Three hundred and sixty five wins is quite a yardstick to measure against. But the best measure of Joe Paterno's record at Penn State is to look at where he started from.

Paterno's tenure as head coach coincided with Grace Slick joining the Jefferson Airplane. Slick retired 19 years ago and is now an accomplished painter. The generation she sang to have mostly cut their hair and grown old with more than a few having become Republicans, Rotarians, or some such representation of all they once despised. But Joseph Vincent Paterno hasn't changed, not even his haircut, and that is either strange or reassuring depending on your point of view

A Brooklyn kid, Paterno starred in baseball, football, and basketball in high school. Arriving
at Brown just after War II ended, he became the quarterback and a starter in basketball. That happy coexistance between sports and their coaches is just a memory today.

After graduating in 1949 Paterno was ready to become a lawyer when Rip Engle, his coach at Brown, persuaded him to become his assistant at Penn State. His success can be seen by the roster of All-Americans and NFL players he developed. Names like Milt Plum, Pete Liske, Galen Hall, Dick Hoak, Tony Rados, Jack White, and Dick Lucas. Liske, the last of the assistant's proteges, ended his professional career in Canada 33 years ago.

By February of 1966 it was no surprise that Paterno, then the 39 year old associate head coach at Penn State, would become the head man. There had been a flirtation with Yale the year before, with JoePa turning down an offer to be head coach. Sixteen consecutive winning seasons as first among equals among the assistants, and Engle's blessing, made Paterno a sure pick. The new coaches first salary was something more than the $14,000 Yale had offered, and something less than the $4 million a year Nick Saban is now getting from Alabama.

Engle hasn't looked over Paterno's shoulder since 1983 when he passed away. Back in the early 1900's Paterno's successor had worked as a child driving a donkey cart in a coal mine. Now, the only donkey's coaches have to deal with are the......well, you can fill in the blanks yourself.

As Paterno started his career as head coach he talked about the continuity at Penn State, which had enjoyed 28 straight winning seasons. "My switchover to head coach has been smooth. My job has been easy. We have a winning tradition and do not need gimmicks as do some new head coaches. And we are a good team."

On September 17, 1966 the record will show Paterno's first game ending in a 15-7 triumph over Maryland. Ironically, the offense minded Paterno would see his team mount only one touchdown. The win came mainly on the strength of three safeties and the outstanding play of defensive tackle Mike Reid. It was a game the Nittany Lions were supposed to win, but Maryland made it closer than expected. Their head coach was Lou Saban, who had won 4 AFL titles before going back to the college ranks.

Today a game with 3 safeties would result in calls on web sites for Saban's removal. Posters would also be second guessing Paterno's hiring. "So called offensive genius and he only gets one touchdown against Maryland." You can just hear it.

Penn State fans today probably wouldn't be too happy with a 5-5 season, which is how Paterno's first ended. Nor would internet bloggers stand by silent after Paterno ordered a fake punt with his team up 41-12 on Pitt early in the 4th period of the final game. Times have changed.

At the end of the season Paterno attempted to lead a revolt among Eastern College coaches against two platoon football. Unlimited substitutions had been allowed, then restricted, then allowed since the early 1950's. That Paterno was a little behind the times in 1966 is reflected by a comment from the athletic director at Delaware that he was "amazed" that Penn State and 18 other schools wanted to take the game back in time.

In a big game against Syracuse at Penn State earlier in the season, Paterno also caused a minor controversy when he would not permit Syracuse coaches to use television monitors to show players replays during the game.  Ara Parseghian, then coach at Notre Dame, had made the practice popular but Paterno wouldn't permit it on his home field.

At the start of this blog I mentioned the Jefferson Airplane in the context of Paterno's career. It's only fitting that I finish off with a quote from another Bay area band that sums up his coaching career. When you look at where he started and where he's come to, you can truly say "What a long, strange trip it's been."