Paterno to revisit Carrier Dome

Penn State will visit Syracuse University to play football for the first time since 1989 Saturday.

 

The teams have not at all since 1990, which is too bad, because it was a great series for a long time, even if the Nittany Lions did dominate it for most of the last 25 years.

 

I covered Penn State-Syracuse once back in the early 1970s. I think it was 1973, a game the Lions won 49-6 at Archbold Stadium. I don’t remember anything about the game except that afterward, some of us trundled down to the visiting locker room after the game to talk to Paterno, who already was becoming a legend. I remember Joe stood in the doorway while about a half-dozen of us asked him questions. He answered a few questions – my recollection was that he was not all that charming, but maybe I’m wrong – and then I think he opened the locker room, but I’m not sure. I don’t recall what players I spoke to, if any. All I really remember is talking to Paterno.

 

Saturday, I’m sure there will be two dozen writers trying to speak to Paterno, and they won’t fit in that hallway that leads to the visiting locker room.