STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — While the names of coaches change on the other side of the field, Penn State’s Joe Paterno remains a postseason constant.
The Outback Bowl against Florida on New Year’s Day will be the Nittany Lions’ 37th appearance in a bowl game in JoePa’s 45 years on the sideline, both major college records.
Paterno two weeks ago squashed talk that the bowl game might be his last, by reiterating he had no intention to step away in 2011 despite the annual round of rumors to the contrary. As it turns out, the Outback Bowl will be Urban Meyer’s last game coaching Florida. He announced this week he was retiring.
Paterno on Friday called Meyer an innovator and one of the “great coaches of the last 25 years.” Both coaches have won two national titles.
