[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7481-H7482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING COACH JOE PATERNO
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1715) congratulating Joe Paterno on his 400th win
as Penn State Nittany Lions football coach.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1715
Whereas Joe Paterno reached the milestone of 400 wins as
head coach on November 6th, 2010;
Whereas Joe Paterno has served the Pennsylvania State
University (Penn State) with honor and distinction for 60
years since starting as an assistant coach in 1950;
Whereas in 2009, the graduation rate of Joe Paterno's
players was 89 percent, and the graduation success rate was
85 percent--both of which were the greatest among all
football teams in the final 2009 Associated Press Top 25
poll;
Whereas the legacy Joe Paterno has left at Penn State
reaches far beyond football, as he has personally given
millions of dollars to the university and raised hundreds of
millions more for the library and need-based scholarships;
Whereas Joe Paterno has been very active in the community
as a strong supporter of the Pennsylvania Special Olympics
and a national spokesperson for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Association;
Whereas Joe Paterno has more wins as head coach than any
other in NCAA Division 1A FBS history, surpassing legendary
coaches Bear Bryant in 2001 and Bobby Bowden in 2008;
Whereas Penn State is one of just seven teams with more
than 800 wins in its history, and Joe Paterno has been active
with the program for 692 of those games over 60 seasons with
an amazing record of 504-181-7 (72.8 percent);
Whereas among Joe Paterno's accolades in 45 years as head
coach are two National Championships, seven undefeated
seasons, 23 finishes in the top 10 rankings, and three Big
Ten Conference Championships since joining the conference in
1993;
Whereas Joe Paterno has 24 bowl game wins and 36 bowl game
appearances, both of which are the most of any coach in
history; and
Whereas Joe Paterno's continued dedication to his players
and emphasis on academic integrity and education has resulted
in Penn State fostering 15 Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, 34
first-team and 44 overall Academic All-Americans, and 18 NCAA
Postgraduate Scholarship winners: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates Joe Paterno for his unparalleled success
with both the Penn State football program and the University,
resulting in 400 wins as head coach; and
(2) commends Joe Paterno for setting an on- and off-the-
field example of honor, success, integrity, and respect for
thousands of players, coaches, students, and fans throughout
the Nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.
General Leave
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House
Resolution 1715 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
There was no objection.
Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1715 which congratulates
Joe Paterno for his 400th win as head football coach of the Penn State
Nittany Lions. Coach Paterno achieved this milestone win on November 6,
2010, when the Lions beat out the Northwestern Wildcats. This victory
gave him more career wins than any other coach in NCAA Division I-A
history.
For 60 years, Coach Paterno has served Penn State, first as an
assistant coach for 15 years and then head coach for the past 45 years.
In his tenure as head coach, Joe Paterno has garnered two national
championships, seven undefeated seasons, 23 finishes in the Top 10
rankings, and three Big Ten Conference championships. His 73.6 percent
career winning percentage is second-best among all active Football Bowl
Subdivision coaches.
These tangible accomplishments mirror the accomplishments of
Paterno's players off the field, which he has facilitated by bolstering
Penn State's educational facilities. Coach Paterno emphasizes the
importance of education for all of his players. In 2009, the Lions had
a Federal graduation rate of 89 percent and graduation success rate of
85 percent, according to the Department of Education, the top rates for
any college football team that year. His tutelage has helped Penn State
cultivate 15 Hall of Fame scholar athletes, 44 academic All-Americans,
and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners.
[[Page H7482]]
Coach Paterno is also a winner off the football field. He contributes
immensely to the Penn State community through charitable donations and
volunteering. He and his wife Sue have personally contributed over $4
million to various departments and colleges within Penn State.
Many of you may not know that his love for sports extends beyond
football. Coach Paterno and his wife have been adamant supporters of
the Special Olympics and, in fact, are in the Special Olympics Hall of
Fame.
{time} 1740
He is also the national spokesperson for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Association, a group that raises awareness of CMT, a neurological
disorder which affects more than 2 million people worldwide. Paterno
uses his star power to encourage donations to this worthy cause. At the
``Honor a Star, Be a Star'' Gala in 2009, Coach Paterno raised a record
$350,000 for CMT research.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and once
again congratulate Coach Paterno on his 400th win as Penn State Nittany
Lions' head football coach. Coach Paterno has excelled as a well-
rounded mentor to young players who continue to translate their skills
on the football field to rewarding lives after college.
I thank Representative Thompson for his leadership in bringing this
resolution forward.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a living legend who has walked on
the sidelines of Penn State football games since 1950, Coach Joe
Paterno.
To many who watch football, his name is iconic. Joe Paterno, or JoePa
as he is known by many, is forever linked with rolled up khakis and
black shoes and thick, broad-rimmed glasses and traditional plain blue
and white uniforms with no names on the back.
Since starting at Penn State as an assistant coach in 1950 and
becoming head coach in 1966, other college football programs have seen
their coaches come and go. In Paterno's tenure at Penn State,
Presidents and Congresses have come and gone, dating back to the Dwight
Eisenhower administration.
In his build-up to 400 wins, Paterno began winning before many
coaches on other teams were born. He has turned Penn State football
into a powerhouse program, one of only seven football programs in
history to have more than 800 wins.
But what makes Joe Paterno so different and well respected by his
fellow coaches, players and fans is the manner in which he led and
built the program. Paterno emphasizes success with honor on and off the
field.
When asked what the milestone meant to Joe, his wife, Sue Paterno,
responded that the milestones were not important to the Penn State
coach; but, rather, the most important thing to Joe was, to quote,
``The young men you develop.''
Under Joe Paterno, Penn State has had one of the highest graduation
rates in college football. In 2009, the graduation rate was 89 percent,
the highest of all football teams in the Associated Press Top 25.
Paterno has also had 15 Hall of Fame scholar-athletes, 34 first-team
Academic All-Americans with 44 overall, and 18 NCAA Postgraduate
Scholarship winners.
Joe Paterno has donated millions of his own money back to Penn State
University and helped raise hundreds of millions more for need-based
scholarships and libraries, one of which is now named the Paterno
Library. He is heavily involved in the Special Olympics and is also a
national spokesperson for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.
So today we honor Joe Paterno on reaching a historic milestone, his
400th win. He now has the most wins of any coach in Division I-A
Football Subdivision history. Along the way he passed other legendary
coaches such as Bear Bryant and Bobby Bowden, both of whom Joe Paterno
called friends.
At Penn State there is a saying: ``We are Penn State.'' As an
alumnus, I know it well and have heard it echo through Beaver Stadium
in State College on game day. But what this one coach has done for one
school, one program, thousands of players and coaches and the sport
altogether has resonated throughout the country. Joe Paterno is Penn
State. Joe Paterno is college football.
I urge my colleagues to commend Joe Paterno on this milestone by
supporting this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HIRONO. It is clear that Coach Paterno is not only an exemplary
coach, but he is an exemplary human being and a model to us all. I urge
my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1715.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________