In the race for most wins in college football history, two men are separated only by the number six.

If Joe Paterno's team wins Tuesday night, the gap will be five. If Bobby Bowden's team wins, the gap will be seven.

And the more you listen to the two men talk, you realize that's about as close to being similar they will become.

There is no question this Orange Bowl affair has been immersed into a walking timeline about two prestigious legacies; about impact of men long into their 70s; about a straight-shooting Italian man from Brooklyn, Paterno, and a man with a drawl as long as a shotgun from the deep south, in Bowden.

Throughout the week leading up to the game, the media have tried to present both Bowden and Paterno in a manner that will yoke one another long after their days on this earth have past.

Part of that is because they should be linked; they have performed wonders for their universities. You could argue that no other men have made more positive stamps on franchises or programs in the history of sports.

How have they been able to be successful for so long? How have they stayed with the same programs across decades? How has the nature of dealing with young men changed?

But the other part of is because newspapers have to fill space, and because TV has to air something remotely intriguing.

Under the surface, though, Bowden certainly ranks higher on the media's list of likeability than does Paterno. This is mainly because Paterno is stubborn, and you can contribute that trait to a hefty portion of his success. It has always been about what Paterno wanted to do, and it'd be hard to argue with his accomplishments.

But Bowden is no slouch in his own right. He's won national titles, too, and he still understands that having a healthy relationship with owners of ink and cameras is paramount in this profession.

“I feel like you can't succeed because you need to get your team projected out there,” Bowden said. “So I've always done my best to make myself available to the media.”

A few weeks ago, during the week of final exams for Penn State, previously scheduled player availability was cancelled twice in the same week on Paterno's orders. There were final exams that same week for Florida State, but the media were allowed to speak with Florida State players, including freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford preparing to play in his first bowl game. “I have no obligation to you guys, I just want you to understand that,” Paterno said on Dec. 7.

This coming from the same man who lobbied profusely all season that Michael Robinson be considered as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Then, when Robinson wasn't invited to attend the ceremonies in New York City, he blamed the media for not having enough impact in swaying voters.

This coming from a man who earlier in the season said defensive end Tamba Hali doesn't get enough ink.

If Paterno thinks he doesn't need the media sometimes, he is highly mistaken.

Should we respect Paterno for being honest about his disposition with the media or should we appreciate Bowden for admitting that exposure is essential?

The root of the problem lies only when hardship comes. Once upon a time Paterno met with media members on Friday nights before games in a relaxed setting. About two years ago those sessions ceased, ironically around the time when wins ceased also.

In fairness to Paterno and Bowden, there are predators in the world of journalism, sadly to say.

Controversy sells, whether it's a player like Florida State's A.J. Nicholson being reported on for an alleged sexual assault days before a bowl game, or a former Penn State player in Joe Jurevicius who once missed a bowl game for cutting class. News is news, albeit good or bad. Programs expect their teams to be exposed in moments of success, and should also expect truth to come out when setbacks occur.

Perhaps Paterno never expected what headlines might look like if Penn State ever hit a slide.

“You guys can pick on me all you want but I don't pay attention to what you guys think, because I don't have to,” Paterno said. “I really don't give a damn what you guys think.”

Visiting another program makes you realize how guarded Penn State football can be.

“I've tightened up a little bit the last five and six years simply because of criticism,” Bowden recently admitted. “It gets to the point where you can't hardly take it anymore.”

Though after the Nicholson incident surfaced recently, Bowden was open and honest about how the loss affected his team. It is unlikely Paterno would have been as frank, let alone commenting on the subject.

But if college football's all-time winningest coach knows a respectful working relationship with the media is necessary, how can anyone else refute that?

“You gotta do it, y'all got the pens,” Bowden said. “We better meet y'all's standards every now and then.”