Mazie Hirono: “I rise today in support of House Resolution 1715 which congratulates Joe Paterno for his 400th win as head football…”

“I rise today in support of House Resolution 1715 which congratulates Joe Paterno for his 400th win as head football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Coach Paterno achieved this milestone win on November 6, 2010, when the Lions beat out the Northwestern Wildcats. This victory gave him more career wins than any other coach in NCAA Division I-A history. For 60 years, Coach Paterno has served Penn State, first as an assistant coach for 15 years and then head coach for the past 45 years. In his tenure as head coach, Joe Paterno has garnered two national championships, seven undefeated seasons, 23 finishes in the Top 10 rankings, and three Big Ten Conference championships. His 73.6 percent career winning percentage is second-best among all active Football Bowl Subdivision coaches. These tangible accomplishments mirror the accomplishments of Paterno's players off the field, which he has facilitated by bolstering Penn State's educational facilities. Coach Paterno emphasizes the importance of education for all of his players.”