How does a school fire a man when it named the campus library after him? Well, maybe not fire him, but nudge him out the back door?

    Welcome to Penn State.

    That proud institution is split to the core over how to handle the imminent end of Joe Paterno's coaching career. It's not a matter of if the 81-year-old mentor will soon be among the ranks of the retired, but when and how he will enter that stage of his life. A large faction of Nittany Lion backers hope it happens sooner as opposed to later, and they aren't that choosy about the method.

    Unfortunately for both parties, something has to give soon. Paterno's current contract runs out at the end of the coming season. He's said he wants to coach three to five more years. School officials are leary about any extension, and a recent discussion between Paterno, Penn State president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley yielded no progress. Spanier, who led a contingent that asked Paterno to step down during the tumultuous 2004 season, said "no talks are set up for the foreseeable future."

    What a nasty mess for all involved. Penn State backers are tired of mediocrity -- they haven't won the national championship in 22 years and are a horrifying .500 in Big 10 play over the last seven seasons -- yet the fan-base has to feel guilty about turning its back on a man who gave the program national respect and five undefeated seasons.

    And there is the matter that I sincerely hope doesn't matter. Because it doesn't. Paterno is two wins behind Bobby Bowden on the all-time victory list with 371. Bowden already has a plan in place to likely coach three or four more years, but the situation is different in Tallahassee. They've named a successor to Bowden, revamped the staff, at least prepared themselves to move into the next era. That's not the case at Penn State.

    As for the record, I ask the readers of his column who so remember the pomp and celebration surrounding Paul Bryant breaking Amos Alonzo Stagg's all-time record in 1981 just what it means now? Frankly, I never hear anyone mention it anymore. Yes, it's true that the mark either Bowden or Paterno winds up ultimately holding may never be broken. So what? How often to people sit around and talk about who has the most wins in NFL history, or NCAA basketball history?

    No, what's far more important to one's legacy is leaving while you're still relatively successful, and with a good taste in everyone's mouth. If this impasse between Paterno -- who hasn't spoken to the media since his team's December bowl victory over Texas A&M -- isn't worked out soon, you get the distinct impression a showdown is on the way, and it won't be pretty.

    Something about calling the area where the Penn State campus sits "Happy Valley" doesn't seem so fitting these days. Maybe if it was just the stadium, not the library, that bears Paterno's name, it wouldn't all feel so dirty.

    Phil Paramore's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in The Dothan Eagle. He can be heard weekday mornings from 7-9 on AM 560 WOOF. He can be reached at www.woofradio.com.