PHOTO BY CLINTON NGUYEN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
I recently discussed the status of Penn State University football with a friend. While watching the Nittany Lions face off against Rutgers University on Sept. 13, we noticed some Scarlet Knights fans wearing t-shirts with the phrase “Joe Paterno is in hell” written across the chest.
Distressed and offended, I instantly tried supporting my childhood hero. I struggled to come up with a shred of material that could help Paterno’s case, but to no avail. No matter how hard I tried, I was unable to defend both the team I grew up adoring and its legendary head coach.
Being from Philadelphia, I have several friends and relatives currently attending Penn State. For the vast majority of my life, I considered PSU – a nationally distinguished institution – a viable option for my own college education. The child abuse scandal escalated quickly during my sophomore year of high school, though, and I opted against applying to a school with a permanently stained reputation.
Assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s despicable actions, combined with the university’s disgusting attempt to cover them up, nauseated and infuriated me – and they still do. Sandusky’s indignities that wreaked havoc throughout the Penn State community occurred over three years ago. I find that very hard to believe, however, since news headlines continue to constantly remind me of Sandusky’s acts.
Overall, tensions have simmered down significantly since 2011-12, though. In fact, the NCAA has lifted its sanctions against the university, making PSU eligible to play in the 2014 postseason and renewing its scholarships in full beginning in 2015.
Penn State has certainly done everything right since the child abuse scandal. Former FBI director Louis Freeh, who conducted the investigation back in 2011, made 119 recommendations to the University. Penn State has observed 115 of them and has started three others. As such, the NCAA deemed that they earned the removal of their sanctions.
Penn State cannot go back and undo perhaps the worst scandal in the history of college sports. It cannot console the victims of the repugnant crimes that its officials operated. But it can play postseason college football. They committed the most sickening behavior in recent history and were let off early on good behavior.
However, students went too far when they began chanting, “Where’s our statue?” referring to their one true coach: Joe Paterno. The statue, which depicted Paterno raising his finger in the air leading his team out of the tunnel, was removed from its pedestal outside Beaver Stadium in July 2012.
A new statue of Paterno will be built in 2015, but it will not return to its pedestal. Its new home will be outside the Tavern Restaurant, a popular bar located about two miles away from Beaver Stadium.
When the scandal was first exposed, most people defended Paterno. After some investigating, Joe’s followers remained steadfast. “He did what he was supposed to,” they would say. “He reported it to his supervisor, fulfilling his responsibility.” Some still say the same thing. I cannot.
Imagine being in Paterno’s shoes. Consider everything you’ve worked for, altogether 61 years of dedication, on the cusp of being stripped away because of someone else’s immoral actions. It makes perfect sense for Paterno (and Penn State as a whole) to want to keep the scandal hidden. Although Paterno technically did everything he was required to do, it is highly unlikely he made a convincing effort to unmask a disgrace that would only tarnish his own reputation.
I once saw a comic of Joe Paterno at the Golden Gates of Heaven. Saint Peter greets him, and says, “Oh, you’re here! I’ll eventually get around to telling my superior…”
In my opinion, Joe Paterno is the greatest college football coach of all time. His 409 wins, five undefeated seasons and two national championships over his 46 years at Penn State all prove his magnificent value on the football field. And although the NCAA has taken away over 100 of his wins, the wins can never be given to the teams he defeated. A win is an achievement that cannot sensibly be taken away.
But there is no evidence regarding the scandal to show his integrity. Rather, there is only evidence to suggest his treachery. The thought that Paterno was an evil man harasses me, haunts me, hurts me. But the unfortunate truth is that I cannot possibly stand up for him or the university he worked for so diligently for so long.
Joe Paterno was full of wise verses. My favorite quote of his reads, “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.” I wish people, including myself, would remember him for his words.
But actions, or in this case, inactions, always speak louder than words.