JoePa's legacy will live on

NCAA Football Betting Lines

01/23/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Before deciding on which university I wanted to attend, and believe me it was few and far between thanks to an SAT score comparable to Babe Ruth's slugging percentage, my father said something that still resonates with me today.

The youngest of three, I knew I wanted to attend Penn State not just because my older sisters did but for the simple fact that I was a sports junkie who admired the Nittany Lions and their white helmets, plain uniforms, black shoes and winning tradition. My father said to me in the mid 90s, "Geez, I hope Joe Paterno is still head coach when you get there."

Paterno was no spring chicken at that moment and he was certainly a selling point to be a part of that Penn State tradition. I graduated in the fall of 2000, granting my father's wishes that my stay in Happy Valley coincided with Paterno's tenure as head coach. I was fortunate enough to work with great minds such as former PSU publicist Bud Thalman and SID Jeff Nelson, talented players and an intelligent coaching staff during my time in State College. However, I only had once chance to meet Paterno face-to-face and it was during a media event outside the practice facility of Holuba Hall.

I approached the iconic figure on a bright sunny day and asked him about one of his offensive lineman, Jordan Caruso, and he shook my hand and told me I should have asked him during the press conference. I understood immediately Paterno does his business with the media when its appropriate. It was my own fault that I missed the press conference -- darn campus LOOP bus -- but I am forever grateful that I had a chance to shake the Hall of Famer's hand and become just a millisecond part of his storied life.

That life came to an end Sunday, January 22, 2012, in State College, PA, the place where Paterno turned an average school into a renown institution of sports and, most importantly, academics. Paterno's life of 85 years touched the hearts of countless individuals past and present, and every person was better for it. A hard-nosed kid from Brooklyn, NY, Paterno followed his dream of being a head coach and defied his father's wishes of becoming a lawyer. It's ironic how Paterno, who temporarily let his own father down and accepted a lower salary to coach football, was an instrumental father figure to those who crossed his path.

Ask any one of his former players how they feel about the man better known as JoePa, and they'll all have similar responses. Inspiration, pride and respect were only a few lessons Paterno taught in his days and he was the epitome of "We Are...Penn State."

Former defensive standout Matt Millen shared his thoughts on the passing of college football's winningest coach at the Division-1 level.

"Forget the football aspect. We just lost a great contributor to our society. He was way more than a football coach. There are many living positive testimonies walking around because of Joe Paterno. He straightened out many lives," Millen told USA Today.

"He was rare. This was a real guy ... he was not a fake. Was he infallible? Absolutely not. He had his flaws; he made mistakes. But he was as close to being what you are supposed to be as anyone I ever have been around."

The mistakes Millen is referring to was held up in the court of public opinion regarding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, the one who is accused of molesting young boys. Sandusky, of course, was the architect of Paterno's defense and was a longtime friend of the man sporting Coke-bottle glasses, white socks and rolled up pants. Paterno was dismissed of his duties under a fiery media storm and quite possibly a Board of Trustees that saw an avenue to finally boot Paterno from his perch.

The game may have passed Paterno by and he arguably was just a figure-head in his later years with the Nittany Lions but make no mistake his years of dedication changed the landscape of college football. Other college football greats such as Bobby Bowden, Frank Beamer, Steve Spurrier and Mack Brown can all attest to that. It's the ones who are on the outside of the situation that make the most noise. Hundreds of other schools never had or never will have what Paterno brought to State College 46 years before etching his name into history. It just won't happen. Not today in this world of college sports. However, the current scandal involving Sandusky will blind those who reflect on Paterno, erasing 50-plus years of molding young minds into adults.

Hopefully, when the dust has settled and the court system is finished magnifying Penn State in a bad light, Paterno will be honored and his legacy restored.

Paterno was about family, education and simply doing the right thing. Penn State may have done the latter in tabbing New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as Paterno's successor. O'Brien made an immediate impact during his introductory press conference by bringing his son, wife and other family members along to show that he too can lead like Paterno.

I wonder if several years down the road a father will ask his son if O'Brien will still be roaming the sidelines before choosing to attend Penn State.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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