Dewman

Is succession plan in PSU's football future?

Posted by Bob Flounders/The Patriot-News January 18, 2008 17:52PM

Head coaching succession plans are all the rage in college football these days.

Florida State made one. Purdue introduced one recently. And today it was Kentucky's turn to make such a disclosure. So who's next? Could it be Penn State?

University president Graham Spanier and PSU athletic director Tim Curley tap-danced around the topic today during a break from a scheduled university trustees' meeting in State College.

Spanier said he also intends to meet with Penn State head coach Joe Paterno in the next couple of months to discuss the 81-year-old's future beyond 2008.

Spanier said he expects Paterno, the Nittany Lions' head coach since 1966, to coach in 2008, the last year of his current contract.

Paterno said throughout the 2007 season he would like to coach past 2008 but Spanier said he has not had a chance to speak with the coach about his long-term status.

And Spanier wanted no part of a question concerning a PSU coaching succession plan, declining to comment on the matter.

Curley was vague on the subject, admitting it is important to have a future