Political Quotes

“Joe Paterno claimed that the long run success of his teams was in the contributions his players made to society after graduation. Joe Paterno decided not to accept lucrative NFL coaching offers because he loved being an educator as a college coach. He also criticized NFL teams that took too much of his players' time during their senior years. Paterno pushed the NCAA to adopt rules requiring higher levels of academic performance from college athletes, pushing higher standards for both high school and college graduates. Paterno's dedication to education extended far beyond the players he coached. In the early 1980s, he pushed Penn State leadership to expand fundraising from alumni in order to advance academic programs. Paterno and his wife donated several million dollars to Penn State University, and he helped them raise many millions more. Coach Paterno once said: When I'm gone, I hope they write that I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach. Well, Coach, that is what they're writing today. He envisioned that increasing the resources available to the university through fundraising would help its students attain academic excellence. And the great things that Penn State has attained over the years are in part a testament to his vision and his dedication to that cause. Often universities name athletic facilities after great coaches. Penn State named a new wing of its library after Paterno.…”