Loyalty and Honor Still Matter in State College

Today, Penn State announced that they have given Joe Paterno a 4-year contract extention. This comes amidst speculation from the media that the game has passed the 77 year-old Paterno by. Undeniably, the Nittany Lions have undergone a tough stretch in the last couple of years. However, Paterno still has the 5th highest winning percentage amongst active coaches, and Penn State's football program has one of the nation's highest graduation rates. Penn State president Graham Spanier said, "Coach Paterno's program has become a model for the integration of college football into the fabric of an institution of higher education. His success on the field, the graduation rate of his student-athletes and the positive impact his players have made on society have brought great pride to Penn State Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends." This upcoming season will be Paterno's 54th season on the Lions' sidelines and his 40th as head coach. During their time in State College, Joe and his wife Sue have given more than $4 million to the university.

My love of Coach Paterno cannot be fully expressed in words. Therefore, I'll just celebrate the contract extention by saying: We are ... Penn State!