Joe Paterno statue removed (1 Viewer)

[KellysHeroes]

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-07-22/joe-paterno-statue-removed-rodney-erickson-sandusky-scandal-freeh-report?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl1|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D182442

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The famed statue of Joe Paterno was taken down from outside the Penn State football stadium Sunday, eliminating a key piece of the iconography surrounding the once-sainted football coach accused of burying child sex abuse allegations against a retired assistant.

didn't think it would happen, but part of me feels its the right thing to do. Theres very little doubt that Joe Pa didn't know what was happening IMO.

 

[Banemorth]

As it should be.

 

[todisco1]

I don't care either way if they kept it or removed it, but I'm glad it's over relatively quickly.

 

[cobalt_27]

As it should be.

 

[rzrback77]

Sad situation all around and the removal of the statue had to be done

 

[Hoot&HoLLer]

Maybe tinker with super plain Nittany Lions football uniforms while at it?

 

[Warhogs]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

 

[GridironMenace]

The program should be given the death penalty. Blow it up and allow players to transfer and/or add an extra year of eligibility for them. The program needs to suffer.

 

[Skeletore Eh]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a separate issue or not. It would have been a constant reminder as long as it was there. Which is why it had to be removed.

 

[r3t2]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a separate issue or not. It would have been a constant reminder as long as it was there. Which is why it had to be removed.

i agree. additionally, i would not characterize paterno as having made a mistake. i think a coverup for a pedophile reveals a serious character defect. this man sought and concentrated power and then eventually used it for criminal purposes. that is not a mistake.

 

[geoff8695]

The program should be given the death penalty. Blow it up and allow players to transfer and/or add an extra year of eligibility for them. The program needs to suffer.

The people responsible are facing "suffering" in the form of prison, legal and financial penalties, or they're dead (Joe Pa). So who is going to suffer by removing the football program?Now if you had said the football program needs to be blown up until the culture at Penn State is changed, that I could probably get behind, but retribution and suffering? How much suffering and revenge could ever make up for what Sandusky did, and who should be made to "suffer"?Exactly who do you want to suffer that's still connected with the program? The fans and alumni who had no inkling that someone affiliated with the university was a child molester? The thousands of working stiffs that are part of this multi-multi-million dollar enterprise and will be put out of work? The young men who signed on to play football and get an education? (not all of them can latch on at a similar university)

 

[Warhogs]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a separate issue or not. It would have been a constant reminder as long as it was there. Which is why it had to be removed.

i agree. additionally, i would not characterize paterno as having made a mistake. i think a coverup for a pedophile reveals a serious character defect. this man sought and concentrated power and then eventually used it for criminal purposes. that is not a mistake.

Maybe I am just less socially sensitive than most? The statue being there would not bother me. I am sure there are several players that have their busts in the HOF that were not very good human beings. That wouldn't bother me either. It's a football stadium that had a statue of the guy who manned a top program for decades. I'm OK with that.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

No opinion just wanted to say for those posting...there has been a lot of say on the matter in the FFA(A lot of it is worth skipping). A lot of people have had their feelings hurt and some have tarnished their fine posting reputation round here. I would encourage everyone to simply let people have their say and not question them about it.

If someone says I think the statue should have stayed but I understand why others feel differently...that should be enough, no reason to try and bait when they are clearly acknowledging the other side of the coin. Same for those that feel this was only the 1st step on a laundry list of sanctions and penalties in the future.

Just let it go folks, it really just doesn't end well in these kind of forums, not just FBG but anywhere.

I'm relieved the decision was made fairly quickly but understand this in no way rights the ship, lot of work ahead for Penn State.

 

[habsfan]

I liked the tweet that said they were going to turn it 180 degrees so Joe could look the other way...

 

[Skeletore Eh]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a separate issue or not. It would have been a constant reminder as long as it was there. Which is why it had to be removed.

i agree. additionally, i would not characterize paterno as having made a mistake. i think a coverup for a pedophile reveals a serious character defect. this man sought and concentrated power and then eventually used it for criminal purposes. that is not a mistake.

Maybe I am just less socially sensitive than most? The statue being there would not bother me. I am sure there are several players that have their busts in the HOF that were not very good human beings. That wouldn't bother me either. It's a football stadium that had a statue of the guy who manned a top program for decades. I'm OK with that.

Thankfully it doesn't matter if the statue being there would bother you. What does matter is how the victims of Sandusky and the countless number of victims of child molestation throughout this country and the rest of the world would react to Paterno continuing to be honored when he stood by and let something like this take place

 

[fflmonster]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a separate issue or not. It would have been a constant reminder as long as it was there. Which is why it had to be removed.

i agree. additionally, i would not characterize paterno as having made a mistake. i think a coverup for a pedophile reveals a serious character defect. this man sought and concentrated power and then eventually used it for criminal purposes. that is not a mistake.

