I'm 44 yrs old. I grew up just outside of Philly and followed Penn State football just like every other guy in the neighborhood. The campus was three hours away, but that was "our" team. Hell, I remember waking up on Sunday mornings as a kid and skipping cartoons to watch a 30 minute Penn State football highlights show. It was clear as a kid that Penn State football was different than other programs. The football program was always represented hard work, discipline, winning with honor and a team mentality. No names of the back of the jerseys and the coach always seemed to be more concerned about character than anything else. With any due diligence and research, you can find countless stories from former players who credit Joe with making them into proper men. He changed their lives. Don't believe it? Then you don't know the history of the program. Former players loved the guy like a father. Do a little research and you will see. From Wiki, "He challenged his players to be successful both on the field and in the classroom. The slogan has since become a trademark of Penn State Football and Penn State Athletics as a whole. In 2010, the Nittany Lion football team posted a 89% graduation rate, the highest of any team ranked in the final AP Top 25, dwarfing the second highest rate of 75%, which was held by Alabama and Miami (FL)."
I transferred to PSU for my last two yrs of college and had first hand experience of living in Happy Valley. There was a lot of pride in wearing PSU memorabilia. I have always been proud of my school and I always felt as if the football program was morally well above many of the programs who seemed to be running wild. The national championship win over trash-talking Miami was of particular pride. The good guys who played by the rules won the game... overcoming the trashtalking, swaggering Hurricanes. I think much of the country (outside of Miami) felt the same way. If you are old enough to remember the game that is... 1986
During the Sandusky allegations, the trial, and ultimatley the conviction I reserved my opinion on JoePa because there was simply not enough information. Those who were speaking out against him didn't have all the facts. Those who defended him didn't have all the facts. I privately told friends and family I thought Joe was getting a bad deal and that my instinct was that he would be redeemed when all was revealed. He failed miserably of course.. as we all know now. For me and many Pennsylvanians a tremendous shock.
With all that said.. wow.. I can't really describe who disappointed I am in Joe. People love to tear down icons... it's just the way things are. I was sure I was going to have my day to post about how people shouldn't rush to conclusions and need to wait for all the facts. I never in a million years would have guessed Joe had anything to do with shielding Sandusky. It still doesn't make all that much sense to me. But the facts are out and Joe really fucking dropped the ball big time.
The only sense I can make of it is thinking that Joe's world was a lot different than any readers here. As a graduate of sociology and one who take pride in understanding groups and demographics, I am of the opinion that Joe's generation didn't publicize or talk about pedophilia. I don't think it was talked about and therefore it wasn't properly understood. The guy is from a different time - and Happy Valley is out in the middle of nowhere hidden in the mountains of PA. I think he lived in a bubble out there - perpetually living with a 1950's mentality. That mentality created a unique experience for player, students, and faculty. I think that 1950's mentality is behind his lack of action - he simply chose to try and handle a highly personal matter of a friend in a 1950's way - out of the public eye, perhaps being fooled by his old friend, Sandusky, who I am sure convinced Joe the matter wasn't what it appeared and he would correct the situation. make no mistake... I am of the opinion Joe should have known better and ... for a man who taught others about morals, this is unforgivable. 1950's mentality or not. I don't think Joe was some secretly evil guy.. and those who do are probably not familiar with the amazingly positive influence Joe had on so many people. But Joe should have known better. Nothing is more sacred than protecting children.
I think JoePa and Sandusky probably had a heart to heart talk at some point and Sandusky fooled him into thinking "it" wasn't what it appeared to be. 1950's Joe wanted to believe him and made the WRONG decision. Fck it.. I'm done now. my two cents. As for the statue? I originally voted to keep it up before the Freeh report came out. Now? The moral mystique of Joe Paterno's Happy Valley is gone. Nothing is the same. It's a memory for me. But a memory that now has Sandusky creeping around the darkened halls attacking young boys. I'll remember Joe for the good things he did for so many - but in the end.. he's just a man. Not a deity. Penn State needs to move on into a new era. Camelot is dead.
I transferred to PSU for my last two yrs of college and had first hand experience of living in Happy Valley. There was a lot of pride in wearing PSU memorabilia. I have always been proud of my school and I always felt as if the football program was morally well above many of the programs who seemed to be running wild. The national championship win over trash-talking Miami was of particular pride. The good guys who played by the rules won the game... overcoming the trashtalking, swaggering Hurricanes. I think much of the country (outside of Miami) felt the same way. If you are old enough to remember the game that is... 1986
During the Sandusky allegations, the trial, and ultimatley the conviction I reserved my opinion on JoePa because there was simply not enough information. Those who were speaking out against him didn't have all the facts. Those who defended him didn't have all the facts. I privately told friends and family I thought Joe was getting a bad deal and that my instinct was that he would be redeemed when all was revealed. He failed miserably of course.. as we all know now. For me and many Pennsylvanians a tremendous shock.
With all that said.. wow.. I can't really describe who disappointed I am in Joe. People love to tear down icons... it's just the way things are. I was sure I was going to have my day to post about how people shouldn't rush to conclusions and need to wait for all the facts. I never in a million years would have guessed Joe had anything to do with shielding Sandusky. It still doesn't make all that much sense to me. But the facts are out and Joe really fucking dropped the ball big time.
The only sense I can make of it is thinking that Joe's world was a lot different than any readers here. As a graduate of sociology and one who take pride in understanding groups and demographics, I am of the opinion that Joe's generation didn't publicize or talk about pedophilia. I don't think it was talked about and therefore it wasn't properly understood. The guy is from a different time - and Happy Valley is out in the middle of nowhere hidden in the mountains of PA. I think he lived in a bubble out there - perpetually living with a 1950's mentality. That mentality created a unique experience for player, students, and faculty. I think that 1950's mentality is behind his lack of action - he simply chose to try and handle a highly personal matter of a friend in a 1950's way - out of the public eye, perhaps being fooled by his old friend, Sandusky, who I am sure convinced Joe the matter wasn't what it appeared and he would correct the situation. make no mistake... I am of the opinion Joe should have known better and ... for a man who taught others about morals, this is unforgivable. 1950's mentality or not. I don't think Joe was some secretly evil guy.. and those who do are probably not familiar with the amazingly positive influence Joe had on so many people. But Joe should have known better. Nothing is more sacred than protecting children.
I think JoePa and Sandusky probably had a heart to heart talk at some point and Sandusky fooled him into thinking "it" wasn't what it appeared to be. 1950's Joe wanted to believe him and made the WRONG decision. Fck it.. I'm done now. my two cents. As for the statue? I originally voted to keep it up before the Freeh report came out. Now? The moral mystique of Joe Paterno's Happy Valley is gone. Nothing is the same. It's a memory for me. But a memory that now has Sandusky creeping around the darkened halls attacking young boys. I'll remember Joe for the good things he did for so many - but in the end.. he's just a man. Not a deity. Penn State needs to move on into a new era. Camelot is dead.
