Paterno Likes Big Ten Possibilities

Joe Paterno thinks the time may be right for Penn State to drop its independent status and join the Big Ten.

“I would be very pleased about it if it happens,” the football coach said Friday during a news conference to discuss Penn State’s Holiday Bowl game against Brigham Young at San Diego Dec. 29.

Big Ten Chairman Stanley Ikenberry had said Thursday night that bringing the Nittany Lions into the conference was under discussion. An announcement is expected within the next week.

“The schools in the Big Ten are similar institutions to ours academically,” said Paterno, who plans to retire in three years when he turns 65. “It would be a great thing for the prestige of this institution to be identified with those people.

“Athletically, it would be a plus in just about every area. It would be good for our football. I can’t speak for our other coaches or Athletic Director Jim Tarman, but as far as I am concerned as a football coach, I’ll be excited about it.”

Penn State belongs to the Atlantic 10 Conference in basketball and other sports but always has been an independent in football. Paterno tried to organize an Eastern all-sports conference, but failed when major schools such as Pittsburgh and Syracuse joined the Big East.

Joining the Big Ten would help ease the financial pressure on Penn State’s football program, which supports the 28 other sports programs at the school. Paterno has said that Penn State must play seven games at home to make ends meet.

This year, Penn State declined to sign a new 10-year contract with Syracuse, a traditional rival, because the Orangemen refused to play six of the games in State College.

If Penn State is admitted to the conference, however, the changeover will take years. Schedules already are complete through 1992, and some opponents have been scheduled as late as 1996.

“I don’t know what has to happen in terms of schedules,” Paterno said. “I have a general idea, but I’m really not going to give it a thought until I hear it’s about to happen.”