It's time to go, Joe!

There are two main reasons why Penn State fans show up 110,000 strong for football games at Beaver Stadium.
The first, and most obvious, is to support their beloved Nittany Lions like few college fan bases do.
The second is to hold a lovefest for coach Joe Paterno, who has been there 43 years.

Around there, the 81-year-old Paterno is everyone's grandfather. He's adored, admired and he's got a college football-record 380 wins.
He's not only Penn State football, Joe Paterno is Penn State University.

After injuring his hip and leg in the first week of the season demonstrating an onside kick, Paterno spent the rest of the season coaching from the press box, rather than pace the sidelines. He doesn't even go down to the locker room during halftime, and every game except for yesterday's Rose Bowl, he never even had a headset on.

Paterno also says he can coach "another couple years." And judging by the 3 year extension he received, apparently the University feels he can as well. It's funny though that earlier this decade, when Paterno had records of 5-7, 5-6, 3-9 and 4-7, the very same Penn State fans who now adore him didn't want him around any more.

Now it's no secret that because I'm a Michigan fan, I hate Penn State. So yeah, I'm bothered by Penn State's success this year. However, what bothers me about Penn State's current success is that Paterno is getting credit for it. It's his staff and the tradition of the program that have the Nittany Lions in the running for another national title.

Don't get me wrong, the guy has done more than any other college football coach to hold his job at Penn State as long as he cares to. But it has become obvious to me that Penn State's football past and Paterno's capable assistants now run the show on the sideline, and they're the real reasons for the Nittany Lions' return to the national championship picture. I think it's an absolute joke that both JoePa and Bobby Bowden continue to rack up coaching wins as they try to outlast, or should I say outlive the other.

Here's hoping Paterno continues to enjoy apparently 3 more years of success in State College. And then, for the overall good of Penn State, and its continued success, he sails into the sunset.