Here at Penn State, our athletic programs always preach one main message: success with honor. No person exemplifies this message more than Penn State’s long-time head football coach, Joe Paterno. Since being named the Nittany Lions’ head coach way back in 1966, JoePa’s teams have accumulated 401 victories and 24 bowl wins. A new book is being released that reiterates a theme we are familiar with: Joe Paterno is Penn State.

Captains’ Letters to Joe: Personal Reflections From The Captains Over The Years is a glimpse into the mind of past Penn State football captains. To commemorate the season of JoePa’s 400th victory, Penn State’s captains dating back to JoePa’s inaugural year as head coach in 1966, wrote letters to their coach and presented them as a gift at the 2010 State College Quarterback Club banquet.

The Penn State captains were asked to write a personal letter to Coach Paterno and reflect upon the impact he and Penn State made on their lives. The book’s website describes the book as a “window into the relationships and teachings of college football’s greatest coach.” Notable captains who contributed to the book include All-American and NFL great Jack Ham, Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti, All-American Kerry Collins, and Board of Trustees member Dr. David Joyner. More recent graduates Zach Mills, Michael Robinson, Paul Posluszny, A.Q. Shipley, and Darryl Clark. Here’s the full list.

Captains’ Letters to Joe is a project assembled by the Penn State Football Letterman’s Club. The project is now available to the public, with all proceeds going to the Penn State Football Letterman’s Club Scholarships, including one in the name of Joe and Sue Paterno. The scholarship, according to the book’s website, will “benefit a deserving athlete on the team that demonstrates need, academic excellence, and displays good citizenship.”

The book illustrates things that we, as fans, only hear about. Joe Paterno’s teachings have clearly impacted generations of players on and off the field, and now we will have a glimpse into the world of Penn State football.

The book is available exclusively online for a rather steep price of $39.95, but it goes towards a good cause. Check out their website for more details and follow them on Twitter @LettersToJoe.