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Paterno enjoying Penn St. success

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 24, 2001

ATLANTA -- Just like the rest of Happy Valley, Joe Paterno was swept up in hoops fever Friday.

The Nittany Lions football coach traveled to Atlanta to watch Penn State make its first appearance in the round of 16 since 1955.

"I'm a basketball fan, just like everybody else," said Paterno, who came as a guest of school president Graham Spainer.

Of course, most average basketball fans don't get a standing ovation when they enter the arena, the way Paterno did as he took his seat early in the Michigan State-Gonzaga game, played before the Nittany Lions took the court against Temple.

"Joe-Pa-ter-no! Joe-Pa-ter-no!" the Penn State fans chanted as the coach made his way to his seat near center court, along with women's coach Rene Portland.

A couple thousand Penn State fans hit the road around midnight for the 15-hour drive to Atlanta. Former Nittany Lions football players Todd Blackledge, Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell also traveled to Atlanta.

But nobody creates as big a stir as Paterno, who says he's ecstatic about the basketball team's unexpected rise this season.

"I'm for anything that's good for the university, no matter what it is," said Paterno, whose team went 5-7 last year. "I had a tough year last year in a lot of different ways. But it's great to see the enthusiasm on campus. I'm excited, just like everybody else."

Paterno said he planned to travel home today, then return to Atlanta on Sunday if Penn State won. Spring football practice begins Wednesday, but Paterno denied he juggled the schedule to watch basketball.

DUNN'S REWARDS: It appeared that Penn State coach Jerry Dunn might be out of a job two weeks ago. Now he's poised to become one of the most wanted coaches in the game.

Dunn has turned a school famous for Paterno and football into one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.

"If he gets out of this region, they're going to give him more than a parade," said former Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery, an analyst for CBS. "They'll have to give him a picnic in Joe's back yard."

The success comes at an opportune time for Dunn, whose contract expires after the season.

At least 20 Division I schools are looking for coaches, and Dunn's tournament performance probably will get him consideration for many of the openings, several analysts have said.

"Jerry certainly has earned it," ESPN's Dick Vitale said. "He's in great shape. He can dictate things right now because he's a hot item."

The Nittany Lions' administration isn't talking about Dunn's contract. Pat Donghia, the school's assistant sports information director in charge of men's basketball, said the school hasn't offered an extension to Dunn.

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