In today's money-fueled sports world, Joe Paterno might seem out of place with his emphasis on sportsmanship and discipline.

Paterno shared his commitment to these qualities with an audience of Penn State students and faculty Saturday afternoon as the final speaker in "Ethics: The Inaugural Symposium," a three-day conference about ethical issues sponsored by the Rock Ethics Institute.

"Timing is everything in life," Paterno said, adding that now is the time to examine ethics and values.

Paterno examined the history of ethics in sports, discussed their role in athletics and bridged the gap between sports and other areas of life.

He also peppered his remarks with anecdotes about his experiences as a coach.

Ethics in sports have their roots in 19th-century England, when organized sports came into prominence, Paterno said. This evolved into the current rule-based sports philosophy.

"Without strict rules, games can't be honestly contested," he said.

Paterno said the athletic climate paints two different pictures, one for the majority of collegiate athletics and another for more publicized collegiate sports.

The majority of collegiate athletics is in good shape, with more opportunities available for athletes, especially for women. Other sports programs, such as football, are faced with different problems, he said.

"There's so much money now," Paterno said. "We're losing a sense of competition — what it's all about."

Paterno told the story of signing his first contract with Penn State in 1971. His claims that he was not concerned with the amount of his salary confused those involved in the negotiating process, he said.

Athletes are now faced with more pressure and outside influences, such as gambling, drug abuse, agents and increased media scrutiny.

Paterno said players are still dedicated, and they can overcome these challenges and learn commitment and discipline from their education in classes and on the field.

"When they leave college, they are better prepared to compete," he said.

The ethics and problems of sports are often similar to those in all other areas of life, Paterno said.

"It's very difficult to isolate one area when talking about ethics," he said.

Students present at the speech said the event provided an interesting look into the life of the legendary football coach.

Jim Torres (senior-mechanical engineering) said he came to learn more about Paterno's philosophy and experiences.

"I just wanted to get to know him better," he said. "He gave me a little insight into his world."

J.J. Kowal (junior-mechanical engineering) also attended the speech to find out more about Paterno.

"I wanted to see what he felt about everything, and he definitely backed it up," he said. "He's a real genuine guy."

Paterno's speech echoed the sentiment of the symposium organizers that ethics pervade all areas of life.

The ethics learned and used in sports can be applied to all areas of life, Paterno said.

Life is a game, he said, and rules and ethics matter a great deal.

"The chief end is to win it honorably," he said.