Paterno signs contract extension

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 13 (UPI) -- Despite growing criticism that the game has passed him by, Penn State's Joe Paterno signed a four-year contract extension Thursday.

The 77-year-old coach is now under contract through the 2008 season.

Boasting the second-winningest mark in Division I-A history with a 339-109-3 record, Paterno will be entering his 55th season at Penn State and his 39th as the Nittany Lions' coach.

However, Penn State is just 22-26 in the last four seasons. Last year, the Nittany Lions endured the worst record in the program's history, finishing 3-9.

"I still enjoy coaching and I'm excited about the upcoming season and the incoming recruiting class," Paterno said. "Penn State's future is bright and we are determined to have a team which in the future will again be in the mix for a national championship."