Penn State football coach Joe Paterno will receive the American Football Coaches Association's Amos Alonzo Stagg Award today. The award, which honors those "whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football," will be presented to Paterno at the Sears/AFCA Awards Luncheon during the AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Paterno, the NCAA Div. I-A career leader in victories, is the third coach from Penn State to receive the AFCA's most prestigious award. Richard Harlow, who coached at Penn State from 1915-1917, received the award in 1949.

Rip Engle, who coached at Penn State from 195-1965, was Paterno's coach at Brown and the man who hired him as an assitant coach at Penn State, received the award in 1969.

Entering his 37th season as head coach, Paterno owns a 327-96-3 record and a winning percentage of .771.