More Tragedy at State College-JoePa Dead At 85

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I think for many of us we expected no less than a quick end for Joe Paterno once the Penn State sex abuse scandal unfolded and he was separated from his love, Penn State University.  Much like what happens when mates lose their best friend and life-long love, death often times soon follows.  The Penn State story and Joe Paterno's story is not over by any means.  For Joe Paterno, the pain and suffering of cancer, had to pale in comparison to what he felt about his separation from the school he loved and served all these years. 

Arguably, the greatest college football coach of all time, is now gone at 85 years of age.  His players are truly a testament to his greatness.  Not just the ones who ended up playing on Sundays in the NFL but the ones who live in communities across the nation.  These men learned many of the lessons of life, of character, of good will from the consummate teacher on the gridiron.  Joe Paterno's contribution to these men will live on and continue to influence both academics and athletics at Penn State University. 

Many believe that Joe's reputation as the shining light of college football was forever tarnished with the allegations and arrest of Jerry Sandusky, his long-time assistant coach and defensive coordinator.  That would be a shame.  There is no question that Joe Paterno made a mistake when his graduate assistant reported what he saw in the shower that day.  He should have followed up with his superiors, no question.  Why didn't he?  He trusted others to perform their duties and they failed.  Joe failed. 

I am sure that it hurt him immensely that he was fired in the fashion he was.  I am more convinced that failing to follow-up is what hurt him the most.  What robbed him of his will to fight the dreaded disease he contracted.  Fortunately for Joe, he will not have to suffer through what will certainly be an ugly and messy ordeal in the courtroom in the years ahead.  He will no longer have to hear everyone's commentary on what he should have or could have done to stop this dreadful and despicable experience at Penn State University. 

For me, I will remember the black hair, the thick glasses and white socks that roamed the sidelines at State College every Saturday in the fall.  I will remember the 409 wins at a Division I football school.  I will remember how happy I was when Joe and his Penn State Nittany Lions entered the Big Ten.  I will remember his signature wins bringing championships home to Penn State.  I will remember Linebacker U and all the special players who won them that reputation.  I will remember the man who I respected as the best of the best. 

I am thankful this Sunday in January that Joe will not have to suffer through the agony and pain of the Sandusky court hearings.  I am thankful for Joe Paterno and all he did for Penn State University, his players, the students and the community of State College.  His legacy will live on at Penn State and his contributions to his university and to the college game will forever be remembered and cherished.  Go with God Joe. 

No Joy At State College

 No one will forget the 2011 College Football season now.  One can fondly remember how College Football not all that long ago was about the games, the kids playing them, the rivalries and the great coaches.  This year has revealed that College Football is subject to the same deep, dark and ugly realities of life in the 21st Century.  The weekend revelations of Jerry Sandusky and his alleged sexual abuse of young boys is as troubling as it gets.  The game's most revered coach, Joe Paterno, finds himself in the incredibly unsustainable position of having to explain away why he didn't take one, two or three additional steps to protect these young boys.  Clearly, he reported as required under the law.  However, this is Joe Paterno, a man beyond reproach and undeniably holder of the highest ground that any man can stand on.

Later this morning, Joe Paterno will take center stage at Penn State University and have to explain to a world watching why he felt it was enough to report the potential abuse to his employer.  Why, when no actions were taken on Jerry Sandusky, he did not follow-up with other reporting to additional university leaders or the legal authorities.  The 84-year old iconic coach won't be answering questions about spreads, linebacker play or how he feels about coaching from the sky box.  These will be questions unlike any he has ever been asked in his 47-year coaching career. 

What does Joe Paterno say to those young men who were victims of these crimes.  To their families.  These stories of our leaders falling and failing have happened throughout all of time.  It should never come as a surprise as each and every person is but a moment away from making a right or wrong decision.  This year has seen two great leaders of our young men in College Football make bad decisions.  Joe Paterno of Penn State and Jim Tressel of Ohio State, two leaders at great universities with storied football programs.  It is true, they are held to much higher standards than the likes of you and me. 

We expect only the best from our leaders.  We expect them to win and win with honor always.  When they fail us, for some of us, it feels like we have failed.  We placed our belief and loyalty in these individuals of honor.  We use words like character, integrity and class to describe them.  Others chime in with ugly words of joy that these respected men have fallen from their pedestals and places of high-standing.  There is no joy for me in this.  There is no joy in State College, Pennsylvania in this.  There is no joy for Joe Paterno in this. 

Hopefully, we learn from this.  We learn to be balanced in our respect and love of our leaders.  We recognize the human condition for what it is.  Fragile and unforgiving.  This will be the end of Joe Paterno's career at Penn State University.  There are no words that he can communicate to recover the moment.  There are no trick plays, no Hail Mary's  and no review flags to throw.  His career at Penn State is now over. 

He will be remembered as one of true champions of College Football.  His fans, the alumni of Penn State and many of us throughout the nation will remember him as a truly great leader of young men.  Unfortunately, like the great Woody Hayes of Ohio State who made one wrong decision, there will always be an asterisk to his accomplishments.  The fanfare, the celebration and all the accolades for an incredible career will forever be tarnished by this one failure on his part.   Watching Joe Paterno for 45 years now, being the man of character that he is, he would not wish for the anonymity of his players and their nameless jerseys when he steps on stage this morning.