Paterno Inks Extension With Penn State

Kudos to Penn State for giving head football coach Joe Paterno a three-year extension, a deal that quiets any talk of dissension between Paterno and university administration. The soon-to-be 82-year-old clearly showed this season that he can still coach after guiding his Nittany Lions to an 11-1 campaign, a season that potentially could have culminated in a berth in the BCS title game if not for a slip-up at Kinnick Stadium against Iowa. The winningest coach in major college football history has his Nittany Lions instead in the Rose Bowl against Southern Cal on New Year's Day in what should be a vintage college football January 1st game.

The best part of this deal is the fact that Paterno most likely won't stay on as coach through 2011. This extension is merely a way for the university to show its appreciation for the coach who did more for the school than any other figure over the past 50-plus years. By extending his contract, it eliminates the year-to-year wrangling from both sides and allows Paterno the comfortability and peace of mind that he deserves after having to put up with his critics for the last decade.

It's just amazing that Paterno's salary is nowhere close to some other big-name coaches who have accomplished far less in shorter careers. But then again, Paterno has always been underappreciated for his efforts both on and off the football field.

Big Ben's Bullets Not Connecting

Ben Roethlisberger clearly cannot make some of the throws he has made in the past because of his bum shoulder, but look for the Steelers QB to tough out the pain for the remainder of the season. Look for the playcalling to be adjusted, however, as there is no reason to be up 17-7 and throw three picks to help the Colts steal a roadie in the Steel City. Big Ben has eight interceptions in his last three games, and the timing with his receivers has really not been there all season.

You have to feel bad for Joe Paterno. It was a great environment at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday in Iowa City, and it is always great to see the underdog overcome great odds, but it really would have been great to see Joe Pa's team at least make things really interesting by staying unbeaten until the last Saturday of its season. Instead, the Nittany Lions will have to stay motivated to compete for a Big Ten title, which would still place them in the Rose Bowl and give them a chance to play USC. Not a horrible consolation prize, but still not the national title that everyone in Happy Valley craved.

Meanwhile, has Jarrett Lee stopped throwing interceptions for LSU? Heartbreaking loss for the defending national champion Tigers, who fell to 6-3...

I know I'm probably still the only one that hasn't bought in yet, but I still don't trust Texas Tech. Sorry Lubbock...

I'm beginning to think the criticism of Ron Zook was warranted when he was the coach of the Florida Gators. I'm sorry, but you can't bring last year's Big Ten Rose Bowl rep into an empty Ford Field and get beat by Western Michigan. It just can't happen...

Very interesting to see Jim Tressel's Ohio State squad fake a punt up 31-10 midway through the fourth quarter on Saturday in its 45-10 dismantling of Northwestern at Ryan Field...and then score a touchdown with seven seconds left instead of taking a knee? Wow, can you say style points?

One last note: Dave Wannstedt may finally have his Pittsburgh Panthers playing top-notch football...finally. Pitt moved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big East with a 41-7 throttling of Louisville on Saturday, and the victory gives the program its first bowl bid and winning season in Wannie's four-year tenure.