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What are your thoughts on Penn State removing former Coach Paterno's statue from

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breathe2travelposted 5 years ago
What are your thoughts on Penn State removing former Coach Paterno's statue from football stadium?
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catfish33posted 5 years ago
It's appropriate. I have been on that campus a few times, and JoPa was revered there, but like many of his generation, he dismissed the idea that people close to him could do such evil things, so he hid it under the rug. And for that reason, his legacy should be questioned. Great football coach, but shortsighted human being,...
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Cre8torposted 5 years ago
To leave it up would've been like saying the school would not change...meaning, not only did it protect a very bad man for the gain of a sports program, it would continue to protect the memory of the event(s). They had no choice and in my heart, I feel that anyone who knew of this animal and what he'd done...EVEN ONCE! deserves no statue, plaque or any other thing. A child's life was changed forever when they fell victim to these conspiracies. No football team is worth that. This is where the line is blurred. I love football, more than most, and even I realize...IT"S JUST FOOTBALL! You don't cover up, sweep away or turn a blind eye to something like this to win a damn game.
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FatFreddysCatposted 5 years ago
The satirical news site "The Onion" posted a joke photo today of that statue with a story saying Penn State will be adding a brass voice balloon to it saying "I f***ed up." Hahaha
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JBrumettposted 5 years ago
If they were serious about taking it down, they'd have removed it sooner. To me this is just a ploy to save face once they realized NCAA sanctions were coming. If they knew nothing was going to happen to them, I'm sure someone would be polishing it up right now. From everything I've seen, that school tends to think about themselves first, before AND after the criminal event. They even have the nerve to have spokes people running around making comments about how "unbelievable" and "absurd" this whole situation is now.
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  FatFreddysCatposted 5 years agoin reply to this
  The NCAA's sanctions were announced today... and wow, the removal of the statue is now the least of Penn State's problems.
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  JBrumettposted 5 years agoin reply to this
  They changed their tune quickly this morning. I'm guessing the NCAA President said sign this, shake your head up and down in agreement, don't say a word or your program will get the death penalty instead.
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cryptidposted 5 years ago
I don't care if they take it down or not, but I honestly don't understand what knocking down a statue of a dead man who is not here to defend his actions any longer has to do with moving on from this god-awful situation. The statue refers to football. If PSU thinks Paterno's football legacy is marred then they should take it down, but I don't see how it helps this off the field situation. It's like they're saying "Yes, we allowed horrible things to happen here, but look, at least we took the statue down. That has to count for something!" Statues mean nothing. Fixing a messed up system is the important thing.
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CJWood71posted 5 years ago
In light of what we now know, I feel that removing the statue was the right thing to do. Although it would have been much better if Penn State would have been more concerned with doing the right thing years ago. They are simply trying to make themselves look better now that their secret is out. A case of too little, too late.
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Abat225posted 5 years ago
I think removing his statue was a necessity but it is such a small piece of this big picture. I understand that Paterno was a great coach and dedicated most of his life to coaching and educating young men. He is and always had been the face of not just Penn State Football but the face of the College. The problem with Penn State and Joe Paterno is that football had become bigger than all else. Similar to what goes on in some high school football programs down south or in the midwest or even at other big colleges like Michigan and Ohio State, football is primary. Sports is a wonderful outlet from every day life but its importance should never be put ahead that of the safety of young children or anyone for that matter. There are so many values and life lessons bigger than the game.
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Rustedwhoposted 5 years ago
It's flat out absurd! After the NCAA ruling today, Paterno was not only put in his grave, but destroyed in all aspects of his career. Joe was told what was going on with Sandusky and did the appropriate thing. He went to his superiors with the matter. Unless he actually saw it, it's considered hearsay and I will be the first to tell you that hearsay alone means nothing in court. Why destroy a well loved coach for following chain of command?

What sickens me even more, is the fact that this entire ordeal is the result of one man. The media blew this up and let it ride. Child molesters not even an hour from State College are being let off with probation and slap on the wrist. Yet Sandusky makes world news?

The current kids in this school are really the ones being punished now. They school has taken a massive hit and their the ones paying for it. No football scholarships for four years, their record has been revoked since 1998, and the 60 million fine, really is this the best idea they could come up with. I vote for 60 million alright, but lash's to those directly involved......period.
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  Abat225posted 5 years agoin reply to this
  Rusted who are Joe Paterno's superiors? The thing people are forgetting is that Joe Paterno was PENN STATE. He was there for 61 years! Joe Paterno probably indirectly hired the ADs and some of his other so called superiors.
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  JBrumettposted 5 years agoin reply to this
  The Entire NCAA disagrees with you, and if you could do a better job you'd be the one in charge. Even Penn State Signed off on this. That's how damning it really is.
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  Rustedwhoposted 5 years agoin reply to this
  The NCAA can disagree with me and everyone else, still does not make it right. They are not, by any means, the ones facing the heat. Of course Penn State would sign off, their tails are tucked between there legs! It's all about saving face now.
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miakounaposted 5 years ago
I think it was a good choice. Whether or not the fans want to admit it, Joe Paterno was involved. He knew and did not help anyone but himself. His career was more important than helping the boys who were molested. He wanted to continue getting recruits and maintain a good football record, instead of reporting the concerns that all of the coaches had. Shame on all of them!

Everyone was more concerned with football instead of the well-being of the children.
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CriticalMessageposted 5 years ago
It is easy to make a dead man the scapegoat... The school is surely still a great school... Its leaders have nothing in the name of accountability, credibility, and integrity since they used the convenient cop out of blaming a dead man.. Rest in Peace JoPa !,,, Your successes vast, your mistakes unfortunate... How human of you.
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Josh Bellposted 5 years ago
It's the least that they could do. He covered for a very sick man, which makes him no better than the sick man who he covered for.
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  Rustedwhoposted 5 years agoin reply to this
  He did not cover for anyone, he passed the information to those above him. It's not his fault they took no action.
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mrpipposted 5 years ago
Personally, I don't think any college should have a statue of a person that's still part of the program in front of their stadium. Right or wrong, no person should have that much praise and honor while still being employed. After he retires, I have no problems if the University wants to honor him with a statue but doing so while alive only gives fuel to the fire that this man has entirely too much power at the school.
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