

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I think Joe has pretty much admitted this in his own comments. Not really a surprise, at least not for me.

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 15, 2008 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

Seen it lots in the military

Some old guys that serve well over 20 years have heart attacks and croak after they get out because they missed the grind too much and couldn’t cope with the civilian lifestyle. Sounds strange but it happened a lot more than you would believe.

If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

by TheMightyErik on Oct 15, 2008 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I think this is the prevalent theory. I think half the world expects him to pass away during a game or while celebrating a victory (hopefully a national championship…in the 2026-2027 season)

by The JuggerNitt on Oct 15, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

Joe has said this before

There’s one big difference here- Joe doesn’t have cancer! When Bear left the game, he did so because he knew his time was up (probably because the doctors told him so).

Coaching football is the only thing Joe knows how to do. It’s all he wants to do.

Have you ever heard the expression ‘find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’? Joseph Vincent Paterno loves to teach kids how to play football and be better men. It’s what he does because it’s what he loves. The man has given so much to my University that I can’t possibly conceive of denying him the right to do what he loves until he’s ready to stop doing it. If that means he coaches until he knows he’s near death, then so be it. If he has done anything with his life, he’s earned the right to live on his own terms.

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Oct 15, 2008 9:49 PM EDT reply actions