On the day Penn State paid tribute to legendary coach Joe Paterno, a pair of Nittany Lions fans took the university community’s perceived defiance to the allegations against him to an unbelievable level. Wilton Speight is completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 686 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.
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Video tributes to Paterno, who died in 2012 at age 85, received a standing ovation from Penn State fans.
As soon as Paterno’s familiar image appeared – shirt and tie, thick glasses and rolled-up trousers – fans erupted and kept cheering as DeVore read from a statement highlighting Paterno’s commitment to student athletes and academics.
(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.
“We are all Penn Staters and Penn State will always be bigger than any controversy bigger than any athletic team and bigger than any strife that you might have”, Caravella said.
This weekend’s festivities included a non-university event organized by Paterno’s family and former players on Friday night and fueled debate over whether Paterno should be celebrated in any way.
Sandusky coached on Paterno’s staff for three decades until 1999.
Hoatson was referring to court documents unsealed in May that said an alleged Sandusky victim complained to Paterno about Sandusky in 1976 and was rebuffed.
Sandusky was convicted in June 2012 on 45 of 48 charges and is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence. Paterno never was charged with a crime.
Paterno, who was the head football coach for 46 years, was accused of turning a blind eye to former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse scandal. Penn State leads the time of possession 17:34 to 12:26 for the Owls.
John Reid’ game-sealing interception was key, but the game turned for good here, as the Lions needed seven points and got them thanks to arguably their most talented player.
Paterno was sacked from the school as a fallout from the Jerry Sandusky trial. Penn State also still struggles offensively and will have major issues moving the ball against this Wolverines defense.
In 2011, Paterno was sacked following 45 years at the helm after former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested on charges of child abuse.
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Fans left bricks and homemade signs and took pictures.
