Why did everyone keep asking why Joe Paterno wasn't able to finish the year?
Easy answer: They can't make Joe or football more important than a child.
If some individuals don't get it, then there is no hope for us all.
I wish I could just say to everyone: What about the children? Football is just a game. These kids' lives are destroyed.
Games are what they are - games. They are not life.
This is where many individuals in the PSU bubble need to examine themselves. Is the coach, game and university more important than a child?
No matter if you think it is fair or not that Joe got fired, it had to be done. The university had no choice.
Jon C. Gartmann
Roaring Spring
Remember the victims
Sorry to hear of Joe Paterno's cancer.
Releasing his health problems at this time has kept the news media at a distance. JoePa was the powerhouse at Penn State University. Retaining him as head coach may have been an attempt to curtail any explosion from Sandusky's behavior and to keep the dominos from falling.
As long as Joe was present on the sidelines or in the press box, who would dare make any accusations against PSU? Credit goes to Joe for all his accomplishments, but he has deeply disappointed and saddened many. Most fans looked up to Joe as their hero. Good heroes have always been an asset.
Perhaps the heroes and the fans forgot to also look up beyond earthly heroes; to confirm our pride is of the good and not our biggest downfall.
Let's not forget the pain and suffering of the victims and their families.
Geraldine Rose
Altoona
Canonization wrong
So much has been made of the ongoing Penn State/Sandusky scandal.
I say let the facts speak for themselves. I grew up in western PA, and Joe Paterno was considered nothing less than a saint.
JoePa was more than an endearment. He was a constant, to a fault, a major fault. JoePa could do no wrong. He was the untested God. This way of thinking has always concerned me.
Despite the canonization of Paterno, over the years, rumors abounded of nepotism (regarding his son) and also JoePa's neglect of information regarding PSU football players who were allowed to play despite egregious off-field behavior.
Specifically, two circumstances come to mind:
After receiving a DUI (in State College) a PSU player was given the green light by JoePa to play. Another PSU player charged with sexual assault was again given the go-ahead to play in a major bowl game. In that case, JoePa said he was unaware.
How very convenient for the illustrious coach to continually know nothing about the events of his team member. The man who was in charge of his team was unaware of his players' actions?
Probably not. But again who would question the saint of Pennsylvania?
Idolizing one man over a university is a problem - more difficult for an icon who has contributed millions of dollars to his university.
What is good and correct now is the opportunity to undo society's wrongs. Not only is PSU under scrutiny by the local government but now also by the federal government.
All facts are on the table to find out what is real and, more importantly, what is wrong.
Theresa Peters
Washington, D.C.
PSU needs to start over
In my opinion the whole Penn State football program needs to be gutted out and started from scratch.
Yes, that means everybody. If any one person is left over there will always be questions on whether that particular person knew anything about Jerry Sandusky.
The building needs to be torn down and a new facility put in its place. It will be hard to recruit when they know what allegedly happened in those showers.
Also, if I was a player, I would refuse to be anywhere near that area. For years, our players have not reached their mental and physical peak due to the lack of any change in the program and now is the time for that change (i.e. strength and conditioning, offensive and defensive schemes, special teams coach).
It will be a painful restructuring, but if we, as a football program, want to distance ourselves from this controversy, then all involved must be replaced.
A new staff will mean limited distractions by the media over the Sandusky case.
Their answer can always be "I was not here at the time, so I have no opinion or information for you."
Jarod Penson
York
Weather won't be the 'ticket'
I just realized that the TicketCity Bowl will be played at the old Cotton Bowl and not Cowboy Stadium. They've made quite a few renovations over the years, but it's still outside.
That can be one miserable place to play in late December-early January. I can remember more bad-weather games there rather than good-weather games. Usually it's freezing rain and sleet.
I'm two hours south of Dallas and the low tonight will be 34 and then 28 for lows later in the week. Highs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are supposed to get above 45.
For sure it won't be like playing in a bowl game in Florida, Arizona or California. At least the Meineke and Alamo Bowls are played in domed stadiums.
I'd say that Penn State really did get snubbed, and it could be pretty miserable for the fans who travel to this one.
Will Walk
Spring, Texas
