SI.com provides crack to their columnists...

For someone who thinks Joepa's all washed up, he sure does get a lot of material out of him...

The world's biggest dip-shit, Stewart Mandel, who just a month ago wrote a column in which he picked Joe Paterno as one of the worst coaches in college football (see blog entry "Stewart Mandel in an Arse"), has recently chimed in with two more columns on the nation's most esteemed coach. The first is a retrospective photo-essay on Joepa's top 10 career moments. Check it out, the photos are cool and bring back some great memories. Although I think we should wait until Joe's finished to start choosing top tens. Something tells me this list will need to make room for a few more moments in the next few seasons to come.

More thought provoking though is Mandel's take on Joe's 5 Potential Successors. This piece is more indicative of Mandel's schmuck-like nature. I've bolded those picks that are crack-induced. Here's his list...

1. Penn State Def. Coord. Tom Bradley - I actually agree with this and think this is the most logical successor. Bradley isn't too old, isn't too young, has been with the program for a long time, and is an awesome recruiter. I think he would carry on Joe's "great experiment" and start his own long tradition of winning success.
2. Former Cleveland Brown head coach, Butch Davis- Huh? What kind of wacky-tobaccy are they passing around at SI.com. There is no way on God's green earth Buth Davis will ever end up coaching the Nittany Lions. Jackie Sherrill has a better shot at the job.
3. Virginia D-Coord. Al Golden - First question, if PSU was going to hire a D-Coord. for the job why would they consider anyone other than Bradley? I know Golden used to play at PSU but so did Phil Yeboah-Cody and he isn't going to be coaching PSU anytime soon either.
4. Iowa head coach, Kirk Ferentz - I know this is the popular school of thought among chat-room folks out there but let me just say this... it ain't gonna happen. The next move for Ferentz will be to the NFL not to another Big Ten school.
5. PSU assistant, Jay Paterno - Yet another wild rumor that Joe is grooming his son to be his successor. Does this sound right to anyone with a brain? What would indicate that Joe wants Jay to be the next head coach? The fact that he demoted him last fall? I, for one, don't pin all of Penn State's offensive sorrows on Jay. The man only calls the pass-plays for crying out loud. If the players can't get open, it doesn't matter which play you call. It won't work. I know he was the recruiting coordinator during PSU's slide the past few years but I don't believe Jay is to blame for that anymore than I believe current recruiting coordinator Mike McQueary is the reason for PSU's current recruiting success.

To summarize, 4 out of 5 Mandel picks are worthless. Truth is Bradley is going to get this job. It's his to lose. He makes the most sense, is the most qualified, and fits the mold the best. Don't think for a second that Joe won't have and should have the final say on his successor.

Beyond him the only other name on my short wishlist of potential coaches is former PSU D-Coordinator Jerry Sandusky.... Pipe dream, I know.