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Posted on Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 1:14 p.m.

Photographic memory: Rita Rodriguez's first encounter with Joe Paterno

By Dave Birkett

JoePaterno.jpg

Penn State coach Joe Paterno smiles as he walks the field before an NCAA college football game against Minnesota in State College, Pa., Saturday.

AP photo

Everyone's got a good Joe Paterno story, even Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez's wife, Rita.

Twenty-five years ago, as a junior at West Virginia, Rita approached the legendary Penn State coach before a game and asked, "In the spirit of good sportsmanship, would you mind taking a picture with my cheerleaders and myself?"

"He was like the biggest celebrity she had ever met, that’s what she said,” Rich Rodriguez said Monday. “And he was. He was a celebrity then. This was 1984, 20-some years ago, and of course Joe Pa, with a group of cheerleaders, he agreed to do that.”

Rita, who was dating Rich at the time, kept the picture in her wallet for a time and still has it at home today. When the two met at a Nike function several years ago, Paterno called Rita his “little cheerleader.”

So who’s her favorite Big Ten coach now?

“That’s a good question,” Rich Rodriguez said. “She never asked to take a picture with me at the time.”

No. 13 Penn State visits Michigan on Saturday, and Rodriguez said he can’t envision coaching as long as Paterno, who’s in his 43rd year as Nittany Lions coach.

"Not even close,” Rodriguez said. “I think his record and Bobby Bowden’s records that they’ve set will be there for a long, long time. They’re going to have to hire somebody when they’re 12 and hope the person stays until he’s 50, and I don’t think that could happen. It’s quite remarkable."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

gershonpsu

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 7:14 p.m.

Thanks, reidannarbor, for the gracious words. I've known Coach Paterno for 50 years and what you see is what you get. Penn State has been blessed with one of the truly great ones. Looking forward to a great game Saturday. GO STATE! And long live JoePa.

Dylan

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 10:27 a.m.

50 - 12 = 38 < 43. Great math, RRod.

rreidannarbor

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 7:41 a.m.

I will always hope for Michigan to beat Penn State when they play but winning against a great coach and a great person like Joe Paterno...hmmm, not quite the same feeling as winning against others. JoePa represents the best of college athletics...Period.

Dave Birkett

Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 2:33 p.m.

We're working on it. Rita said she still has it. Said she came across it last year when they were moving. If she can track it down, hopefully we'll bring it to you later this week.

hattrix

Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 1:34 p.m.

So where's the picture in the story?