He was either lauded as a saint or derided as a charlatan. The truth was that he was human with virtues and failings like all of us.
He ran a football program where some of his players, got drunk, got in scuffles and did a lot of stupid nonsense that most of did some variation of when we were in school.
But unlike most coaches today, he valued both academics and the integrity of his program more than wins and his wallet and he was as loyal to Penn State as any alumni.
At his best, he was exemplar of the truth that dedication and hard work beat out raw talent. At his worst he was an anachronism who hung on long after he should have left the stage.
At his best, he was exemplar of the truth that dedication and hard work beat out raw talent. At his worst he was an anachronism who hung on long after he should have left the stage.
He was part of the most horrific scandal to ever hit Sports. He fulfilled his legal responsibilities but not his moral ones. But he was the only one involved to admit he should have done much more. The final tragedy was that he did not stay around long enough to enable the world to put this tragedy in perspective with an otherwise exemplary life.
This Transcript of Joe's address to the board of trustees after winning the 1982-83 National Championship is the Joe I care to remember.
(thanks to BWI.com)
