More than four decades after taking the Penn State job, Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno finally will be enshrined in the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame.
The 81-year-old Paterno, entering his 43rd season as Penn State, will receive the honor Saturday night at the enshrinement dinner and show. He will become the third active coach to be enshrined, joining Florida State's Bobby Bowden and John Gagliardi of Division III St. John's in Minnesota.
Paterno was selected to join the Hall of Fame in 2006, but his induction was delayed for one year after he was injured in a sideline collision during a November game that season at Minnesota. He would have been inducted with Bowden and Gagliardi.
A five-time national Coach of the Year, Paterno has 372 career victories to rank second behind Bowden (373) on the all-time list among major college coaches. He has guided the Nittany Lions to two national championships and five undefeated seasons. With a postseason record of 23-10-1, Paterno is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (34) and victories.
"This is right at the top, if not the top,"
said Paterno, who owns a career mark of 372-125-3. "I feel good about it. My kids and everybody have been excited about it. It's been a good thing for Penn State."
Paterno will be enshrined along with 16 former players, including 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie of Boston College and 1990 Lombardi Award winner Chris Zorich of Notre Dame. Also in the class are former Minnesota Viking star receiver Ahmad Rashad, who played at Oregon as Bobby Moore from 1969-71, and 1989 Maxwell Award winner Anthony Thompson of Indiana.
