Joe Paterno: His 10 Greatest Moments on the Field

When it comes to college football, there is no other man more worthy of the title as a legend. Joe Paterno headed up one of the most solid football programs in the nation for the past 46 seasons, breaking records in every possible coaching category.

He dedicated his life to Penn State and was, in essence, the program's most noteworthy figure in its long history. Joe Pa has been the face of this sport for decades, partially responsible for helping to keep its draw alive after the explosion of popularity for the NFL.

As a coach, leader and icon, he had the most storied career in the history of the sport, hands down. Earning two national titles, multiple Big Ten championships and countless bowl victories, Paterno had a conglomeration of special moments for the college football community to look upon.   

It is every man's wish to have the kind of influence and loyalty that Paterno had his entire life. With his passing, we all lose one of the best men to ever coach in this sport. His memory will live on as one of the most revered men in college football.

Let's take a look at the top 10 moments when Paterno made his mark on the gridiron. 

Undefeated 1968 Season

In just his third season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Paterno had some immediate success. Pulling off a feat that doesn't just happen anymore, he led his team to an undefeated 11-0 season.

Topping off the year with an Orange Bowl victory over Kansas, Penn State finished the year ranked No. 2 overall. This is the season where it all began for Joe Pa, proving his worth as a head coach very quickly.

2006 Orange Bowl

In this battle of the old-timers, Paterno faced off against Bobby Bowden, another college football icon, and the Nittany Lions defeated the Florida State Seminoles 26-23.

Penn State was able to secure a victory in triple overtime in one of the most exciting Orange Bowls in recent memory. His biggest bowl win in the modern era, Paterno's final meeting with Bowden ranks as one of the top games in the history of the sport.

Undefeated 1969 Season

Just a season after emerging undefeated, Paterno did it again in stunning fashion. Still without a national title berth, he and his clan managed to take home another Orange Bowl win.

Disappointingly, No. 2 Penn State was shafted from the title game with Texas for the much more recognizable Notre Dame Fighting Irish. A solid seven-point victory over Missouri proved that, once again, the Nittany Lions deserved to be competing with the best.   

1982 National Championship

In what turned out to be Paterno's first national title, the Nittany Lions defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-23 at the Sugar Bowl. Finishing the season with just one mid-year loss to Alabama, Penn State really emerged as a national power after taking home the highest honor in the sport.

The huge win over the undefeated Bulldogs put Paterno into the books as one of the best ever, and he was barely halfway through his career. In what would turn out to be a signature win for him and his program, Paterno became a household name in college football because of this win.

Undefeated 1973 Season

In another one of Paterno's five undefeated seasons, Penn State emerged a solid 12-0 and ranked No. 5 to end the year. Deserving a much better opponent in the Orange Bowl than just No. 13 LSU, Paterno and company easily put the Tigers away 16-9.

This year was special for more than just being a perfect season. Paterno also produced the program's first Heisman Trophy winner in running back John Cappelletti.

400th Victory

On November 6, 2010, the Nittany Lions helped Paterno record his 400th career victory with a 35-21 win over Northwestern. Facing a 21-0 deficit, Penn State scored 35 points unanswered to secure the victory and lead Paterno into history.

His 400th win made him the only Division I coach to ever break that margin, establishing himself as one of the best in the business once again. His success would not stop there, however.

Undefeated 1994 Season

In Paterno's fifth and final undefeated season, the Nittany Lions acquired a 12-0 record and a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon 38-20. In just their second year with the Big Ten, Penn State won the conference outright and proved their move from independence was the correct choice for the program.

Since then, the Nittany Lions have won the conference twice more and gone to two BCS Bowls. With the Rose Bowl win, Penn State finished the season at No. 2 in the polls. 

1969 Orange Bowl

As Paterno's first bowl win ever as head coach of Penn State, I thought this more than deserved to be on this list. After leading the Nittany Lions to an undefeated season, Paterno and company headed down to Miami to face Kansas in the Orange Bowl.

Penn State emerged victorious by the closest margin in the bowl's storied history, 15-14. In the first of what would be 24 bowl wins, Paterno showed then that he would lead this program to great things.  

409th Win over Illinois

Coming earlier this season in what would actually be Paterno's last victory ever, the Nittany Lions squeezed out a win over Illinois 10-7 in Beaver Stadium. As the 409th win for the storied coach, it marked his success as the winningest coach in FBS history.

Passing Eddie Robinson at 408 wins, Paterno secured his spot at the top, a record that will probably never be passed by any other college football coach. Joe Pa truly became a legend with this win over Illinois. 

Furthermore, the victory came in a stunning fashion. Down 7-3 with just minutes left, the Nittany Lions moved down the field on their final drive to score a touchdown and take home the win. 

1986 National Title

In what became Paterno's second and final national championship, the coach matched up an undefeated season with a title for the only time in his career. After going 12-0, Penn State beat the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes out in Arizona 14-10, securing Paterno his signature win.

Less than a decade before Penn State's merger with the Big Ten, Paterno and Nittany Lions forged their way through a tough season with big wins at No. 2 Alabama and over Notre Dame. Paterno's legacy will be remembered forever through not only his victories, but also through all the young men who played under him and for him.

He will never be forgotten as one of the greatest coaches to ever dedicate his life to this sport.