I completely agree with this statement above and not only should the statue be removed but the library that bears the paterno name should also be chance. The university has to completely remove itself from anything to do with such a disgusting person. He cared more about his football program then the welfare of children. Not a person I would want my school honoring.

 

[renesauz]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

This...I disagree with taking it down, but I get it, and I'm OK with it.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

I liked the tweet that said they were going to turn it 180 degrees so Joe could look the other way...

That has to be joke of the day/week/month/year. I literally choked on and spilled my cheerios reading that laughing hysterically.

 

[CentralPA]

As a Central PA native and having to watch this nightmare unfold it is something that needed to be done. Paterno, for as much good as he has done doesn't deserve the status of being honored in such a way anymore. Although I think the Freeh report has it's holes it sure looks as if Paterno knew more than he let on about, which makes me incredibly sad. The community and the University have to heal and help make sure that what was allowed to transpire for this long never happens again. Keeping that statue wouldn't accomplish this.

I also don't believe the PSU football team desrves the death penalty, maybe not any penalty at all. This wasn't about players violating NCAA guidelines, this was a criminal investigation. I'm sure the fines and other punishments through violation of the Clery Act will be more than enough. At this point though the University has no say or wouldn't try to defend what the NCAA is going to do to the athletics so what happens happens.

 

[Black&Gold]

The program should be given the death penalty. Blow it up and allow players to transfer and/or add an extra year of eligibility for them. The program needs to suffer.

The people responsible are facing "suffering" in the form of prison, legal and financial penalties, or they're dead (Joe Pa). So who is going to suffer by removing the football program?Now if you had said the football program needs to be blown up until the culture at Penn State is changed, that I could probably get behind, but retribution and suffering? How much suffering and revenge could ever make up for what Sandusky did, and who should be made to "suffer"?Exactly who do you want to suffer that's still connected with the program? The fans and alumni who had no inkling that someone affiliated with the university was a child molester? The thousands of working stiffs that are part of this multi-multi-million dollar enterprise and will be put out of work? The young men who signed on to play football and get an education? (not all of them can latch on at a similar university)

i want everyone associated with penn state to suffer until they fire everyone in admin from the top down fire everyone in the atheltic department from the top down and fire everyone on the board of trustees and start it all over with people who know that it is academics and the kids first and then somewhere way down the line is football and making money and protecting false gods see what i am getting at and another thing all of the people who are donating money to the school now when that money is going to be used to fight lawsuits and so on i would like to see them say we are going to use one half and give it to the victims we know about now and we are going to take the other half and save that for victims we will find out about in the future because hell yes there are more and we are just seeing the tip of the evil iceberg here and this is not about anyone right now but the kids who were abused and what this will do to them football money scholarships alumni pride and so on just throw it all out of the window right now

Edited without Capitalization or Punctuation.

 

[KCitons]

Can we move this thread to the Free For All section. It has nothing to do with fantasy football. I really don't want to see Paterno's name every time I browse the shark pool threads.

 

[SWC]

i deleted my posts i can not even write about this it just makes me to mad brohans but in a nutshell i hope they clean house top to bottom

 

[The Comedian]

No brainer.

 

[KellysHeroes]

I liked the tweet that said they were going to turn it 180 degrees so Joe could look the other way...

That has to be joke of the day/week/month/year. I literally choked on and spilled my cheerios reading that laughing hysterically.

that is funny

 

[KellysHeroes]

Penn State is fined $60 million, banned from postseason for four years and loses scholarships

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--penn-state-sanctions-mark-emmert-four-year-bowl-ban-60-million-fine.html

 

[Shutout]

My view is one that the statue was constructed to honor a coaching legend which he still is. Obviously he made some poor decisions off the field in how he handled Sandusky but for me that is a separate issue from his football achievements. My personal view is that I was fine with the statue but obviously many others feel you can't just look at what kind of a coach Joe Pa was so I can understand why they would take it down.

This...I disagree with taking it down, but I get it, and I'm OK with it.

I think it should be left up because of what is posted above re: it reflects his achievements as a coach for nearly half a century. That is still true.My other opinion on the statue is should be left because sometimes you need a reminder to face the facts instead of just trying to make it go away and act like it never happened. If you go to Pearl Harbor and see the USS Arizona memorial, yes, its a memorial and serves a different purpose but it IS also a reminder. Same with the Alamo. Same with various dedications and sites to the dropping of the Atom bomb, etc.

