So, to be clear, are you admitting it was journalistically unethical and borderline slanderous to basically say Joe is senile? Just want to be clear.

It just seems a bit odd that, one sentence after Logan-El himself had nothing but nice things to say about Joe, that you felt it necessary to add your own comment slamming Joe. I mean, it seems you certainly do hold a grudge against him. Otherwise, where does that comment come from?

Alum,
She's just giving a first hand account of what it was like to work with JoePa. She didn't say JoePa was senile. There are a number of reasons why he might not remember Logan-el's name, maybe it was because he lasted all of a few months at the school.
He did coach 1,000 of players.

Logan-el's words are pretty much worthless on any subject matter, have you not been paying attention to his words the last 3 years?

Was that a comment on the Logen El-to-Towson thread? Seemed more like a comment on Joe Pa, and a good one.

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of both the terps and the nittany lions, although admittedly a fan of PSU more. I think you are being just a bit too hard on JoePA. Of course he is going to be ticked off anytime you challenge him. He is older and a very old school coach.. If he WASN'T offended by a 27 year old female reporter challenging him, I would be worried. Not saying that he is right or wrong, just saying it's expected.

Also, I don't know if it's necessarily unselfish for him not to announce his exit plans. He has been there for 50 plus years, and been very successful. I think he has earned the right to not announce his exit plans.

As far as him being cranky and a control freak, I think that is part of his charm, and why so many people love him.

Just some thoughts.

It is much more endearing when a person is willing to admit their faults and biases rather than deny something that is otherwise obvious to most people.

I happen to agree with some of your criticisms os Joe's style, but to argue that you have no grudge against him is intellectually insulting to your readers, to whom you don't seem to give much credit in reading between the lines.

A reporter for the State College newpaper being critical of Joe Paterno??? How dare you? You probably don't like apple pie, Chevys or Mom, either!!!

I'm a Terp fan for sure, but what you wrote suggesting Paterno is senile was a cheap shot, Heather. You should be ashamed of it. Deeply ashamed.

JoePa is an icon. He is what is good about college sports. Seems to me if your goal had been to listen a little more and criticise a little less you might have come out of the assisgnment a little better writer.

Although it is a journalist's job to poke, prod, and uncover stories when working with someone of Coach Paterno's stature a little deference is probably appropriate.

Just curious now that you are covering Maryland how do Coach Williams and Coach Friedgen treat you?

forget Penn State. It is a sad excuse for a state school and forget antonio logan el. The U of M CP does not need him. We have enough of our own problems. Penn State may have taken our instate players, but they still can't win. Besides PA is a crappy state just ask ne of these alum from Penn State why else would they be writing on a MD based newspaper's blog. Thats fine best state in the union neday and a much more rich history of sports. Il take MD neday. Joe Pa ur old retire and spend time with ur family.

True Blue
She treats Ralph & Gary with the same disdain! But, it sounds like she would do the same to her father if he was the coach! lol

See Heather, we're so much less psychotic than Penn State fans!

All that talent that went to PSU seems to have not lived up to their billing. It is funny that a couple of those guys MD never even wanted. 1 has left, 2 are overweight and not playing,, and only one (Maybin) may even pan out. I prefer the direction MD is going than Penn State....or should I say State Penn after the recent allegations?

Penn State is going to completely collapse once the final thread holding that program together retires. And that is exactly what Joe Pa is at this point. He can still get recruits based on his name but once he's gone I hope Penn State fans enjoy 60,000 people in their oversized stadium for every game. But hey, at least they'll be able to get good tickets!

Thanks Heather for showing us why you decided not to become a defense attorney. I guess if JoePa treated me like a 27 yr old, no-knothing, snot-nosed kid I'd carry some hard feelings too. Too bad you didn't take the opportunity to try and learn something about football from one of the all time greats. I guess it felt better to try and show all of Center County how much smarter you were then him. How did that work out for ya?

Terp Fan and Matt N,

Are you serious? Penn State still can't win? They won the Big Ten and the Orange Bowl in 2005/2006; they beat Tennessee in the Outback in 2006/2007.

