STATE COLLEGE, PA ?? THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2003 ?? He is widely regarded as the most successful coach in the history of college football, and now Penn State??s Joe Paterno is being recognized for his remarkable career accomplishments by Wheaties, "The Breakfast of Champions."
Paterno??s achievements are the stuff of legend in Happy Valley, home to Penn State??s storied Nittany Lions. For 53 years and in 595 games, Paterno has distinguished himself as a coach and instructor whose players value principles as much as victories. Paterno??s teams regularly are atop the nation??s football powerhouses in graduation rates, and he??s produced 22 first-team Academic All-Americans. That focus and commitment have returned impressive dividends on the field, as well.
In 2001, Paterno surpassed Alabama??s Paul Bryant to become the all-time leader in career wins by a major college coach. He??s also the all-time leader in bowl appearances (31) and post-season victories (20) and ranks third in all-time bowl game winning percentage with a 20-10-1 record. Paterno??s tenure at Penn State spans the administrations of 11 U.S. presidents, and his 336-100-3 record in 37 seasons as head coach is the fourth best winning percentage among active Division I-A coaches. His teams won national championships in 1982 and 1986 and were unbeaten in 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986 and 1994.
"This Wheaties box is a great tribute to discipline, hard work and dedication," Paterno said. "But the recognition really goes to the players and teams that I have had the privilege of coaching through the years. They are the true champions."
The precedent for featuring college-coaching greats on the Wheaties box dates back to 1937, when a series of boxes honored seven football coaches, including Minnesota??s Bernie Bierman, Fordham??s Jim Crowley, and Northwestern??s Lynn Waldorf. A similar series in 1939 offered tips from college basketball coaches, including USC??s Sam Barry and Minnesota??s Dave MacMillan. Many other college coaches appeared on the orange box through the years, including SMU football coach Madison "Matty" Bell in 1940 and Yale baseball coach Ethan Allen in 1946. Nebraska??s Tom Osborne appeared on the box in 1997.
"Joe Paterno obviously is a true icon among coaches," Wheaties Marketing Manager Brian Kittelson said. "Honoring Coach Paterno is especially significant in that it takes Wheaties back to its roots in the 1930s and ??40s, when college coaches made regular appearances on the package. I can think of no better coach to kick off a new series of Wheaties coaching legends boxes than Joe Paterno."
The soon-to-be-released 18-ounce package will be available regionally throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states beginning this week.
Wheaties began its association with sports in the mid-1930s with a sign on the left field wall at Nicollet Park near downtown Minneapolis. General Mills?? broadcast deal with the minor league Minneapolis Millers on WCCO Radio included the large signboard that Wheaties would use to introduce its new ad slogan: "Wheaties??The Breakfast of Champions." From that rather humble beginning, Wheaties has built a heritage that includes many of the greatest sports figures of all time.
General Mills will be making a $20,000 contribution to the Hands of Hope Ministries in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.