Report: Penn State to honor Joe Paterno on Sept. 17
By Ted Fleming
School expected to celebrate Joe Pa’s 50th Anniversary of joining school as head coach in 1966, prior to the Temple game.
No one can deny it will be heated debate whether or not it is justified, but according to a report at Fox 43 in Central Pennsylvania, Joe Paterno’s legacy will be celebrated by Penn State before the Nittany Lions host the Temple Owls on Sept. 17.
The Athletics Department is officially calling it “Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Coach Paterno’s first game as Penn State head coach,” and it may have something to do with an alumni group pushing the school for it.
A letter to Penn State President Eric Barron, Sue Paterno, and Board of Trustees President Keith Masser had asked for the celebration back in May where the Alumni Association sent the following:
“Ninety-one percent of alumni who responded to a recent national alumni opinion survey conducted by the Penn State Alumni Associated agreed that Penn State should publicly recognize Joe Paterno for his service to Penn State,” the letter from the association stated.
The entire letter can be read here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/311647662/Barron-Masser-Paterno-Letter-From-Executive-Board-May-2016
It is clear the emotions will be running high that day as witnessed by some of the Twitter reactions already being posted.
If Penn State feels the need to honor Joe Paterno then allow me to imitate Joe Paterno and look the other way.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) September 1, 2016
Crowd will be encouraged to stand up, turn around & "look the other way" for extended moment of silence. https://t.co/iJBn9Ii5BS
— Brenden Gallagher (@brendengallager) September 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/eknoeth/status/771425537155661824
In addition, back in May, Nancy Armour of USA Today wrote that the only way to honor Paterno was in the record books, while an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania residents support the return of his statue outside Beaver Stadium. It was removed in 2012.
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Could this be a thawing of relations between the university and the Paterno Family? It is hard to imagine anything other than the “celebration” happening anytime soon because the sting of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation conviction is still pretty fresh in the minds.
Paterno was a beloved figure before the Sandusky mess and his family has been fighting for years to clear his name. While this may be a good start to some, the big question will be if anyone from the family will be there on Sept. 17.