Come To Think Of It...The End of the Line for Joe Paterno?

Joseph Vincent Paterno, or JoePa as he is known, is about to enter his 59th season at Penn State, and his record 43rd as head coach. Paterno, 81, is the second-winningest coach in major college football, behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden.

He has survived many calls for him to either retire or be fired. University administrators faced some difficult times as many fans screamed for JoePa's head during the rough times at Penn State, knowing the guts it would take to actually fire a living legend.

And JoePa will probably die on the sidelines before he will voluntarily retire. Yet a legend like him should go out on his own terms and if he waits too long, that might not be possible, which would be a shame.

From 2000 - 2004, Paterno's football teams had a losing record in all but one season. But fortunately for exasperated university officials, his teams have experienced a resurgence the past few years.

JoePa's influence goes well beyond the sidelines. Penn State, the university that Paterno has called home for decades, will start a class this fall examining the famed football coach's relationship with the media, as well as his role in general as a communicator.

Paterno took over as head coach in 1966 from Rip Engle after serving as Engle's assistant for 16 years. The former aspiring lawyer has become the second-winningest major college coach with 372 victories, one behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden.

JoePa is entering the final year of his contract. But he hardly seems concerned. Finding a quarterback to succeed two-year starter Anthony Morelli is a question that appears more pressing to him than sorting out his contract.

"I don't even care if I get a contract. I'll be very frank with you," the 81-year-old Paterno said Saturday in his first meeting with reporters in three months. "I think the university will do what they think is right, whenever the time comes. Right now, I'm very comfortable."

In his time as coach, eleven US Presidents have been through the White House. Throughout his career, Coach Paterno has had five undefeated seasons, 33 bowl appearances, and two National Championships.

His career coaching record is 372-125-3. His Nittany Lions went 9-4 last year.

Yet football can be a cruel business, and 'what have you done for me lately' is always the question of the day. Figure that if Penn State has a less than stellar season next year, you'll be once again hearing the cries for JoePa to hang 'em up.

Will the legend know when it's finally time to retire? Do they ever know? Enjoy him while we have him, coaches like Paterno come along once in a lifetime.

PSU is 29-9 over the past three seasons and 3-0 in bowl games.

Come to think of it, you don't knock down Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty because they are old.