Okay...let's put that into perspective...since coaches don't matter...
than Woody Hayes' 3 yards and a cloud of dust would still be winning (not)...
and you know how many Full House backfields you see...gotta love all of those triple option offenses that Okie and Neb used from the 50's to the mid 80's that are still rolling through college football (Not)...
If JoePa is still coaching the way he always does (and I agree...he does...with more senility...and less success)...PSU will disappear from the football map...
Joe Gibbs will win in Washington again...Why? 2 reasons...
1. He's a good evaluater of talent for what he wants to do...and he has the means to go out and get it (as opposed to an idiot like Spurrier recruiting Gators...or their wonderful owner throwing money to everyone)...
2. He's meticulous in what he needs to do to win...and has the staff to do it.
You're crowing about Gibbs sucking 3 GAMES INTO HIS RETURN! Now I am thoroughly aware Va that you are far to vast in your knowledge of football to make a judgement on Gibbs after 3 FREAKIN' GAMES!!!
Of course...comparing Gibbs to JoePa is really a non-factor point here...being that Gibbs doesn't have to recruit players...
Let's start with recruiting. PSU isn't the recruiting juggernaut that they used to be. They had always been able to outrecruit most teams for PA players 1...and high quality players that they were contesting other major schools with. That happens with a much greater infrequency. Even you can admit that. You know the big 3 in recruiting.
1. Team Prestige--PSU still carries some of that because of Paterno's past record...and standing in the NCAA...but...if you have an 80 year old coach battling most other Big 10 coaches for a recruit...you know what those other coaches are saying in the Living Room talks..."What have you done for me lately JoePa (lose)," and "What will you get in the future..." PSU's days of winning the Big 10 and the National Title are far in the past...far...far in the past...and it's a hard sell to many players who are being recruited by Big 10 winners and/or other conference and national title contenders. OSU has been making a habit of outrecruiting the Michigans and the Michigan St.'s for top tier Ohio players (and generally...OSU got most of those recruits anyways...but always 4 or 5 of them would slide to Michigan or State because Cooper had his head up his ass). Enter Tressell, who knows the rounds in Ohio from his days as an OSU assistant, as well as his days as YSU's head coach. He generally gets all of the major Ohio recruits now...as well as throwing his hat into PA, Maryland and Florida...and snaking 1 or 2 major recruits there as well.
2. PT--Here's where PSU is probably winning what recruits they get...you have the ability to turn the program back to the winner...but alone...this means squat.
3. Coaching philosophy...now...Paterno's offense has always been run oriented...but adaptable to the players he has...a pro style set of course...so the philosophy itself should be successful...but...it's hard to sell a damn coach that really isn't winning anymore (to PSU standards)...and has the appearance of NOT CHANGING!
Bottom line here...there aren't many recruits that are enamored with PSU anymore for the reasons they used to be...Playing for Paterno is...well...obviously not the same...and kids aren't growing up dreaming for wearing the old school PSU colors...when the speed and flash of the Florida teams...Oklahoma...USC...even Ohio State...are more coveted...and come knocking for those top recruits Paterno covets...
Paterno isn't winning anymore...in the past 5 years...PSU has had 1 winning season...and is a combined 24-28...which is a death-bed for a team who USED to be discussed in the same manner as the Florida teams...Notre Dame (who's luster will always be there)...OSU, Oklahoma...the football royalty...
not anymore my friend...not anymore...
and you can make your comments about how important coaching is until the cows come home...but you don't have to be a magician to figure out that Ohio State became good again because of Tressell's philosophy...and ability to get the coaches and recruits that fit it (Cooper recruited more talented out of state players...but couldn't win the big ones with them)...it's called change...and you have to on occasion to field winners. Some coaches change...and Paterno did it while he was still able to...but he's done...period...
Utah wins why? Their overabundance of talent? No...they have a damn good coach...
Oklahoma blew ass for years after the Switzer fiasco...until they got Stoops in there...who changed the shit out of the philosophy of the program...
Notre Dame has been brilliant at this through the years...moving from coach to coach...with brief interludes of Davies and Foust...
You compare Paterno to freakin' Riley and Gibbs...two pro coaches who were mired in idiotic spending...you just can't compare freakin' college coaches to pro coaches...especially when you look at Paterno coaching for 40 fucking years....add the fact that he had 1 LOSING SEASON IN ALL HIS YEARS OF COACHING UNTIL 2000...
and has had 3 out of 4 years since then...and is 2-2 now...
in PSU's case, IT IS THE COACH...period.