Penn State coach Joe Paterno was injured in yesterday’s practice after getting knocked down by a receiver running routes, reportedly suffering injuries to his right arm and hip.
But a scary moment alone won’t keep the 84-year-old off the field for long.
Said Paterno, via GoPSUSports.com:
“I expect to be back at practice soon. I’m doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me. I like the effort I have seen from the squad during our first few practices, but we have a long way to go to get ready for the schedule we have.”
This isn’t the only incident in which Paterno got injured on the field.
In November 2006 in a game against Wisconsin, Paterno was unable to avoid a play and was struck in the knee by a Badgers linebacker. He suffered a fractured shin bone and damage to knee ligaments, but that didn’t stop him from coaching in a press box in the 2007 Outback Bowl.
In November 2008, Paterno had hip replacement surgery after straining his leg demonstrating onside kicks at 81 years old. That didn’t stop him. He coached the remainder of the season and the 2009 Rose Bowl from the press box again. He even made use of a motorized golf cart to get around during practices.
But in 2011? A couple injuries to his right arm and hip?
Pssh, no big deal.
If we know anything about Paterno throughout the years it’s that he loves coaching, and he will do everything in his power to coach, whether it be via press box or motorized golf cart.
What other 80-year-old man doesn’t call it quits after getting plowed into by a player five times his size?
Paterno’s injuries originally sounded pretty serious, given he got hit by a receiver going full speed. But it didn’t surprise me that the day after the collision he said he was perfectly fine.
And with the Nittany Lions ranked No. 25 in the USA Today preseason poll, Penn State couldn’t be any happier that Paterno’s injury was a minor speed bump.
