If your answer is yes, you’re right.
If your answer is no. You’re also right.
Paterno achieved almost every accolade a head coach could ask for, including:
- · The Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1986
- · Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award (United States Sports Academy (USSA)) – 1989, 2001
- · Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (AFCA) – 2002
- · AFCA Coach of the Year – 1968, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2005
- · Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award – 2005
- · Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award – 1981, 2005
- · Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year – 1978, 1982, 1986
- · George Munger Award (Div. I Coach of the Year) – 1990, 1994, 2005
- · Paul "Bear" Bryant Award – 1986
- · Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year – 2005
- · The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award – 2005
- · Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award – 1972, 1994, 2005
- · Dave McClain Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year – 1994, 2005, 2008
- · NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award – 2011
Yet, he was more than a coach. Joe Paterno
was a winner. He was a champion. He was a conqueror. He was a humble man. He
was a father figure, brother, and friend. He was the face of Penn State
Athletics. He was a role model. Joe Paterno was a
hero.
Yet the media describes Paterno as an individual
who didn’t perform his job duties to the upmost of abilities. He did. The
University which hired him overlooked all he did for the university, amidst the
pressure from the media, fired him without a full investigation. These same people,
who said they held Paterno at high regard, were the same ones who pushed and pressed
for his termination. The same sword they knight you with, they good night you
with. The media tainted his reputation, and many will remember him for the
scandal. Even Paterno has admitted multiple times, that “in hindsight, [he]
wished he could have done more.” Don’t allow yourself to succumb to the dogma of
the media. Before you blame Paterno, blame Sandusky and the institution which hired him. Remember Joe was a good man and none of us are without wrongdoing. When
Paterno needed Penn State the most, where were they?
Paterno became the winningest head coach
in Division I football history on Oct 29, when the Nittany Lions defeated
Illinois for his 409th victory. With his close to half a century dedicated to Penn
State University’s athletic program, Joe Paterno exemplified the very
definition of loyalty and commitment. Through time, many people felt he was the
face of Penn State football. I’d like to take it one step further and say he
was the heart of Penn State football, and thus Penn State football was his
heart.
Joe Paterno may have died of cancer, or some medical reason, but truly he
died of a broken heart. The very one thing that kept the 85 year old full of
life, was stripped from him in an un-sportsmanship manner.He died though, they way he lived; hard fought until the end remaining positive.
“They
asked me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone, I hope they write I made
Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach”
--Joseph
Vincent Paterno
Dec. 21, 1926 – Jan. 22, 2012
Dec. 21, 1926 – Jan. 22, 2012
RIP Joe Paterno.
All he had to do was go to the police... He dies in disgrace, as he should.
As these events unfolded I shared with a teammate of mine that Joe Paterno would die within 2 months; so said, so done. Individuals who live to see Joe's age are always fueled by love and for Joe, coaching was this fire that kept him going. We cannot be judges of this man's character because he seemingly made a mistake, I am sure he has made numerous more life defining decisions over his 85-year life span.
This is one situation where in the long run the good shall outweigh the bad.
Rest In Peace Joe Paterno
The good outweigh the bad? Football accomplishments vs. covering up for a child rapist? I think his legacy is pretty clear.