OJ McDuffie sums it up....

by pic15 on Sep 10, 2008 2:14 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=848489

OJ McDuffie quote from Steve Megargee article regarding Paterno contract status:

"Obviously with what he's done for the university, he deserves to be able to go out on his own terms no matter what," said O.J. McDuffie, an All-America wide receiver in 1992 who ranks second in school history with 1,988 career receiving yards. "They've already tried to get rid of Joe a few times. I know for a fact they have tried to get rid of Joe a few times, and it's ridiculous to try to get rid of a man who's done so much for the university off the field and what he's done on the field.

"Three years ago when (former quarterback) Mike Robinson was here, we're one game away from playing for the national championship. And you're trying to get rid of the man? It doesn't make any sense. He's still bringing in some good recruits. It's sad. It really is sad. It's personal to me."

Gotta Love OJ and respect what he has to say about the old man!

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One Opinion on the Matter....

I couldn’t agree more with everything O.J. has said regarding JoePa’s importance to Penn St on the field, and more importantly off the field. He has done so much for the University and local community that words can’t sum it up in a blog.

But if you look at the big picture in the long run I have to disagree with O.J.‘s comments. The game is different, the times are different, and Penn State over the past decade has been thought up as a second tier team trying to crack the top 25 and people have become content with meaningless bowl games. College Football is works in cycles and whats up must go down and vice versa. We were down, now we have an opportunity to and right to get back up to a top tier team that is in the top 10 year after year, hunting for a national title. Paterno can’t be as active on the recruiting field as our HC needs to be and the favoritism with our coaches needs to change in certain areas. This debate has and will continue to go on long after Paterno is out at HC, but as much as I respect the man, I feel it is time to look for a new HC who has the same morals as JoePa on and off the field.

We have a team that may win the Big 10 title, I hope we take it all the way, I think we have the talent and experience. Even if that does happen, I believe Joe should end on a high note and walk away. I’m afraid of another potential 03-04 yrs that could be on the outlook over the next 5 yr span. How do others feel about the situation?

by Craig07 on Sep 10, 2008 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

with all of your statements…

by han_solo on Sep 10, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re definitely right.

The game has changed considerably since 2005 when we were 0:01 away from an undefeated team.

by Tailgate Shogun on Sep 10, 2008 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

PSU fans are spoiled...

There are a lot of programs that would DIE to go 11-1 in 2005, 9-4 in 06 and 07 and have GREAT potential to make a BCS game in 2008. Even if we lose OSU and Wisconsin (which in my opinion is not a given OR LIKELIHOOD), 10-2 puts Joe and the Lions in a BCS bowl. 03 and 04 were flukes and had a LOT to do with injuries and players leaving the program. Jesus…..how many games did we have to endure Ganter at QB in 04 due to Erazamous James taking out our #1 and #2 QB? Whether we think a younger guy like Schiano or Bradley could make Penn State into a Florida or Ohio State….. Joe HAS EARNED the right to go out on his own terms when he deems necessary!

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Sep 10, 2008 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe is the TRUTH

Joe has earned a pass man.. Before him PSU wasn’t shit… It still might not be shit.. in my opinion he has built the program and the school!!!

by smashmouthsteel on Sep 10, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

PSU was not one game away from the MNC

Even if Penn State wins that hack-job game against Michigan, I doubt seriously that they would be in the Rose Bowl (that year’s MNC host). USC and UT were ranked 1 and 2 all year and no one was jumping them, period.

In fact, I even remember talk from radio guys, many of whom had votes, that even if USC or Texas lost late in the year they would probably keep them in the top two, ahead of the other one loss, Penn State.

I honestly believe there was nothing PSU could have done to get into the MNC that year.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Sep 10, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Losing to Michigan

Was the best thing that happened that year to our fans. Can you imagine reliving the 1994 hoopla over going undefeated and not making it to the NC game? That would be almost too much to bear. This way we lose a close conference game and squeak one out against Bowden for old time’s sake.

I would have loved to see Texas vs. PSU in 2005 though…

by millzners on Sep 10, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, but that’s a bit besides the point. Even without a shot at the MNC, we STILL would have had an undefeated team, which last time I checked was still pretty damn impossible to do these days.

by Tailgate Shogun on Sep 10, 2008 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We'd done okay against Texas

USC would have blown us out bad.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Sep 10, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How do you figure....

We had a better defense than Texas…..easily….plus MRob would have posed the same problem as Vince Young did. I think either game would have been fun to watch.

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?

by pic15 on Sep 10, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not so fast my friend

As I recall, the computers loved us that year despite the loss we were 1 or 2 in some of them. If that team was undefeated there was a good chance they would have made the Rose Bowl. Factor in the potential emotional vote in the human polls for JoePa get a shot at the title could have sealed the deal.

by PSU Nick on Sep 10, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin

It was more if USC had lost to Fresno St is the one game where we would have then had a shot at the MNC. The Michigan game as much as it hurts us fans didn’t do anything but make us have 1 lose instead of 0, which as you stated would have just been a different headache.

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Sep 10, 2008 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Notre Dame

Also, Notre Dame should have beaten USC the same day we should have beat Michigan.

by PABroncofan on Sep 11, 2008 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the one game was tOSU-Texas

If jaOss (just another Ohio state school) had beat Texas & we beat an undefeated jaOss, we would be ahead of Texas even with the loss to Michigan.

by Elihu on Sep 11, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Schiano

How good is rutgers doing this year? we have a shot at joe going out on top……because of joe…..we are good this year because we recruited……good players…who did the recruiting? Joe……anyway you slice it the man is “the man”

by farrellpsu on Sep 12, 2008 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When I see

the Rich Rodriguez clusterfart, NIck Saban’s carpet-bagging, and Dave Wannstadt losing to Bowling Green, any faint thoughts of wanting JoePa to retire disappear. Enjoy this, we’re likely never to see this again in our lifetimes. I figure if the top brass didn’t have the cojones to fire him after 2004, then he can coach as long as he wants to.

Change isn’t always good, look at the Michigan QB showboating against Miami-OH at 0:43 into this video. Compare to Evan Royster acting like he’s been there before vs. Oregon St.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fldRKANiqbs

by Joe 96alum on Sep 12, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs