This week David Jones of the HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS has a thoughtful piece on what appears to be the failing health of 83-year-old Joe Paterno.
Though putting it as delicately as possible, Jones description of Paterno’s Monday appearance at Big 10 media day in Chicago was ominous.
On Monday at the first of two Big Ten Football Kickoff interview sessions, Joe Paterno looked pretty good to the distant eye. Tanned, reasonably ambulatory. Some weight loss, but that’s fine.
It was when the always quick-witted Penn State football coach opened his mouth that everyone here opened theirs. In surprise.
Paterno sounded very much like something he never has — an old man. It was stunning and melancholy and not a pleasant sound.
It gets worse.
Now, he shows no pain at all. It’s just that his speech was slow and slightly slurred, and his intellect seemed a little dulled and delayed — something that’s never, ever been true.
A lot has been made about three promotional dates Paterno missed in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Hershey this summer. He spent a few moments trying to pooh-pooh concerns about his health but there were few laughs, something there have always been here.
“What did Mark Twain say? ‘Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated’ or something?
“I didn’t miss any time. The problem I had was not having control over some things, and I had to be careful I didn’t get into a situation where I would embarrass myself. I couldn’t make some public appearances. I didn’t want to be standing up here and then have to leave.”
Stomach ailments aside, he is 83½ and for the first time he looks it.
Jones was far from alone in his observation. Bernand Fernandez of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS also noted Paterno’s seemingly uncertain health after the coach’s Monday appearance. And Ron Musselman of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, via the omnipresent Jay Christensen of Wiz of Odds, recently reported that Paterno has not recruited on the road since January, 2008.
Then there’s my own source, a prominent college football media member who was also in Chicago to observe Paterno. His thoughts:
“It was very sad. He talked very softly. Didn’t have his normal fire and passon at all. I’d be shocked if he goes beyond this year.”
Here’s video of Paterno’s Monday appearance:
Hope we’re all wrong. Again.
8:05 pm on August 3rd, 2010
He looks and sounds like Abraham Simpson.
8:28 pm on August 3rd, 2010
Gotta say, for a guy in his 43rd year coaching who is 83+ yrs old, he looks pretty good. I haven’t followed him closely so I can’t speak to the degradation over the years…but I just don’t see how you’d expect much better than this. He seemed pretty sharp, given his age.
9:13 pm on August 3rd, 2010
David Jones is a hack.
9:15 pm on August 3rd, 2010
Agree with comment that Jones is a hack
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/540952/Giger–Up-close-and-personal–Paterno-looks-fine.html?nav=751
9:19 pm on August 3rd, 2010
He just sounds like he has had a few cold ones. Thats all. A little more slurred than usual, but no biggie. He still has the sense of humor. Had me crackin up when he said “It was a little bit below the intestines” “I really dont wanna get into it”. LOL!!!!!!! He just kinda reminds me of when Broadway Joe was twisted on National TV. “I wanna kiss you”.
9:48 pm on August 3rd, 2010
His intelligence was slowed? The guy remembered, out of freaking nowhere, Nebraska’s running back in 1950. The dude was tired, he’d flown in early from State College. The next day (today), when he was rested and fresh, he was back to his charming self. Jones is a self-touting douche, and celebrates in getting Penn State fans’ undies in a twist.
11:19 pm on August 3rd, 2010
Your “prominent college football media member” cough, cough, Herstreit, cough, cough is normally spot on. But I just think Joe needs to learn to cut short his tirades. He started out strong and faded in the middle only to finish strong again.
11:48 pm on August 3rd, 2010
Come to PENN STAAAATE!!!!
11:48 pm on August 3rd, 2010
Its obvious the rest of the coaching staff is carrying the duties and that should be fine I say. He has given so much to college football. I hope people will let him be and he can stay and do what he loves until he says otherwise.
6:54 am on August 4th, 2010
A rumor going around State College, Pennsylvania is that Joe is going to star in the next “Weekend at Bernies” movie.
Looks like he is almost ready for the part!
6:57 am on August 4th, 2010
I heard he has to be in the pressbox for games because they cannot put a porta-potty on the PSU sidelines during games!
7:22 am on August 4th, 2010
Obviously Paterno is mostly a figurehead now so I don’t see why his health is an issue. I mean, he’s going to coach until he dies or can’t get out of bed and I’m not sure of the latter. It’s not a story until then, before that it’s just filler.
8:06 am on August 4th, 2010
the red flags are there. he is going to get hurt on the sideline. at some point the school needs to say thats enough. time to move on.
8:23 am on August 4th, 2010
Utah gimme Two! Two!
9:08 am on August 4th, 2010
He sounds just fine
2:31 pm on August 4th, 2010
Fred,
He sounded fine?
He babbles and drools like my 83 year old grandfather, the guy is old and time to retire.
It’s a shame because he has had such a fine career but people will see him now as someone who cannot let go because he has an ego the size of Texas.
Maybe Joe will hang on for a few more years to ruin the program!
4:46 pm on August 4th, 2010
My only fear is that as long as they let him keep standing on the sideline he’s gonna get hurt. It’s a fact of football, sometimes players end up flying out of bounds.
Let him keep coaching until he dies or can’t get out of bed BUT, have him sit in the booth like he did a couple years ago when he broke his leg.
5:29 pm on August 4th, 2010
John Winch — JoePa has “an ego the size of Texas”? Since when? The guy donates almost all of his salary back to the university. He lives in a small house near campus and used to walk to practices (when he could still walk well). He’s as humble and modest as they come. I think you’re getting JoePa confused with Nick Saban.
The guy knows he’s going to die soon after he retires (ala Bear Bryant). He’s done nothing but coach football the past 40+ years, so it’s not like he has any hobbies or anyhing exciting to do all day during retirement. He doesn’t even do that much coaching anymore — his assistants cover that. Just look at it as Penn State letting the old man hang out on the sidelines for the rest of his life in return for all the years he’s given to the program.
6:39 pm on August 4th, 2010
What’s the Over/Under on JoePa making it to the end of the season?
October 15th
7:29 pm on August 4th, 2010
I go the school and he sounds exactly like he always sounds…hes 83 give him a break
7:31 pm on August 4th, 2010
i go to the school ^^^ my b
3:36 pm on August 5th, 2010
Wow - Penn State plays at Alabama????? They finally scheduled a real opponent in the non-conference schedule.
5:19 pm on August 11th, 2010
I do not agree with the “let him go on his terms” sentiment. Yes, JoePa built the program. And, his stubbornness to retire is hurting the program.