[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN TRIBUTE TO JOE PATERNO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I must admit to my colleagues today that my 
Penn State alumni pride is showing.
  This past Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania, Penn State head 
football coach Joe Paterno made history. When the Nittany Lions came 
from behind to defeat Big Ten rival Ohio State by a score of 29-27, it 
marked the 324th win for Coach Paterno, affectionately known as ``Joe 
Pa.''
  Why was that win so special? It made Coach Paterno the winningest 
major college football coach in history. That victory surpassed the 
former record of 323 wins held by the legendary Paul ``Bear'' Bryant.
  What makes the record so special, too, especially for Penn State 
alumni and fans, is that all those wins have come as Coach Paterno 
paced the sidelines as head coach for the Pennsylvania State 
University, where he has spent his entire coaching career.
  We salute Coach Paterno, his wife Sue and his family, all the teams 
he has lead over the years to victory and all the young men who have 
not only learned how to play football under his tutelage, but who have 
learned life lessons from one of the best teachers they could ever 
have.
  Here's to 324 and counting.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record an Associated Press article from 
the Sunday, October 28, 2001, edition of the Washington Post which 
reports on Coach Paterno's record-breaking win.

               [From the Washington Post, Oct. 28, 2001]

                Paterno's 324th Win Moves Coach Into 1st

       State College, PA., Oct 27--Joe Paterno spent the last 
     three months saying his chase for the major college victory 
     record was no big deal. Now that he's got it, he's changing 
     his tune.
       ``You never think it's going to be a big deal until it 
     happens like this, with this many people,'' Paterno said 
     today after his Nittany Lions rallied from an 18-point 
     deficit to beat Ohio State, 29-27. ``It's just hard to 
     describe. But I'm a very, very lucky guy to be at an 
     institution such as Penn State with all these fans.''
       The win was No. 324 for Paterno, who passed Paul ``Bear'' 
     Bryant for the record. Paterno has spent his entire coaching 
     career at Penn State, serving as an assistant for 15 years 
     before becoming head coach in 1966.
       Paterno came into the season one win behind Bryant but was 
     questioned and criticized--even by some of the Penn State 
     faithful--after his team started 0-4. He tied Bryant last 
     week with a 38-35 win at Northwestern.
       Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel said brief congratulations to 
     Paterno, then quickly went to his locker room.
       ``I have respect for his tremendous career, but that moment 
     was for he and his team,'' Tressel said.
       After the game, in the understated style Penn State fans 
     have come to expect, Paterno praised his team, hugged his 
     wife and held his grandchildren at a ceremony at midfield.
       ``I can't tell you how proud I am of this football team,'' 
     Paterno told the crowd. ``They could have packed it in a long 
     time ago. But they came back last week, and they came back 
     today, and I tell you they're going to be one hell of a 
     football team.''
       The game solidified freshman Zack Mill's spot as Penn 
     State's lead quarterback. Mills, a graduate of Urbana High 
     School who came in on the Nittany Lions' second possession 
     after Matt Senneca started, threw two touchdowns and broke 
     his own freshman passing record with 280 yards. He completed 
     17 of 32 passes and also ran for 138 yards and a touchdown.

     

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