I remember the day so vividly. My Mom, my sisters and I drove from our home in Columbus, Ohio up Interstate-71, then across I-76 to Youngstown where we celebrated my Grandpa’s 80th birthday.
When we arrived, that’s when it dawned on me. Thomas Simerlink, the man who was always so energetic, always up for a fix-it project, a game of catch or a home-cooked meal, was slowing down. He was 80. He was old.
I can’t help but think the same thing when I see Penn State coach Joe Paterno, 81, who was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend this past weekend.
What’s it going to take for him to hang it up? It just feels like he’s being selfish at this point. He knows Penn State can’t (or at least, won’t) fire him. But he’s 55-41 in the last eight years. He’s only been to four bowl games in that span. He’s dealt with 14 off-season arrests this year alone. Is this what Hall-of-Famers do?
Now, as he heads into his 43rd year as head coach of the Nittanies, the end seems imminent. Or is it? It’s hard to tell what he’s waiting on. If he wants to go out with a bang, he had the rare opportunity three years ago with a conference crown, a win at the Orange Bowl and a Top 3 national finish. A Big Ten title this year is possible, but sure not easy.
On the bright side, Ohio State has to play at Wisconsin and at Illinois. Then again, Penn State has never won in Columbus since joining the league (where they’ll play October 25th), and they’ll likely need to do that, along with end a nine-game slide against Michigan, in order to smell the Roses.
It seems like Paterno is only coaching for one reason: because he doesn’t want to not coach. But he’s dangerously close to ending his career with a dud of a decade.
Here’s to hoping the legend wins ten games in 2008, gets carried off the field January 1st on his players’ shoulders as a winner, then graciously walks away still regarded as the hero that he is.
Elsewhere…
- Should be interesting to see what Paterno, and all the other Big Ten coaches, have to say Thursday at Big Ten media luncheon in Chicago. I’m particularly looking forward to hearing from Indiana coach Bill Lynch, who recently re-instated quarterback Kellen Lewis from a four-month, no-game suspension. I'll let you know what goes down.
- ESPN’s desperate attempt to fill airtime in the dog days of summer has hit the Midwest. Ann Arbor was highlighted on Sportscenter’s “Titletown USA” feature Sunday night/Monday morning, with Columbus taking the spotlight tonight. The crowd at the taping was pretty paltry for Horseshoe standards. Maybe because people have jobs. Maybe because recently, folks here in Columbus feel less like Titletown and more like Number Two U.
- The many angles of the OSU-USC showdown September 13th continue to unveil themselves. What’s Carson Palmer’s take? One of Ohio’s favorite professional athletes spewed venom toward the Buckeyes on KLAC in Los Angeles last week. Carson, we get that you’re an SC guy, but why all the hatred?
- Don’t expect Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall to donate a fat check to the Fighting Illini’s football program anytime soon. He and his brother, Walter, seem less-than-grateful for their time in Champaign in today's Chicago Tribune. Yeah, that Ron Zook's a real jerk. Who does he think he is, taking your two-win teammates for an all-expenses-paid New Year's vacation to Pasadena?
Tony Castricone is a reporter, update anchor, and talk show host for 1460 the Fan, WBNS-AM Radio in Columbus, Ohio. Send him your thoughts at tony.castricone@radiohio.com.
