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Wetzel: Last-ditch effort to reframe Joe Paterno's legacy fizzles out

Most agree that Joe stayed too long. Most were upset that Joe didn't make recruiting trips. Most agree that Joe lost patience with the media and was too grumpy. Most didn't like Jay as coach.

But it's ridiculous to say that Paterno didn't care about the fans and it's even more ridiculous to support the false narrative just because you are upset that Joe stayed too long.


P.S. In spite of staying too long:

2005: 11-1 (Conf champs)
2006: 9-4
2007: 8-4
2008: 7-5
2009: 11-2 (Conf champs)
2010: 7-6
2011: 8-1

We also had a top 5 recruiting class for 2012 until the JS broke.

Your premise is correct, just some quick edits on the details:
2007: 9-4 (Bowl win)
2008: 11-2 (Conf champs, Rose Bowl loss)
2009: 11-2, but not conf. champs (bowl win vs. LSU)

2012 recruiting was going so well that the NCAA added the instant-elig. transfer sanctions to destroy that success.
 
CJF is early in his career. He has shown great promise, and seems to be getting better at some of the 'CEO' expectations as he learns and grows as a head coach. Not saying he will be another JVP, as very, very few coaches ever climb into that highest tier of coaching greats, but I'm enjoying watching his progression so far. The post-JVP PSU job would have been a huge challenge for anyone, under any circumstances, regardless of prior experience.

Regarding delegation.... I sometimes think people perhaps don't understand that basically all coaches delegate a significant amount of the operation during the game. The HC is the overseer. Unless an HC is also a coordinator, like O'Brien was, the coaches plan and prepare all week and all off-season to be able to delegate specific things during the games via the coords and other coaches. When the HC can no longer depend on the Coords or the other coaches to pick up the delegated responsibilities, coaching changes are made. But probably all experienced HCs and 99% of all great coaches delegate heavily during the game. But they put in countless hours through the week and off-season in order to be able to do that.

Fran Ganter used to say that when he was OC, at certain times during some games, Joe would say to him 'I'm going to take over for a while' and start to call the plays. Fran said it was because Joe was so good at picking up subtle things either on the PSU side or the opponent's side that sometimes it was easier for him to take it over than to explain and relay the plays he wanted. He would do that for a couple series, and then when things got back from being 'outta whack', he would turn it back to Fran. He did that less with Galen Hall. Plus Galen was in the coaches box upstairs, while Fran was on the field (and in the direct line of fire!).
Agreed 100%.
 
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