Penn State commemorated the 50th anniversary of Paterno’s coaching debut, in addition to his commitment to student-athletes and academics, during the Nittany Lions’ game Saturday against Temple.
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A controversial tribute to former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno on Saturday was met with a standing ovation by some, while others in the stadium crowd turned their backs in protest.
Early in the second quarter in the match-up with in-state rival Temple, Beaver Stadium announcer Dean DeVore directed fans’ attention to two high-definition video boards for a two-minute video featuring highlights of Paterno’s career.
“Whether Penn State is right or wrong in honoring the late coach is going to be unknown for as long as we don’t know how right or wrong Paterno was in his involvement with the Sandusky scandal, and that could be a very long time”.
Tom Kline, the attorney for the first of Sanduskys victims to reach a settlement with Penn State, said in a statement that those celebrating Paternos accomplishments should remain mindful of his role in the scandal.
Penn State was missing seven defensive starters at points during the game, four of whom didn’t play at all.
And I believe it’s this weekend, Penn State is bringing in the class of 1966 to honor the coach at Beaver Stadium.
A year after the Nittany Lions (2-1) were embarrassed in a season-opening loss to the Owls, Penn State scored on three of its first five drives to take a 21-10 halftime lead.
Earlier this year, Harris encouraged fans to leave a brick near the small tree where the Paterno statue once stood.
It remains unclear exactly how much Paterno knew about the sexual assaults and whether he tried to protect Sandusky, who was found guilty of 45 charges and is serving at least a 30-year prison sentence.
It took a couple of funky plays that turned into Penn State turnovers in the second half to hand the Owls 14 points and keep them within striking distance. And then the 2016 Nittany Lions will play a game against Temple. Court documents released this summer revealed Paterno may have been aware of the sexual abuse for nearly four decades before Sandusky was brought to trial.
The NCAA had stripped Paterno of 111 of his wins dating to 1998, when, officials said, Paterno and others first saw signs of Sandusky’s misconduct and ignored them.
After beating Kent State at home, 33-13, in the opener, Penn State lost at Pitt last week 42-39.
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He said the environment is a refreshing time for everyone, in light of the Sandusky scandal.
