Once one of the most revered coaches in the NCAA, the legendary Joe Paterno was honored on Penn State's campus about a decade ago with a bronze statue that's become a landmark.
But in the wake of the and the subsequent , .
Fox News reported earlier this week that some Penn State students had begun a vigil to protect the statue from vandalism. CNN reported that a small plane flew around the Penn State campus on Tuesday carrying a banner that read, "Take the Statue Down or We Will."
Other tributes to the much-honored former coach have begun to fall.
This week, Paterno's alma mater, Brown University, removed his name from its annual award to the outstanding male freshman athlete. The Brown Athletic Hall of Fame is reviewing whether Paterno still deserves a place among its elite athletes.
Nike, which outfits Penn State athletic teams, removed the coach's name from the Joe Paterno Child Development Center at its Oregon headquarters. The Penn State student group has changed the name of the football weekend tent city known as "Paternoville" to "Nittanyville."
In Grambling, LA, city officials have asked the NCAA to restore longtime-Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson to the honor of being the Division I coach with the most number of wins. Paterno only surpassed Robinson's 408 wins last Oct. 29 when he won his 409th game—and he was fired by Penn State because of the Sandusky scandal less than two weeks after breaking Robinson’s record.
And there's even a question of whether Penn State's famous Creamery will continue to offer Peachy Paterno as a flavor.
Editor's note: This story was updated about 9 a.m. Sunday.
So where do you stand? Take our poll and let us know if you think the statue should have remained or if you agree with the decision to remove it—and tell us why in the comments box below the story.
He too should lose his pension!
It is Penn State's Strategic Plan for Intercollegiate Athletics... "Success with honor". Anyone supporting Paterno should read it... Just the first couple of pages.
No doubt those who are blinded by and obsessed with the violent sport of football will be enraged that a god of the sport is seen as having been disrespected by the school to which he devoted his life. The president was wise to overrule these individuals, who decline to see the big picture and the putrid message that was sent by the continued presence of such a tribute. So long as a statue honoring "educator", "coach" and "humanitarian" Paterno was standing in a place of honor, the lives of innocent and vulnerable children were trivialized. Rodney Erickson has taken an important step toward the rehabilitation of a once-great institution of higher learning by removing an impediment to the healing process. Thank you and bless you, Mr. President!
seen2mch- It isn't only the Catholic Church that has covered up scandals of Priest molesting boys, the Baptist, Methodist, Greek Orthodox, Muslim, etc all have cases out there against their Priest, Reverends being molesters. Go do a search on any Religion and you will find case after case. How many teachers have been busted over the last ten years on having sex with minors ? They are closer than you think, Back in 2005 a teacher from South Park High School was added to http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/OffenderDetail.aspx?OffenderId=8704
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/14/joe-paterno-halo-penn-state-painted-over_n_1673716.html , http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/state_college_mural_artist_to.html There are many old and new pictures, articles about how they changed the mural and no one was screaming when they removed Sandusky or took the Halo off Paterno's head. College is not about playing football, it is about education but some only think that football is important.
Also, the 1998 case was investigated by the DA, PA State Police and DPW. No charges were filed against Sandusky..In todays world socitety wants to give those who were "convicted" or found "guiltly" of crimes second chances ie ( http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-04/living/job.fair.ex.felons_1_employment-fair-job-seekers-felons?_s=PM:LIVING). . This is someone who wasnt even orginally charged (2001 should have then raised eyebrows). My point is...everyone is looking for someone to blame...but never wants to be the whistleblower in case "they" are wrong. Its a terrible way to look at things and its a shame...This issue is much larger than Joe Pa...but, the statue needs to come down.
The good is oft interred with their bones;
It is about time they took that down. He does not deserve that recognition. He enabled a child rapist to continue raping little boys. That is no hero.
This is all based on emails..we all know email can precieved in two different ways...did you read the report? both grand jury and freeh? have a GOOD DAY! (now am i yelling or is my caps stuck) you will never know..because its all based on electronic communication.
To further the ncaa's God complex, this group of people so powerful have decided to change history and remove not only JoPa's wins... but all the college kids that played, cheered and attended football at Happy Valley from 1998 through 2011. So who does that help? No one! But it sure as heck hurts many. And once again, helps the victims and protects future children absolutely nil ! The ncaa should be forced to have a lot of explaining for a decision that succeeds in nothing other than proving they can do it.
I agree, history should not be attempted to altered including this situation where the ncaa wants to play all powerful and mighty. If history books want to show the Penn State's Football seasons 1998-2011 tainted... then put an asterisk by the seasons and add a football note of the heinous crime that was committed on Penn State's campus by a former Penn State Football coach. But to make a promulgation that the wins didn't occur, which hurts former players, students, coaches, cheerleaders, and fans helps no one (the so called ncaa ruling is clearly NOT about the victims, NOT about the heinous crime, and NOT about preventing such problems at other universities)and creates a great inaccuracy within the history books.
There should be investigation into the PA State Police, Corbett, DPW, Second Mile Board, PSU Attorneys and so on and so on....The 98 incident was fully investigated by the authorities with no charges being brought, cant really blame that on Joe...alot more there then just him..I think the media needs to report on the full story not just the headline maker...i understand why, but just dont fully agree. by the way..it wasnt an "FBI" investigation it was an investigation paid by PSU conducted by the former head of the FBI, far from the FBI...I am sure if the Paternos paid the same guy to do the investigation...things would be worded differentley... I am not saying Patterno got a bad rap here. Just pointing out...this is much larger! Extremly! The janitor (now cant testify) even saw an incident with Sandusky and a boy and Told his supervisor ( just like the coaching assistant did). They decided not to say anything for "fear" they would lose their jobs! REALLY??!?!?!?! Fear...nothing actual! just fear!!!! Just as much to blame as Joe PA...can not deny that...
http://thefreehreportonpsu.com/ The independent report was done by Louis Freeh and his law firm, Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP. Freeh is a former FBI director.
Published: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 7:00 PM By The Associated Press Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials buried child sexual abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky more than a decade ago to avoid bad publicity, according to a scathing report Thursday that exposed a powerful "culture of reverence" for the football program and portrayed the Hall of Fame coach as more deeply involved in the scandal than previously thought. The alleged cover-up by Paterno, then-university President Graham Spanier and two other Penn State administrators allowed Sandusky to prey on other boys for years, said the report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who was hired by the university's trustees to investigate. He called the officials' behavior "callous and shocking." http://blog.nola.com/crime_impact/print.html?entry=/2012/07/firing_of_joe_paterno_was_just.html