Joe Paterno: The Coach from Byzantium

This lightweight volume is as much an autobiography of George Paterno as it is a biography of his much more famous older brother, Penn State football coach Joe. From the outset, the author sets a whiny tone, declaring that although his brother was the apple of their mother's eye, it was left to George to look after her following the death of their father, while Joe was busy making a name for himself in the football world. The brothers shared a similar early life with both attending Brooklyn Prep in New York City and then Brown University. The two went their separate ways after college with Joe becoming an assistant coach at Penn State, while George joined the Marines, became a NYC police officer and then a coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Joe was named head coach of Penn State in 1966, and, through the 1996-97 season, won two national championships, 289 games, including 18 Bowl games, as well as producing five undefeated and untied teams. The brothers were reunited when George became the radio analyst for Penn State games in 1976. Unfortunately for Penn State rooters, they will gain as much insight from the book about George's problems with women as they will about the strategy Joe used in Penn State's biggest games. For someone who had such close ties to the Penn State football team and its coach, George provides a surprisingly shallow look at both the team and the man. Photos. (Dec.)