Two Legends in College Football

As the college football season is fast approaching, two familiar faces will be standing on the sidelines for their schools: Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden. They have outcoached their peers and outlasted their critics.

Paterno graduated from Brown University in 1950. Bowden graduated from Howard in 1953. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer (the dean of SEC coaches) was born in 1950, USC coach Pete Carroll was born in '51, and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was born in '60. Florida's new head coach Urban Meyer was born in 1964, five years after Bowden took his first head coaching job.

Their success has been astounding. The last time Bowden spent the holidays at home watching the bowl games was 1981; the Seminoles have been in a bowl the last 22 years. Paterno holds the record for the most bowl victories (20). Both men have 2 national championships. They are 1-2 in all time wins: Bowden (351) and Paterno (343).



Both men's success has slowed in recent years, Paterno's more than Bowden's. Paterno's program has gradually declined since entering the brutal schedule of the Big Ten, posting 3 losing seasons in the past 5 years. Although he is still winning and going to bowls, the rapid improvement of the rest of the ACC has made Bowden's dominance fade. With the recent expansion of the conference, things will only be tougher for the Noles.

Their success off the field is most impressive. Both are devoted husbands and fathers. Bowden has been married for over 50 years; Paterno over 40. Both men are serious about their faith and considered authentic. Paterno has left a remarkable legacy at Penn State, well beyond football. Because of his efforts in promoting education and raising money for the academic endeavors of the university, the school library was named in his honor. Bowden has also left an impact beyond the game. His Christian influence among the players and coaches is well known, having won an award from Fellowship of Christian Athletes for his spiritual impact.

How much longer will they coach? Bowden turns 76 in November and Paterno turns 79 in December. Paterno has stated that he will hang it up if the Nittany Lions have another bad year, but he also recently stated he'd like to coach another 10 years. The percentage of happy people in Happy Valley has been declining with the Lions winning percentage. Bowden is still on top of his game, and since he is 3 years younger than Paterno, odds are he will outlast his friend by a few years. Some would think we are probably witnessing their final years of coaching, but I wouldn't be surprised if folks were wondering the same thing 10 years ago. And how many years did people speculate of Strom Thurmond's retirement?

Fast forward 10 years: 2015. The BCS has finally kicked the bucket, but neither Bowden or Paterno have. In fact, they are still coaching. More than that, their teams have survived the first playoff system in Division I football history and the Nittany Lions and the Seminoles are scheduled to meet on the gridiron for the National Championship! Impossible, you say? When it comes to these two guys, don't bet against it!