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Paterno says he'll 'run out of that tunnel next year' as Nittany Lions coach
ESPN ^ | 11-21-08 | Ivan Maisel

Posted on 11/21/2008 9:20:16 PM PST by FlJoePa

With rumors of his retirement swirling about campus and throughout the country for days, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno told a pep rally at Rec Hall Friday night that he will return in 2009 "and run out of that tunnel next year."

The crowd of approximately 6,500 Penn State fans, some wearing "Joe Can't Go" t-shirts, roared its approval. The players for the No. 8 Nittany Lions (10-1), who can win at least a share of the Big Ten Conference championship and a Rose Bowl bid by defeating No. 15 Michigan State (9-2) on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, joined in the celebration as well.

Paterno, 81, stood and spoke for 15 minutes without the cane he has used since injuring his right hip earlier this season. He has acknowledged recently that he needs hip replacement surgery and will undergo it soon, perhaps as early as next week.

Paterno said at his weekly news conference Tuesday that "I expect to be back on the field" next season. However, Nittany Lion fans around the country have continued to speculate that Paterno would announce after the game Saturday that he would retire. One rumor said Paterno would make the announcement at a dinner Saturday night that many of his former players would attend.

Penn State quarterback coach Jay Paterno said Thursday night that his father's plan for Saturday night would be as follows: "He'll go home, have an Old Grand-Dad on the rocks and watch games."

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: coach; college; collegefootball; football; joepa; pa; psu
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Don't Go Joe! Get that leg fixed and go git em' in 09! Anyone that thinks that Joe doesn't coach, should watch this . This was taken just a few weeks before he hurt his hip demonstrating an onside kick at practice. Oh, and bring home a Big Ten Championship tomorrow PSU!
1 posted on 11/21/2008 9:20:16 PM PST by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

0bama calls them the Nitaly Lions and it’s racist to disagree.


2 posted on 11/21/2008 10:01:27 PM PST by Mogollon (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: FlJoePa
a share of the Big Ten Conference championship

Only in the Big 10 can you share a title with a team you've beaten. Pray not only for a PSU win, but (another) OSU loss -- probably not likely with the hapless Wolverines on the plate.

3 posted on 11/21/2008 10:03:19 PM PST by FredZarguna (Archimedes, Newton, Leibniz, James and John Bernoulli, Euler, Gauss, Riemann, Hermite, Laplace...)
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To: Mogollon
Ummm....that would be Nitally Lions....

:-)

4 posted on 11/21/2008 10:10:17 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: FredZarguna
Penn State will go to the Rose Bowl (or another BCS bowl perhaps) if they win.

Nuff said.

5 posted on 11/21/2008 10:11:30 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Lakeshark

Mebbe so, but it pisses me off to nominally have to share with the Buckeyes. We beat ‘em in their own house; we should be uncontested Big-10 Champions.


6 posted on 11/21/2008 10:14:11 PM PST by FredZarguna (Archimedes, Newton, Leibniz, James and John Bernoulli, Euler, Gauss, Riemann, Hermite, Laplace...)
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To: FredZarguna

If you win, everyone will know you are the Big Ten champions. Just go out and win tomorrow, let the “co-championship” buckeye fans drip with envy as you are in your BCS bowl.


7 posted on 11/21/2008 10:16:19 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: FredZarguna
Here is a video link to his speech tonight. Simply amazing man, he is.

Joe @ Pep Rally - 15 minutes long

8 posted on 11/21/2008 10:28:04 PM PST by FlJoePa
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To: Mogollon
0bama calls them the Nitaly Lions and it’s racist to disagree.

No, didn't he mean "Natalie's Lions"? Maybe Natalie Cole?
9 posted on 11/21/2008 11:48:15 PM PST by mkjessup (Thomas Jefferson was RIGHT about the need to water the Tree of Liberty, and with WHAT.)
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To: mkjessup

JoPa will always be a legend


10 posted on 11/22/2008 2:46:50 AM PST by She hits a grand slam tonight
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To: Lakeshark
What happens if Oregon State wins the PAC 10? Will the powers that be let them have a rematch?
11 posted on 11/22/2008 4:46:04 AM PST by Kid Shelleen (Barack the Messiah: Never in the field of US politics have so many waited so long for so little.)
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To: FlJoePa
From last month....

Penn State student-athletes post record graduation rates

Go, Lions! :)

12 posted on 11/22/2008 4:51:36 AM PST by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
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To: FlJoePa

Joe Game Day Bump! Lets go Lions!!!


13 posted on 11/22/2008 6:06:19 AM PST by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

Two good guys.

GO LIONS!

14 posted on 11/22/2008 6:18:29 AM PST by They'reGone2000 (<--- Forwarding address: Galt's Gulch)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I would hope they would each play someone else from another league, but who knows what the BCS people will do. Strange system.


15 posted on 11/22/2008 8:14:46 AM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: FlJoePa

Great guy. Too bad Michigan State is going to beat them today.


16 posted on 11/22/2008 8:15:32 AM PST by rintense
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To: rintense

I wouldn’t count on that. MSU can defend PSU’s rushing game and Ringer won’t do much against PSU’s front 7. Hoyer does scare me though.


17 posted on 11/22/2008 9:05:29 AM PST by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

Should say MSU CAN’T defend PSU’s rushing game. As to the question above about the potential rematch in the Rose Bowl with Oregon State - if both teams win out and PSU isn’t in the top 2 of the BCS, they will play again. There is nothing anyone (meaning ANYONE) can do about it.


18 posted on 11/22/2008 9:08:07 AM PST by FlJoePa
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To: rintense

“Too bad Michigan State is going to beat them today.”

I think NOT!
GO PSU!


19 posted on 11/22/2008 9:16:44 AM PST by 07Jack
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To: rintense

21-0 as I type. It will only get worse. Great season for Sparty, but they can’t play with PSU @ Happy Valley.


20 posted on 11/22/2008 1:41:45 PM PST by FlJoePa
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