Paterno, Penn State to be featured on CBS Evening News

Jill Shockey Byron Pitts, senior news correspondent for CBS Evening News, observed new Penn State graduate Tamba Hali chatting with Coach Joe Paterno on Saturday, Aug. 12, during Football Media Day and immediately following the University's summer undergraduate commencement ceremony.

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State football coach Joe Paterno will be featured on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric on Thursday, Sept. 7 as part of Couric's debut week, which includes an interview with President Bush.

The program airs on CBS affiliates nationwide, including 6:30 p.m. ET on WTAJ-TV, Ch. 10 in the State College-Altoona-Johnstown market. Check local listings for airtime.

The network videotaped and interviewed Coach Paterno on football media day last month, with the intention of including the segment during premier week of its changeover to a new anchor, set and format. Senior news correspondent Byron Pitts conducted the interview, which focuses on the "Success With Honor" principles and values of Paterno and Penn State more than football.

CBS News officials confirmed Tuesday that the segment would run on Thursday, barring major breaking news.

Paterno is in his 41st season as head coach of the Nittany Lions. He is second in all-time victories among major college coaches and fourth in wins across all four NCAA divisions. A member of the Penn State coaching staff for 57 years, he owns a 355-117-3 (75.0) career record. Paterno has led Penn State to national championships in 1982 and '86, five unbeaten and untied seasons (1968, '69, '73, '86, '94) and is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (32) and victories (21-10-1 record).

A 1950 graduate of Brown University, Paterno also has produced more than 300 NFL players, 71 first team All-Americans, 32 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans (24 first team), 14 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his legendary career.

Paterno was selected the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time in 2005 after leading Penn State to an 11-1 record and the Big Ten and FedEx Orange Bowl titles.

Paterno and his wife, Sue, have contributed more than $4 million to Penn State for several academic and athletic building projects and to endow scholarships and faculty positions.

In December, Paterno will be among the first three active coaches or players inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame.

No. 19 Penn State (1-0) visits No. 4 Notre Dame (1-0) on Saturday in the first meeting between the national powers since 1992. The series is tied, 8-8-1. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. in South Bend. NBC Sports (WJAC-TV, Ch 6 in Centre Region), the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com will carry the action.

All Nittany Lion fans attending Saturday's game are encouraged to wear white and bring Beaver Stadium's nationally recognized "White Out" to Notre Dame Stadium.