10 Facts About Joe Paterno

Today, Joe Paterno won his 400th game, becoming the first Division I coach ever to hit the 400-win mark. Paterno downplayed his historic victory, calling it just another win, but it feels like an appropriate time to go through some of the things that the legendary Penn State coach has accomplished in his career.

Here are 10 facts about Joe Paterno.

1.) All five of Joe Paterno’s kids went to Penn State, but Paterno didn’t go to Penn. Paterno went to Brown University.

2.) Paterno started head coaching in 1966.

3.) Paterno and the Nittany Lions won their first championship together in 1982. They won on a hail marry pass.

4.) When Paterno won the Rose Bowl in 1995, he became the first coach to win the Rose, Cotton, Sugar, and Orange Bowls. (tv.com.)

5.) Paterno has had 5 undefeated seasons with Penn State. (Funtrivia.com)

6.) Paterno’s first win with Penn State came in 1966 when the Nittany Lions beat Maryland.

7.) Paterno won his 200th game against the Bowling Green Falcons in 1987.

8.) In 1998, Paterno won his 300th game, also against the Bowling Green Falcons.

9.) Joe was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame on May 16, 2006.

10.) In his 45th season, Joe Paterno became the first FBS coach to win 400 games on November 6th, 2010, when Penn State rallied for a 35-21 victory over Northwestern.