Joe Paterno: Legends Never Die

As a Penn State student, I hold tightly to the values, beliefs, and traditions of my university. I stood by and watched, with our entire community, our board of trustees fire Spanier, Paterno, and all those believed to be part of the Sandusky coverup. I watched news cameras block me from my path to classes. I watched the media display the situation incorrectly with wrong dates, names, and events regarding my school and it’s legacy. I have chosen to not blog about the incident because it sparked such public debate. But I have chosen to break my silence, as today news has been released that Joe Paterno has been taken off his respirator.

Joe has been suffering from lung cancer, which hit news soon after his dismissal as head football coach for the university. Many believe his declining health was in part due to his broken heart over his spotless reputation being tarnished. I believe a part of that to be true.

Photo by audreyjm529 on flickr.com

Many also believe he helped cover up the scandal, and it seems to me that many who believe that have not done the proper research. The actual reports are quite graphic and hard to stomach, so I do not suggest reading them if you are not prepared to be disgusted and floored. Note:  some of what you will read is far different from what you have watched on public news stations. He chose not to rehire Sandusky and reported it to authorities, and questioned why he was still allowed on campus. Spanier allowed him to be on campus and keep an office after Paterno went to Spanier about the alleged incidences. Could Joe Pa have done more? Absolutely he could have. He could have raised all kinds of hell and brought this to national attention. But did he deliberately cover it up and pretend it never happened? Absolutely not.

There are many men involved in our university who did cover it up. There were parents of victims who knew who chose to stay quiet. The reasons are unknown, but for the men who lied on the stands, you have no reason to do what you did. And you rightfully deserve a tarnished name. But the focus should not be on them. In my opinion, the media put all of the focus on those in “power” and put zero focus on the victims. They are the ones who are truly hurt and tarnished. I know that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and the trials have an incredibly long way to go, but if these incidences indeed occured (which I believe they did) then I pray that those boys find peace. I pray that they find a chance to have a successful and happy future that is not affected by their past.

I hope the Paterno family knows that this entire university is indebted to the countless things Joe has contributed to it. The donations, the pep talks, the Thon appearances, the charities, etc. He’s not a bad man, he’s a legend. One who isn’t perfect, and one who never expected his players to be as long as they were doing their best and with good faith in their team. We’ll remember the 400 wins, every student he helped support, and every opportunity he gave along his lifetime. May God forgive his mistakes, whatever they may be, and lead him in gently.