[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 149 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 175--HONORING PENN STATE FOOTBALL COACH JOE PATERNO

  Mr. SANTORUM (for himself and Mr. Specter) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 175

       Whereas Joe Paterno has served Penn State University as a 
     coach for 52 years, a tenure spanning the administrations of 
     11 United States Presidents;
       Whereas Joe Paterno has served as Penn State's 14th head 
     coach for nearly 36 years, since February 19, 1966;
       Whereas Joe Paterno has been on the coaching staff for more 
     than half of the football games played by the Nittany Lions 
     since the program began in 1887;
       Whereas Joe Paterno always has placed a very strong 
     emphasis on academic achievement and character building, as 
     evidenced by the selection of 21 first-team Academic All-
     Americans, 14 Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, and 17 NCAA 
     postgraduate scholarship winners so far during his tenure;
       Whereas Joe Paterno's most recent NCAA 4-year player 
     graduation rate of 76 percent far exceeds the NCAA-wide 
     average of 48 percent for the same period;
       Whereas Joe Paterno and his wife, Sue, have personally 
     donated over $4,000,000 to Penn State's student library and 
     academic programs;
       Whereas Joe Paterno has led Penn State teams to 5 
     undefeated seasons;
       Whereas Joe Paterno has led Penn State teams to 20 bowl 
     game victories in his career as head coach, more than any 
     other coach in college football history;
       Whereas Joe Paterno was the first college football coach to 
     win all of the 4 major New Year's Day bowl games: the Rose, 
     Sugar, Cotton, and Orange Bowls;
       Whereas Joe Paterno led 2 teams to National Championship 
     titles, in 1982 and 1986;
       Whereas Joe Paterno's coaching efforts have yielded over 
     250 National Football League players;
       Whereas Joe Paterno has been chosen an unprecedented 4 
     times as American Football Coaches Association Coach of the 
     Year; and
       Whereas Joe Paterno, on October 27, 2001, broke the 
     longstanding record for NCAA Division I-A victories, reaching 
     the 324-victory mark, by leading his team to a 29-27 win over 
     Ohio State: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. CONGRATULATION AND COMMENDATION.

       The Senate recognizes and honors Joe Paterno--
       (1) for his lifetime emphasis on academic achievement;
       (2) for his constant integrity, professionalism, and strong 
     focus on character building for amateur athletes;
       (3) for the example he sets through philanthropic support 
     for academic programs; and
       (4) for becoming the first NCAA Division I-A football coach 
     to achieve 324 career victories, on October 27, 2001.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL OF RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this resolution to--
       (1) Penn State Football Head Coach Joe Paterno; and
       (2) Penn State University President Graham Spanier.

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