TAMPA, Fla. — Penn State coach Joe Paterno got a ringing endorsement for his plans to return next season from one key member of the Penn State brass when athletic director Tim Curley said he expects Paterno to coach in 2011, the final year of his current contract.
“We’re focused on getting another bowl win and the prospect of another year with Joe and the coaching staff,” Curley said Wednesday here at the Tampa Convention Center, adding no discussion of a succession plan has taken place.
Paterno and university officials will meet sometime after the bowl game, but there’s no timeframe for when that meeting will take place. Paterno stated his intention to coach next season prior to the regular season finale against Michigan State.
Since then, Internet rumors of retirement and a possible staff shakeup swirled around the program for the last month. Paterno, 84, shot down retirement talk Tuesday, cooling down speculation of major change for the football program as it prepares for its New Year’s Day game with Florida in the Outback Bowl.
“One thing about the program is it’s always been pretty focused,” Curley said.
Bradley ‘flattered’ by Temple interest
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was flattered Temple expressed interest in him replacing Al Golden, who took the Miami job, but did not disclose much detail about the interview process.
Temple hired Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio — which Bradley called “a great hire” — but Paterno’s longest-tenured assistant was not shy about his feelings toward getting a call from Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw.
“You get a call and you’re flattered,” said Bradley “Anybody who knows me knows I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
Bradley’s name was also linked to the coaching vacancy at Pitt before it hired Mike Haywood. One of seven children who grew up in Johnstown, outside Pittsburgh, Bradley is a recruiting bulldog in Western Pennsylvania, but the life-time assistant’s window for getting a head coaching gig in major college football appears to be closing.
“I have it pretty good. I work for a pretty good guy,” said Bradley, who declined to have Paterno help him pursue the Temple job. “I’m happy where I am, where I work. I’m OK.”
Said Bradley, dressed in a navy suit, black shoes and wearing a gold, silver and blue watch: “If I don’t become a head coach, that’s not going to define me.”
If Penn State chooses to hire its next coach within the staff, Bradley is considered by many to be the front-runner to succeed Paterno. But that’s been a topic of discussion for the last decade, when Bradley was promoted to defensive coordinator after long-time assistant Jerry Sandusky retired.
“By the time [Paterno] retires, I’ll be collecting my own social security,” he joked.
Even though Bradley was bypassed for a head coaching position last week, he wouldn’t rule out pursuing future head coaching openings and a chance to run his own program.
“Everyone has a blueprint,” he said. “I’ve learned from a pretty good guy. You have in your mind how to do things. The most important thing is to be yourself.”
STEP increases season ticket attrition
No major financial losses are expected to hit the football program as it transitions into its Seat Transfer Equity Program (STEP).
Ninety-three percent of season ticket holders plan to renew their tickets for the 2011 season, the first year of the newly implemented seating system, Penn State announced Wednesday.
Curley said the athletic department planned for an additional 3-4 percent attrition from an average year, which sees about 2-3 percent attrition.
Sixty-nine percent of ticket holders retained their current seats, 20 percent upgraded seating, 7 percent got rid of their tickets and 4 percent downgraded their seats.