Don't get me wrong: I understand on the broader sense. I know we don't go erect signs saying "this is where the mass murderer Carl lived". But I'm trying to say it from a context POV. The statue represents a different time and era and accomplishments and importance that Paterno brought to the University, community, and college football. That is all still true and has its place. We should all be evolved enough to be able to separate the two times and issues and support the good.

Yes, there is now an *. Always will be. But its not directly connected. Its not like we just found out Paterno was running a science lab and genetically altering his players or making sure they always stayed eligible to play on Saturdays. He didn't do anything that changed his football accomplishments and led to putting up a statue that shouldn't have been errected.

 

[delusional]

They went overboard, Plain and simple. So the statue is removed? Yippie all is well and forgotten now!...Not. If anything just the words Penn Statue reminds more then a bronze statue.

As for the punishment, again, extremely overboard (thakns to the media for that one ) because it screws over ALOT of the current players & other students involved in football ( marching bands, cheerleaders ). Camps are going to be starting when? Within two weeks? Thats 85 players that possibly will lose a year of football.

Will they be able to transfer? Will their scholies be able to be taken by other schools this season? Just way too much

 

[Debeucci]

They went overboard, Plain and simple. So the statue is removed? Yippie all is well and forgotten now!...Not. If anything just the words Penn Statue reminds more then a bronze statue. As for the punishment, again, extremely overboard (thakns to the media for that one ) because it screws over ALOT of the current players & other students involved in football ( marching bands, cheerleaders ). Camps are going to be starting when? Within two weeks? Thats 85 players that possibly will lose a year of football. Will they be able to transfer? Will their scholies be able to be taken by other schools this season? Just way too much

Completely wrong. That's the problem with Penn. Football was bigger than the university. The team was bigger than getting an education. Paterno was king there and was treated like a God. That's why he did what he did. He valued the program over morality. Penn Football needed to fall so that the university can you know...get back to teaching stuff?And the football players are fine. They can transfer without a loss of a year. They still get to play football, just no bowl games. Personally, I didn't think they did enough. 1 years income, forfeit of wins (big whoop), and lost scholarships and bowl ban? People should be in jail...starting from the very top. The football team should receive the death penalty for multiple years so that buy the time they start over again, they'll be starting fresh from the ground up.

 

[az_prof]

But a university is supposed to be different. College football is SUPPOSED to be about student-athletes. And a football coach and program are supposed to be judged by more than winning--they are supposed to be about raising men and instilling certain values. The fact that Joe knew something this heinous was being done to young men under his care and did nothing is damning. You can't separate his moral failing here from his job as a football coach.

 

[GoodLloydHaveMercy]

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE Penn State homer and absolutely love Penn State football. Its difficult to see things unfold the way they have and all of the hate levied on the program even though, according to the facts of the case, it is completely understandable for their actions of covering up for a monster in Sandusky. As a fan of the football team I am absolutely disgusted with the details of the Sandusky crimes and the fact that he used his "clout" as a prominent member of the staff and his connections with the program to lure or entice his victims to be close to him. The real tragedy out of this whole thing is obviously the lost innocence and the ruined lives of the victims who were already dealt a difficult hand by being under-privileged youth.

On a personal note it absolutely turns my stomach that people like Sandusky can do the things they did regardless if they are sick in the head or not! And regardless of how heinous the crime there will ALWAYS seem to be somebody somewhere that justifies it somehow or is seemingly okay to water it down to something a little more "acceptable". I call bull crap on that!! Call a spade a spade and anybody who had a chance to protect the innocent and didn't deserves to be punished as well.

Case in point, My mother recently left my dad after 30 yrs of marriage for a registered Pedophile in Missouri thus ending her rights in my sister & my mind to have any sort of relationship with all 5 of her grandchildren here in PA. She doesn't understand why we wont give her new man a chance!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!?

Im not sure what I expected from the NCAA but I feel like the penalties against the current team for THIS season were too harsh!! Yeah they can transfer but camps start in like 2 wks in most cases and are most of these players going to get a REAL shot at playing time THIS yr for another team? All of the logistics of making sure their scholarships can transfer or making sure they have an opportunity to compete seem like too much to overcome in 2 wks time! Obviously the SRs & JRs will suffer the most... what about their chance to make the NFL?

My thought is this... Are these players going to be able to change teams NEXT yr without penalty? 2 wks is too short... maybe grant those players a possible extra yr of eligibility for a semi-redshirt season this yr on another team?

As a fan I'm torn as to how I should (or WILL) feel about Penn State Football from this pt forward...

 

[VA703]

owned