JOE PATERNO

Now that a lot of the commotion over the Sandusky scandal is over for a while until the trial, Joe Paterno’s firing can be addressed. A lot of Penn State alumni are angry that  JoePa was fired. They feel as one alumni stated in NY to Penn State President Rodney Erickson; “The Paternos represented everything we Penn Staters stand for. When the Board of Trustees fired Joe, they fired many of us.”

That statement brought down the house, the applauding was loud and long. It was the sentiment of many, but not all. It was an emotional response to a highly charged situation. But how does it fit in the scheme of things?

Paterno is involved in a situation, which I think many of us would have reacted to the same way. In retrospect, it may not be the right way, but how often do we find ourselves in the situation that Joe Paterno found himself?

Someone tells you what Joe was told: you naturally want to go and report it to your boss. You don’t hold sway over whether the school can press charges: you assume it will. Do you immediately go to the police and not tell your bosses? What would have been the fallout if Joe did indeed report it to the police; immediately. Would he have been fired for doing so? I wonder?

There are too many self-righteous people running around. Once again: emotion in an emotionally charged situation. If you ask a lot of people, I bet many would agree that Joe did the right thing, and that he did enough. Even if Sandusky reports and is accountable to Joe Paterno, Joe had to go to the boss, who runs the school, because a scandal is brewing, affecting adversely, Penn State.

But Joe was indeed fired. When they fired Joe, they said in essence: You Joe Paterno, are as guilty as Sandusky, you are an accomplice!

Of course that is ridiculous, but that is what is.

JoePa’s Nittany Lions hold the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision. From 1966 until 2011, he has led the football team and enhanced a great football tradition at Penn State. He holds 14 different Coach of the Year and other awards through the years. In 2006, elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. The awards go on and on, too, too numerous to even list here. He was truly a great coach.

But here is what is also ridiculous: Joe Paterno should have retired. He wanted to at the end of this season. There is a long history of Joe Paterno led Penn State Nittany Lions football greatness, and that is evident. There are newer ideas out there now, tradition dies hard and in this case it is dying a slow death. But JoePa deserved better, he deserved to go out on his laurels, praised and adored, respected and honored, not tossed aside because of a scumbag like Sandusky.

Sandusky hasn’t been to trial yet. Sandusky hasn’t been convicted yet. JoePa has been fired!