You win, Joe. The record is yours. Forever. Only another Joe, named DiMaggio, knows the feeling. The all-time victories record was retired Monday because the only other old war horse in the race is deciding to hang 'em up. Monday was also a glimpse of your future, Joe. No farewell tour. Possibly a minor bowl. Basically being run out on somebody else's terms.
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| Does the same fate await Joe Paterno in the near future? (US Presswire) |
If you drank, Joe, it would be time to break out the champagne. Except there is a dark side to this. It doesn't feel right. It looks like Bobby didn't have a choice, really.
This isn't the way it was supposed to go down. This is what both of you feared, for years. You and Bobby are the last of an aging breed, Joe. Both of you said you'd rather die on the field than spend your final years being some sort of ceremonial figurehead.
But smile, Joe. That record is set in concrete with your name on it: 393 and counting. Now that Bobby is stepping down the race is over. You will never to be threatened again. All the young, successful ones will be too rich to care by the time they're 60. Mandatory retirement age will get the rest.
Could it be you're not celebrating, Joe, because Monday was a painful look into your future? You give them everything -- heart, soul, championships -- and then your bosses ask you to lunch. You leave the office the head of a football dynasty. You come back and it's all done but the press release.
You're winning again, Joe, so the cries for your hide have died down. But this could be you -- soon. Penn State's staff has done a better job of holding it together lately than Florida State's.
Florida State has a coach in waiting. Penn State has a coach entrenched. But it could turn quickly, Joe. You know that. Your friend Bobby already publicly stated he was going to be back in 2010. Then Florida dropped another whipping on the Seminoles and everybody was reminded how far the program had fallen.
Then Bobby said he was going to do some "soul-searching."
Then they asked him to lunch.
Joe, they came to your home a few years ago -- the AD and president -- to discuss your "future". You saw it for what it was, a jump-start on a retirement plan. You basically told them to get out of the house. Then you went out and started winning the Big Ten again.
This is not the way your friend wanted to go out. A few years ago the administration told Bobby that it was his job as long as he wanted it. Then they hired that coach-in-waiting.
Then the promise looked like it was off the table as of Monday. So much for loyalty.
Everything, it seems, in a coach's life can be traced back to winning percentage. Maybe the reason you're not celebrating, Joe, is you know they're coming back for you someday -- the AD and president.
All it takes is a few losses. The next time they're not taking no for answer.
