[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 276 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                     November 14, 2001.
Whereas Joseph Vincent Paterno coached the Penn State Nittany Lions football 
        team to a 29 to 27 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 27, 
        2001, at Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley with 108,327 patrons in 
        attendance;
Whereas that victory was Joe Paterno's 324th career coaching victory, making him 
        the winningest Division I-A football coach in NCAA history;
Whereas Joe Paterno launched what he termed ``The Great Experiment'' on February 
        19, 1966, upon being named the head football coach at the Pennsylvania 
        State University (Penn State);
Whereas Joe Paterno defined ``The Great Experiment'' as a demonstration that 
        Division I student-athletes can achieve greatness on the field while 
        excelling in the classroom, and can become valuable assets to the 
        community in their postgraduate endeavors;
Whereas Joe Paterno has nurtured 21 first-team Academic All-Americans, 14 Hall 
        of Fame Scholar-Athletes, and 17 NCAA postgraduate scholarship winners;
Whereas from 1996 to 2000 Joe Paterno nurtured 69 Academic All-Big Ten football 
        honorees, more than any other Big Ten Conference institution during that 
        period;
Whereas according to the 2000 NCAA Graduation Rate Report, the 4-year graduation 
        rate of Joe Paterno's Penn State players was 76.5 percent, significantly 
        above the 48 percent national average;
Whereas Joe Paterno and his wife Sue have continually demonstrated their loyalty 
        and commitment to Penn State through volunteer efforts and 
        contributions, including a $3,500,000 gift--the most generous gift ever 
        given to a university by a coach and his family--for academic 
        scholarships, faculty endowments, and campus construction projects;
Whereas immediately following his first national championship in January of 
        1983, Joe Paterno bypassed the customary acceptance speech and instead 
        pressed the University's Board of Trustees to make Penn State number one 
        in academics as well as athletics and began advocating for the libraries 
        of Penn State;
Whereas Joe and Sue Paterno subsequently served as Co-Chairs of the Campaign for 
        the Library which raised $11,000,000 for an expansion effort that would 
        double the size of the existing library at Penn State's University Park 
        campus;
Whereas the Paternos' generosity and vision were recognized by the vote of Penn 
        State's Board of Trustees to name the new world-class library after the 
        Paternos, and at the dedication of the Paterno Library at Penn State's 
        University Park campus that occurred on September 8, 2000;
Whereas Joe Paterno has received countless awards for being a role model and 
        mentor for his players, a community leader, and a humanitarian and 
        philanthropist who exhibits and promotes the time-honored values of 
        selflessness, equality, dignity, educational achievement, and community 
        service;
Whereas Joe Paterno has accumulated all 324 of his coaching wins at Penn State, 
        where he is currently in his 52d season as an assistant or head coach;
Whereas Joe Paterno has been on the coaching staff during more than half of all 
        the football games played at Penn State since the football program began 
        in 1887;
Whereas Joe Paterno's coaching career has spanned 11 United States Presidential 
        administrations;
Whereas Joe Paterno led Penn State to 2 national championships, in 1982 and 
        1986;
Whereas Joe Paterno led Penn State to 5 perfect seasons, in 1968, 1969, 1973, 
        1986, and 1994;
Whereas Joe Paterno has won 20 bowl games at Penn State, an NCAA record;
Whereas Joe Paterno is the only coach to have won all 4 traditional New Year's 
        Day Bowl games--the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Orange Bowls--as well as 
        the Fiesta Bowl;
Whereas the American Football Coaches Association has named Joe Paterno the 
        Coach of the Year an unprecedented 4 times, in 1968, 1978, 1982, and 
        1986;
Whereas Joe Paterno has coached 55 first-team All-Americans;
Whereas Joe and Sue Paterno are blessed with 5 children and 9 grandchildren;
Whereas Joe Paterno's traditional game-day attire of coat and tie, rolled 
        pantleg cuffs, white socks, and black football shoes is recognized in 
        sporting circles across the Nation;
Whereas Joe Paterno is affectionately known as ``JoePa'' to his extended Penn 
        State family and to the rest of the football world; and
Whereas Joe Paterno received a touching retrospective from his high school 
        mentor at the Brooklyn Preparatory School, the late Father Thomas 
        Bermingham, who said: ``The Father gave me the sense that I was being 
        handed a treasure. Joe is a treasure.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION. 1. JOSEPH VINCENT PATERNO.

    The House of Representatives--
            (1) praises Joseph Vincent Paterno for his steadfast commitment to 
        academics, service, and citizenship;
            (2) congratulates Joseph Vincent Paterno for his many coaching 
        accomplishments, including his 324th career coaching victory; and
            (3) thanks Joseph Vincent Paterno for his contributions to college 
        football, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to the Nation.

SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL.

    The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy of this 
resolution to Joseph Vincent Paterno and to the President of the Pennsylvania 
State University.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.