It was a celebration for the 50th anniversary of Joe Paterno’s first game as the University’s head coach.
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Paterno was sacked in 2011 amid the shocking Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, so needless to say, he’s become a pretty polarizing figure since his death in early 2012.
Penn State’s decision to honor controversial late Coach Joe Paterno during its game against Temple on Saturday evoked mixed reaction, with Nittany Lions fans giving standing ovations while Temple fans and others protested by turning their backs to the field.
Sandusky was convicted and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.
Paterno was abruptly fired by Penn State in 2011 after Jerry Sandusky, his longtime defensive coordinator, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing children. Some staunch supporters of Paterno feel like he was wronged by the university, while others critical of him have said that honoring the late coach for football accomplishments is insensitive to Sandusky’s victims and the severity of the scandal.
Paterno’s “Grand Experiment”, which placed emphasis on academics and proved athletes could also be top students, is a source of pride for some Penn Staters.
Freeh’s report was issued in July of 2012, six months after Paterno’s death from lung cancer.
In May, unsealed court documents said an alleged Sandusky victim said he complained to Paterno about Sandusky in 1976 and was rebuffed.
Moving forward has proven a hard challenge for Penn State, requiring leaders to balance distancing the university from the scandal while juggling the wishes of Paterno’s ardent supporters who believe he was a scapegoat.
(AP Photo, File). FILE – In this January 28, 1965, file photo, Joe Paterno, associate football coach at Penn state, directs players at State College, Pa.
Former Penn State standout and Pittsburgh Steelers star Franco Harris has always been a supporter of Paterno and has insisted college football’s winningest coach did nothing wrong.
Special teams was once again strong, except for a gaffe on a punt in the fourth quarter that led to a Temple touchdown.
“I don’t tie the two together”, Harris said Friday. There should be an apology for the way they handled it.
Penn State jumped out to a 7-0 lead against the Owls, as quarterback Trace McSorley hit Chris Godwin for a 52-yard TD early in the first quarter.
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Fans left bricks, homemade signs and took pictures at the site.
