On the recordNovember 3, 2011
I rise today to honor one of the legends of college football, Penn State's football coach, Joe Paterno, who this past weekend scored his 409th victory as head coach. The win took place on a snowy State College afternoon where the Nittany Lions defeated the University of Illinois. With this past weekend's win, Paterno becomes the winningest coach in Division I football. As if this accomplishment weren't extraordinary by itself, it is important to note that all 409 wins have come under the head coach of one school--Penn State. Starting his football coaching career at Penn State in 1950 as an assistant coach, Paterno's tenure has spanned over 62 years. His 409- win and 136-loss record is truly unrivaled, passing over legendary coaches Bear Bryant of Alabama, Bobby Bowden of Florida State, and Eddie Robinson of Grambling. From 1950 to today, Coach Paterno has led his team with humility, class, and integrity. He's truly one of a kind, but words can't describe his tremendous contributions to the Penn State community. Today, I stand to honor and recognize Coach Paterno, the winningest coach in Division I football history. Congratulations, Joe Paterno. ____________________