As for the Maryland recruits that went to PSU, Phil Taylor is going to start this year, A.J. Wallace was a stud last year as a freshman and will be the starting corner this year; Navarro Bowman is pushing for the starting OLB job; Aaron Maybin is pushing for starting DE.

As for the other guys, well, they have to wait their turn. Unlike Maryland, at Penn State, there is actually talent in place -- freshman rarely get to walk in and start right away.

Also, do you guys have any plans to start playing in a D-1 stadium, or are you going to stick with Byrd?

I'm sorry to break it to everyone who thinks Penn State is on the verge of a "total collapse", but the truth is that the future is bright. The roster is extremely deep, which is why you haven't seen the many players that we pulled out of Maryland last recruiting season. When JoePa retires there will be a worthy successor ready to step in and continue the Penn State tradition. WE ARE.... PENN STATE!

In response to Terp Fan 22:

I appreciate all commentary, whether it agrees with my views or not. I always find a different point of view refreshing and grounding, but I can't take any criticism or views seriously when the author can't use correct grammar...

The first step in any recovery program is denial. And to borrow another literary reference for all PSU followers, "the emperor has no clothes." Your icon, "JoePa," has accomplished a lot over his career, but his program has lost its place among college football's "elite" programs. So long as he's running things, I do not foresee that changing.

And, while he continues to benefit from a once universally perceived "clean" reputation, it is interesting to note PSU's recent surge in recruiting prowess, particularly in Maryland, despite his increased absenteeism and on the heels of 4-5 years of mediocre teams, at the same time Friedgen's Terps were completing 3 consecutive 10 win seasons and had deeply committed to "keeping its own at home." As well, it does not seem to me that the lengendary (i.e., ethical) JoePa of yesteryear, if there ever was such a thing, would have accepted Logan-El's crass and deplorable behavior at the ESPN Zone. Then again, the "old" JoePa probably would not have been compelled, in a desperate effort to restore his faltering program, to poach a kid who had previously committed to another school--over 2 years before.

Paterno is a superb recruiter, but only slightly above average as a coach(witness his record against Bear Bryant). Many of his terrific years were as an independent when he hand-picked referees and got a number of victories that were not deserved(note what has happened since he joined the Big 10 to his record when he no longer has uncles of active players referring,e.g.,Guman). I've maintained for years Paterno is a hypocrite-watch how he berates officials and chases after them.

As a Penn State alum and fan, I'll throw in my 2 cents here.

First off, many Nittany Lion fans are obviously concerned about Coach Paterno's level of involvement (or lack thereof) with the day-to-day runnings of the football team. Whether this has been detrimental to the football program, both on the field or off, is a judgement call. I, for one, have been pleased with the general direction the team has been going the past 2 seasons in terms of wins/losses and recruiting (and like everyone SHOULD, I will withhold judgement on the team's off-field behavior until AFTER a judge and jury have rendered their legal decisions regarding the recent allegations.) Additionally, I will be the first to say that occasionally Paterno lets slip with comments that are at times embarrassing, and other times indefensible.

Now, to the point of your blog post:

You mentioned that he's a "cranky control freak"... well, yes, I'm sure he is, but aren't most coaches "control freaks", at any level? In the next sentence you mention that he sends his coaches out to "do the speaking engagements." Well, which is it? Is he a control freak, or is he delegating more and more of his responsibilities as he ages?

As to your comments regarding allowing reporters access to his football team before big games, how can you criticize him for making that call? Obviously it negatively effects how you, as a journalist, are able to cover the team (and thus perform your job), but I am at a loss in determining how exactly that affects the team's performance on Saturday. If Paterno feels that unfettered media access to his team prior to a big game would be a needless distraction, I'm not sure how or why you would criticize him for this. Your opinion regarding this matter is not unlike many Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnists with deep seated, and barely concealed resentments of both Paterno and Penn State Football, who bring up the same "they didn't let me interview players before such-and-such game" argument when they level criticism against Paterno.

