Where Does the Paterno Family Stand With Penn State?
Jay Paterno complements Matt Campbell, Penn State Nittany Lions' new coach, for bringing together current players and alumni, boosting community spirit.
Video Transcript
Do you think Penn State and the Paterno family, do you think you guys, where are you right now when it comes to Penn State and the administration right now?
Are you guys trying to get together?
Because I pray to God one day we see that again because every time I turn on Penn State, I, people are under the notion James Franklin made the thing.
And I'm like, "Wait a minute, that's not the case here.
This is Joe Pa, dude."
Do you think you'll ever see that merging again where that relationship is back in a great spot?
Well, I, I, I can tell you right now, Matt Campbell, who's our new coach, I have a great relationship with him already.
and I've spent a lot of time with him, and he has really done an unbelievable job.
You know Miami, you, you know from Miami, they went through a period where the former players were kind of, got the stiff arm and, and we kind of went through that a little bit the last decade or so.
But Matt Campbell has made it a point to bring former players back to engage the current players with the former players.
You know, you have, you had guys coming in, you know, he brought in a different decade every weekend.
So a guy like Kerry Collins, who played in the '90s, is sitting down having dinner with the current quarterbacks, and they're learning about what, you know, what this place is about and what they stand for.
So it's been really, really good.
Matt has done a great job.
I think Matt, I think the people of this community, the people, Penn State fans are really excited about what he can do and rallying to the cause.
So I think, I think we've, we're in a really good place there.
I gotta tell you, you know, all the things that you guys did, Paternoville and all that back in the day, I wanna see that stuff coming back because it's truly one of the greatest fan bases of all time.
To see where Penn State is right now.
When you guys first went into the Big Ten, I mean, Jay, your pop built that thing.
What was that stadium when he first got the job, 30,000?
Now all of a sudden it's over 100,000.
Is that right?
I think it was 50,000 or something to that effect, but you know, it's 107,000 now.
But, but, but I think, I think we're there.
I think our fan base is excited about Matt Campbell.
I think part of it is this.
One of the things Matt Campbell said in his first press conference really jumped out at a lot of people.
He said, "If the only reason you're gonna come to Penn State is 'cause we offer you the most money, this may not be the place for you."
And I think you're seeing that to an extent where Ohio State, Ryan Day, has got guys buying into the whole program.
Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame.
Certainly Mario Cristobal down in Miami, he's got guys buying into the idea that this program is more than just wins.
It's more just wins and losses, about being part of something.
'Cause I've said this 100 times, any fool with a checkbook in college sports right now can build a roster, but can you build a team?
And I think Matt's that kind of coach.
I think he, there's a, there's more coaches like that now I think that are emerging and having success, and I think that's good for the future of college football.
