Penn State announced Thursday that they will honor the late Joe Paterno before the Penn State/Temple game on September 17th. September 17th, 2016 is the 50th anniversary of Paterno’s first game coached at Penn State. 2016 is also the 40th anniversary of the first known time Joe Paterno looked the other way while children were molested by his friend and (then) defensive line coach Jerry Sandusky.
According to court reports released earlier this year, Paterno told John Doe 150 “I don’t want to hear about any of that kind of stuff, I have a football season to worry about.” After Doe brought the allegations to Paterno’s attention. There were other items released as well that showed other coaches knowing and Paterno doing nothing about it.
These depositions were released in July, and now two months later Penn State is honoring him? Is football really that important in State College, PA that they will continue to blindly and loudly support a man who knowingly covered up the molestation of children? Not only support, but promote?
Jerry Sandusky is a disgusting excuse for a human being, and is behind bars where he belongs. Joe Paterno is no longer with us, and is lucky the heat never came down on him as well. Just because he passed on does not mean he deserves any sort of recognition or celebration. The man was implicit in a cover up along with too many people to mention.
Shame on you, Penn State. Shame on you for complaining that your penalties were too harsh. Shame on you for celebrating when your penalties were rescinded. Shame on you for putting football above all else. Shame on you for continuing to celebrate this criminal.
Here’s hoping that during the ceremony, everyone in the crowd will stand up and look the other way.