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Jerry Sandusky Joe Paterno

January 24, 2012 by · Comments Off on Jerry Sandusky Joe Paterno 

Jerry Sandusky Joe Paterno, What will be the first thing we think about when Joe Paterno’s name in five years? 10 years? 20 years? It’s impossible to properly discuss Joe Paterno. Impossible.

You can’t begin to capture the coaching career of the man. You can’t come close to describing the wide-ranging impact of this icon. And none of us can possibly understand what his silence over these past ten or fifteen years meant to the lives of young men who had their lives terrorized by Jerry Sandusky (allegedly).

Like most of you, I spent much of my Sunday morning and early afternoon watching the retrospectives of Paterno’s life on ESPN. It was very somber programming, as you’d expect following a man’s passing. But the sadness had less to do with the actual death and more to do with the fact that nobody really knew how to act. Were they sad that he died? Of course. But they were sadder still that he died under these circumstances. Instead of doing an unabashed tribute to the career of one of the greatest coaches any sport had ever seen, they had to state everything with this huge disclaimer. Paterno’s legacy has become a political hot potato. You can’t say anything about it without offending some side of the debate.

On one hand, you have the loyalists who absolve Paterno of any blame in the Sandusky scandal. Sure he could have done more, but don’t accuse him of these heinous crimes. Paterno was a great man and a great coach who did amazing things for Penn State and for humanity.

That’s one way of thinking. The other is a bit harsher.

Forget about the wins. Forget about the libraries and the scholarships and the endowments. And think about those kids. Were there ten? Twenty? Are there dozens of more that we’ve never heard about and perhaps never will? Those lives are far more important than any football games and Paterno’s silence allowed those lives to be ruined. Paterno positively affected thousands of young men during his coaching career. But he also allowed these young men to have their lives ruined before they had a chance to begin.

Westboro Church Joe Paterno

January 24, 2012 by · Comments Off on Westboro Church Joe Paterno 

Westboro Church Joe Paterno, His legendary career ended abruptly in November, when he was fired after a former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, 67, was charged with sexually molesting 10 young boys, including some in the Penn State athletic complex.

Paterno was fired November 9 after he was criticized for not doing enough to stop Sandusky.
He was diagnosed with “a treatable form of lung cancer” the following weekend, according to a statement his son Scott released at the time. But JoePa’s health took a turn for the worse, as the cancer proved to be aggressive. Joseph Vincent Paterno died Sunday morning, at the age of 85, surrounded by his family.

Yet his legacy lives on — at the statue of Paterno situated outside the university’s Beaver Stadium, where mourners descended on a makeshift shrine, draping an American flag on the statue’s shoulders and wrapping its neck with a Penn State scarf.

His legacy lives on in his five children, all of who are Penn State graduates, and his 17 grandchildren.

His legacy lives on in other football coaches and players, who looked to Paterno for guidance; in government, including Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett and former US president and friend George H.W. Bush; and his passing has sent a ripple through Hollywood as well.

Jerry Sandusky, who is currently awaiting trial on 52 criminal counts of sexual abuse of 10 children over 15 years, released a statement, saying, “This is a sad day! Our family, Dottie and I would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue and her family. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life.”

Sandusky was Paterno’s top assistant for years until he retired in 1999. He has denied the allegations made against him by prosecutors.

“He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition,” Sandusky said. “Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached.”

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Paterno,” former President George H.W. Bush said in a statement. “He was an outstanding American who was respected not only on the field of play but in life generally – and he was, without a doubt, a true icon in the world of sports. I was proud that he was a friend of mine. Barbara and I send our condolences to his devoted wife Suzanne and to his wonderful family.”

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