The school announced Thursday in a press release that on September 17 they will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Paterno’s first game as head coach of the Nittany Lions. At Penn State, getting out from under Paterno’s shadow is more complicated than the typical transition from a coaching giant.
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Penn State plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of disgraced former coach Joe Paterno’s first game as head of the Nittany Lions during its September 17 outing against Temple.
Per the Onward State report, the longtime Nittany Lions coach has not been honored in the stadium since his final game – October 29, 2011.
A total of 111 wins from 1998 through 2012, 110 of which belonged to Paterno, were vacated in 2012 after the Freeh Report’s findings were revealed. Court documents released just a few months ago alleged Paterno knew about the sexual child abuse conducted by Sandusky as early as 1976.
Penn State President Eric Barron and Athletic Director Sandy Barbour have said previously that the university would recognize Paterno at an appropriate time. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
Grassroots Penn State alumni and supporters group Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship used the announcement as an opportunity to call on the university to do more regarding the late coach.
PS4RS has been critical of the university’s handling of the situation, from the firing of Paterno to the contracting of former Federal Bureau of Investigation director Louis Freeh to investigate the Sandusky scandal to the consent decree with the NCAA that led to historic penalties.
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Yet Penn State administrators probably feel they have no choice.