Finally, in your ALE blog-post, you made a crack about "remembering his name." I'm assuming that you are insinuating that Paterno is senile. In my opinion, that smacks quite clearly of "ageism" which is no better than the sexist comments Paterno made regarding you, in his press conference in 2004. If you don't like Paterno, then you don't like Paterno- say it. Comments such as "if he can remember his name" are pretty classless.

its a blog not a term paper requiring you to spell correctly. and the use of correct grammar is optional. If you would like i can submit a ten page paper on spelling and grammar. I can also submit a better public institution than Penn State. Stay on your side of the state line and complain to the your local newspaper. ( no i dont know the name because i dont care abt Maryland's Canada) Enjoy another wonderful season of Penn State lacrosse and baseball. Im a proud Terrapin who you will one day work for and your children will ask for my autograph.

Heather,
Love your coverage of the Terps. Its the best. Keep up the good work.

Jim Hawe
UMD grad

What does that mean? We are Penn State? Maybe YOU Yankee people up in Pa are, but down here, we are TERPS. Pa State has a dinosaur coach who looks like a shriveled up version of Woody Allen. He does not know when to quit. He is vein and his ego is bigger than his glasses. He has nothing left in his life, thats why he clings to coaching football. Anyone else would have moved on. Pa State has NOTHING on Maryland.

I think that it is absolutely ridiculous when a high school player calls a press conference to announce where they are going to school and puts on a circus side show to announce their decision! What kind of monsters are we creating? We let 17 year old kids go on camera with the hats from 5 colleges teasing each school before putting on the hat of their final selection! If I was Ralph or JoePa I would tell those kids no thanks and would take a kid who appreciated what a great gift a free education is! I am sorry to say it but I couldn't be happier to see the once overly smug Logan El transfer after only 1 season. I believe they call that karma! As far a Heather is concerned, she brings us a lot of great news about our Terps. She is being no less harsh on JoePa than I would be if the Nittnay Lions came to Byrd to play the Terps. "Good on ya" Heather and keep up the good work!

Heather nailed it again. Paterno is an absentee coach that is doing nothing but TRYING to relive his past. He should have retired AT LEAST 3 years ago. His selfishness is slowly destroying the PSU football program.

So you are holding a grudge because he is cranky and not nice with the media? Sorry he makes your job more difficult but it is time to grow up.

Heather, if nothing else, the CDT hasn't been the same since you left. Keep up the good work.

"Pa State has NOTHING on Maryland'?
Does 35-1-1 ring a bell?.... wait you're probably used to seeing it the other way around...I meant 1-35-1.
good job in 1961 though...you really stuck it to us.

Good for you Heather for not playing the role of jock-sniffing, coach worshipping beat writer. These coaches are employed by public institutions but feel that they are not accountable to anyone, much less a 27 year old woman. JoePa has a good gig - the PSU name will always bring in top talent and he has solid assistants and coordinators to do the heavy lifting, and he knows it. But he has done nothing but embarass the university with his rants against the officials and media for the past several years.

He is a very big fish in a very small pond up there in Happy Valley, and good for you for daring to ask Pope Paterno to explain his actions or strategies.

You hold no grudge and it doesn't matter in your current job? Seems to me like it does - you've been gone from State College for awhile now and you're STILL writing about him! You were no loss when you left and clearly you've not gotten past the distaste that many people had for your writing. Time to move on Ms. Dinich....take a deep breath and let it go....

Awful lot of defensiveness from Penn Staters who say they're so cocksure of themselves.

Remember, Heather was working up there when Penn State was at its lowest point, and Grandpa JoePa was talking about Michael Robinson being the best player in all of college football, despite being a backup at a number of positions. Living in central Pa myself at the time, I heard lots of rumblings saying it was time for him to go. Thus, it was perfectly legitimate for her to be questioning him and it's completely bogus and conceited to say that because she never played she didn't know what she was talking about. Clearly, that's why guys like Rob Dibble, Michael Irvin, and Sean Salisbury make for great analysts on tv, huh?

At the Sun it's pretty obvious she still riles up coaches, this time at Maryland, which is fine by me. Even if I am a homerific Terps fan, I'm not naive enough to think Gary and Ralph walk on water. I hope for the best but want my coverage to be fair and critical when called for. Keep it up, HD