'Joe Pa's' Impact Goes Beyond Football

Legendary Penn State Coach Downplays His Achievements On The Field

(CBS)  Ask 79-year-old Penn State football coach Joe Paterno about his resume and you'll get modesty. He laughs off two national titles and five undefeated seasons with an "oh, that's a lot of hooey!

"That doesn't mean a thing to me. Really," Paterno says.

Affectionately known as "Joe Pa," Paterno isn't simply one of the winningest coaches in college football history — he's also one of its most respected figures, CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports.

In an age when big-time coaches demand multimillion-dollar contracts, Paterno has donated $4 million to Penn State for scholarships and a new library.

"I've had an impact, I hope, on a lot of kids who've come through here, and I feel good about that part," Paterno says. "I feel when they bury me, it's not going to be a question of 'hey, he won X number of games, period.'"

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Watch the complete Paterno interview

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What Paterno hopes to be remembered for is graduating 84 percent of his players. That's 20 percent higher than the national average for all four-year college students. He does it with mandatory study halls and a zero-tolerance approach.

Take Tamba Hali, a first-round NFL draft pick who came back to get his diploma.

"I'm so proud of you," Paterno tells Hali.

He says he doesn't think there is much difference between being a coach and a professor.

"I think most good professors, most of the good professors you get in college, and the ones I had in college had a little bit more than just getting up on a blackboard or giving an assignment," Paterno says.

Paterno is nearing 80, but he's still "very sharp, very witty," All-America linebacker Paul Posluskny says.

"He knows everything that's going on. He might not know what an iPod is, but he still knows how to deal with young players," Posluskny adds.

Paterno knows football from his years at Brown University. His dad wanted him to be a lawyer; Joe only took up coaching to pay off his college loans.

"I got hooked, so I called my dad and I said to my dad, 'I'm going to coach,' and he said, 'Oh, God.' And my mom, crying, said 'What did you go to college for? And then my dad said, 'You better have an impact,'" Paterno says.

Paterno's father never saw him make head coach. Only the heavens know how many fathers and mothers and sons are grateful that he did.

[ronl11psu]

Joe Paterno & the Penn State name stands for something. It's the way a player hands the ball to the ref after scoring. It's the white uniform and the black shoes. It's the nameless jerseys. It's the colorless helmets, save for the scuff marks from the other team. Joe Paterno & Penn State stand for something good and decent. Something proud and honorable. Joe Paterno has been great for the university, and I am proud to be a PENN STATER. Go LIONS!!!

[nit10e72]

JoePa symbolizes what Penn State is all about. It doesn't matter if we win or lose..... WE ARE PENN STATE.

[sclions17]

ARTFOOTBALL1 give it up. You can try but you cannot break PSU Pride. Yes we lost that game to "Bear" Bryant. But what a game it was.

Yet, there was that game against Miami in 1988. Oh yea, that was when PSU won a national championship.

Before you criticize come to a PSU football game and tailgate with us. Then maybe you'll understand why we love football and our coach. You may learn why then we do not take kindly to people tell the press and public what they believe Coach Paterno should do.

[artfootball1]

GLAD TO HEAR SUE IS STILL OK.

I STILL SAY JOE NEEDS TO GIVE A YOUNGER COACH A CHANCE.EVEN THE BABE RETIRED FROM BASEBALL. GO GRACEFULLY NOW WHILE YOU ARE ON TOP THEY WOULD SAY.

IN FACT, THE ONLY GRIPE I EVER HAD WITH THE COACH IS THAT TERRIBLE LOSS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND BEAR BRYANT FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SO MANY YEARS AGO IN THE SUGAR BOWL IN NEW ORLEANS.

[ndelker]

Great report. I too have been influenced by JoePa. While attending PSU back in the early 80's I worked in the football cafeteria and watched as JoePa would stand at the end of the food line to make sure that all of his players thanked each of us servers. He taught them what manners meant and how to use them. This impressed me on how much he cares about his men and how education is not just books and football to him but that he truly cares about what these young men will be when they leave the hallowed grounds of THE PENN STATE UNIVERSITY.
He has been an inspiration to many PSU students that never have touched a football. He has always made himself available to talk to anyone, not just his players. I thank him for making PSU a respected program for the centuries.

[samanthadog1]

As a former walk-on player under Joe Paterno, I can tell you that my greatest accomplishment was not making the PSU squad but rather graduating from college and moving on to work as an environmental scientist helping to balance the need for utilization of natural resources and preservation of the natural environment. I was not in the spotlight at PSU but in a way I am now, only because of the lesson taught to me by Joe. Continue to pursue your goals no matter what the obstacle. So they lost to Notre Dame, that is just another valuable lesson for 110 kids that someday will make a difference in the world, off the football field.

[missliss26]

As a life long fan and PSU alum, I can attest to the meaning of "PENN STATE PROUD". No matter where I go in this country, I always find a friendly PSU fan who shares that same pride. Joepa symbolizes pride and dedication that our fans feel for Penn State. He is much more thatn a coach to the fans, students, and/or staff. Thanks Joepa for all your hard work!!

p.s. Sue Paterno is still alive!!

[sclions17]

Those of you who say Coach Paterno needs to retire should be ashamed. Coach Paterno has earned the right to remain coaching for as long as he and the good Lord sees fit. This wonderful and humble man has done a lot; for not only college football, but for the small town of State College. When you attack our Coach you are attacking our town, our tradition, and our players.

There are a lot of young people today that owe their way of live to Coach Paterno for his influence on their lives. People forget that Coach Paterno is a teacher first; then a coach. He prepares these young players for live off the football field.

When you meet a PSU football player in our town, you know it's a PSU football player before they tell you they play football. There is a kindness and politeness about them that in most young people has been lost. Yet, Coach Paterno brings this out in them, and our town is so very proud of each and every one of these boys.

So, why don%u2019t you tell Bobby Bowden it%u2019s time he retires and let a younger coach take over? Or have you forgotten the Orange Bowl already?

[nitnut]

Gee whiz artfootball1,

as far as i know SuePa is still whipping up great Italian meals and tutoring students. she had a fall a while back, but she has not died!

[ramsjm]

Great to see Joe on the Evening News. I was a Penn State student when Joe was a new assistant coach under Rip Engle. Joe used to show up when we were playing touch football on the lawn in front of the HUB!

[dsgd1]

Thanks for giving the world insight into a man who is much more to his University than a football coach. He epitomizes Penn State and that's why there are so many of us who are "PENN STATE PROUD" whether or not we win football games.

[nitnut]

thanks for a great interview with our beloved "JoePa"