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JoePa: Contract situation doesn't affect recruiting - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer
Apr 19, 7:19 pm EDT

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Joe Paterno doesn’t think Penn State’s recruiting will be negatively affected by his uncertain contract status.

When the subject comes up with a high school prospect, the 81-year-old Paterno said Saturday, he “tells them exactly what I think. I hope I’m going to coach here, while you’re here, I may not … who knows what’s going to happen?

“I think we had a heck of a year recruiting,” Paterno said before the Blue-White spring scrimmage.

It was his first meeting with reporters since university president Graham Spanier said the school and Paterno agreed that a new contract beyond this year isn’t necessary for a man entering his 43rd season on the sideline with the Nittany Lions. They plan to meet at the end of the season, as usual, to discuss the future.

One notable blue chipper who got away this year was quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who signed with Big Ten rival Ohio State. But Paterno said he remains optimistic about the future.

“I’m excited about the team I got, I’m excited about our prospects for recruiting,” he said he told recruits.

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