Joe Paterno featured in new Sports Illustrated

University Park, Pa. — Penn State coach Joe Paterno is featured in the Oct. 26 issue of Sports Illustrated, which hits news stands Wednesday. Sports Illustrated senior writer Joe Posnanski takes an in-depth look at the life, family and career of Paterno in eight pages of the magazine's NBA Preview issue. Posnanski's profile on the legendary coach is an elongated thank-you note to Joe's father, Angelo, who allowed Joe to forgo a career as a lawyer and follow his passion -- for 60 years and counting.

A photo of Paterno is on the magazine's cover, along with a photo of LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal for SI's NBA Preview.

Posnanski writes, "People have been telling Joe to quit for more than 40 years, going back to the time in '67 when he went for it on fourth down in the Gator Bowl against Florida State. The Nittany Lions didn't get the first down, the game ended in a tie, and on the plane ride home a joker on that team, Jack Curry, walked back to the coach, who was sitting with his head in his hands. 'Coach, don't worry about it,' Curry said. 'There's good that comes out of everything.' Joe looked up to see his player's face. Curry said, 'When you started the game, people didn't even care who the coach was at Penn State. But after you went for it on fourth-and-one, the whole country went, Who the hell is the coach at Penn State?' So, what, Joe's going to start listening to critics now? No. Joe ain't quitting. He's thriving."

This week's issue marks the second time Penn State Football has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the past three months. Senior quarterback Daryll Clark and junior center Stefen Wisniewski were one of four regional covers for SI's College Football Preview issue in August.

Penn State is making its 14th appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated during Paterno's legendary career, which includes being pictured for his selection as SI's Sportsman of the Year in 1986.

Fans will be able to purchase a reproduction of this week's SI cover and other covers featuring Penn State by going to: www.sicovers.com

Paterno, the all-time leader in victories among major college coaches with 389, and Penn State will put their 6-1 record on the line this Saturday as the Nittany Lions travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on the 5-2 Michigan Wolverines. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and can be seen by most of the country on ABC and also on ESPN outside of the ABC coverage area.