To put things in perspective, Paterno said the last time he was part of a football team that went 2-6 was back in high school. That team ended up 2-7.
But the mounting off the field problems of the season thus far has caused concern for the Penn State patriarch.
The Lions have gone winless in their last four games, having not garnered a win since the 32-10 victory over lowly Kent State over a month ago.
However, the bigger picture speaks volumes of Paterno's consummate troubles. Since 2000, Penn State has a record of 21-23, which some say is justification to start looking for a new head coach. Still, Paterno stuck by his teams and his work.
"In the last couple of years, every game we have played we have been competitive whether it is 10, 12, six or seven points," Paterno said. "We have a challenge, there is no question about it, but that doesn't bother me. I have never been a guy that wanted to back away from a fight."
This year, it's not just the losses that have caused Paterno dissonance. He has received criticism for off-field issues some of his players have gotten in trouble for. In the last two weeks alone, Paterno has had to deal with questions regarding the DUI citation of the team's leading receiver Tony Johnson and a harassment charge against recently dismissed offensive lineman Tommy McHugh, among others.
"It is interesting that most of the off-the-field things that have happened have really not been people, outside of Tony Johnson, who have contributed much to the football team," Paterno said. "I think it has had more of an impact on me personally in the sense that I have had to spend more time answering questions such as this and trying to figure out how to be fair to everybody involved in all of the different things. I have had a tough time convincing people that I am not dealing with inanimate objects."
Further taxing Paterno was the failure of senior offensive tackle Damone Jones to make the travel roster for the Iowa game due to violation of team rules regarding drinking during the week. What seemed to disappoint Paterno the most was that Jones is one of the team's senior leaders.
This coming at a time where the elder Lion has criticized the play of his more experienced juniors and seniors.
"I am disappointed in a couple of people who are upperclassmen who I thought would be playing better than they are playing," Paterno said.
Yet some things never change; he remains the beacon of hope for Penn State.
Although Paterno vocalized his frustrations about the current state of his football team, he remained defiant to face the challenge and salvage the remainder of the season.
"I can go home and cry or I can come out fighting," Paterno said. "I still like my team. I am disappointed in some things that have happened. Overall, we have been competitive in every game. It is not a question that we have quit, died or been overpowered."
