Penn State has to develop a better game plan

"I don't care what you say, the man has earned the right to decide when he's going to leave. He is the quintessential American football coach."

Listening to Paterno, one can tell that he feels he is ever-so-close to recapturing the magic: a victory here, a recruit there and Penn State will storm back to glory next year and he can ride off in triumph.

That's not going to happen. I don't know if Paterno has noticed, but the competition in college football has become rigorous than ever. There are no more mythical national championships: teams have to win on the field, in conferences that take no prisoners. Teams with championship aspirations can barely afford one loss. This is brutal for a coach at any age, but for Paterno the climb is arduous.

Paterno has lost something, I'm not sure what it is - whatever gives the Larry Cokers, Bob Stoopses and Pete Carrolls the juice to turn programs around.

Paterno has something most coaches lack: tenure, as a professor of physical education. It was granted when he was promoted to head coach by Eric Walker, then the university president. No matter what happens in football, he will still have a job.