Paterno or Bowden: Who Will Last Longer?

In the world of college football, being an icon makes you immortal.

It makes one wonder how long this will go on between Joe Pa and Bobby. While both are true icons in their own ways to their fans and admired by millions each, how long will this seesaw battle continue until one of these men decides enough is enough?  

Each man, both well past normal retirement age, refuses to fall on his sword and allow the other to reach out and grab the ring as the winningest coach of all time. Is it ego? Is it pride?

To answer these questions, one must look at where the programs have been, where they have been recently, and where they are now.

Penn State, after suffering losing seasons in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, is in the BCS National Championship hunt. The Nittany Lions are for real, it seems, at least on defense. A good defensive struggle with Ohio State put a season with wins against very weak teams into perspective.

But how many remember the rumbles that Joe was too old to motivate youngsters during the early part of this decade? How many of you actually called for the old man to step down?

Now Paterno is coaching from the box instead of the sidelines and more than likely has hip replacement surgery coming in the offseason. If you visited your grandmother in the nursing home and saw an 81-year-old man in his condition who wasn't Paterno, you would feel pity, not awe.

Florida State, thanks to Bobby Bowden, has achieved greatness. With only one losing season under his watch, FSU is always a force to be reckoned with.

But during the 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons, how many of you felt that FSU was headed in the wrong direction with a man that was out of touch? Jimbo Fisher has refused some good job offers, salivating for the day when Bowden can no longer ply the sidelines as the head marshal.

Both men patiently waited for the day the Bear retired and they could surpass the record of 323 wins.  Now, at the expense of their respective programs, they refuse to allow the other to be the best of all time.

With 381 wins for Joe Pa, and 380 for Bobby, must we wait for the day one of the grand old gentlemen collapses along the sidelines on national TV during a game?

The Alabama State retirement system had a mandate that an employee must retire at 69 years of age. Bryant went until 70. With no such rule in Pennsylvania or Florida, these men have outlasted numerous Energizer bunnies.

I know recruiting is great, knowing you will play for a legend, but does any recruit now truly believe his coach will be there another five years?

At 81-years-old, we didn't let my grandpa operate the microwave by himself, much less run a multimillion-dollar football program.