All of you that know me are very well aware of the deep bloodlines that my family and I have to Penn State. It has been a part of me since before I was even born. I truly believe that I bleed a combination of blue & white, orange & maroon. In fact, I was a diehard Penn State fan before I even knew what a Hokie was thanks to my parents who are proud and loud Penn State alumni. My aunt and uncle also attended Penn State, and my entire extended family considers themselves Nittany Lions fans as they all hail from the small town of Altoona, located a mere 45 minutes from State College, PA.
My first memories of my childhood include watching Penn State football games on TV. I remember inviting the neighborhood kids over and enjoying the full-scale "tailgate" of food my mom put together for each game. Saturday afternoons were for wearing blue & white, cheering at the top of our lungs, eating 'til our tummies ached, and running around outside having marshmallow fights at halftime. And people wonder why I am such a diehard, dedicated, and loyal sports fan?!
I remember traveling to Happy Valley, enjoying the delicious ice cream from the infamous campus creamery, taking in the cool, crisp autumn weather in Central PA, tailgating with family and feeling a sense of unity and togetherness I found intoxicating (this is why I HAD to attend a university with an established and fervent sports program).
But one of the things I remember most about growing up a Penn State fan is Joe Paterno. I recall the guy in the big glasses with the rolled up pant legs and navy blue sweaters leading his team out on the field. I remember seeing him on TV, watching him in person on the sidelines, listening to my parents praise him for not only his coaching abilities, but for his character and integrity as a human being. His passion for the game, for his players, and for the local community and student body at large was, and is in my opinion, unwavering, whether he be yelling at a pep rally to pump up the crowd, or donating millions of dollars to support education. Whether people like it or not, Joe Paterno is a living legend. And he is a man who, in my opinion, is the epitome of what college football coaches should be.
For these reasons (and certainly not these reasons alone, as I am of course first and foremost in sorrow for the innocent children and families allegedly affected by this tragedy. I just simply refuse to discuss the facts of a case currently under investigation due to the fact that we truly don't know what happened and I for one will not discuss someone's guilt or innocence prior to their due justice in a court of law) I am sad. I am angry. The media has, for at least the 2nd time in my recent memory, driven me to truly despise them. (I also felt this way in regards to the media in 2007 during the tragedy at Virginia Tech where they seeked scapegoats and placed blame on who/what I felt were innocent targets).
In my deepest heart of hearts, and in the midst of a world where almost no one can be trusted or admired, I believe in Joe Paterno. Based on the man I have seen him be over the 27 years of my life, the stories my parents have passed down to me, the genuine gestures he has made to his MANY teams of athletes, to perfect strangers, to an entire university and to the world, I believe in him. I've always considered him to be the prime example of what a college coach should be, and I could not be more proud to say that Frank Beamer, the coach of my beloved Virginia Tech Hokies, can be compared to a man of JoePa's status.
I whole-heartedly believe that Joe Paterno did exactly what he thought were the appropriate measures and steps to take given whatever information he received regarding this incident. For over 60 years, the man has not ONCE wavered in his strength of character or responsibility, and I for one truly do not believe he would ever allow such a tragic thing to continue if he had truly known the facts. I understand people are angry and hurt and are looking for someone to blame, but Joe Paterno is not and should not be that person. In my opinion, he is being used as a scapegoat when there are so many other people truly at question. If for some reason information is revealed that proves me wrong, I will me utterly heartbroken. Truly, truly devastated. But deep down in my soul, I have the faith that Joe Paterno did not mislead the world for 84 years.
I will go to State College, PA this weekend. I will walk into Beaver Stadium on Saturday morning. I will wear blue in honor of supporting the fight against child abuse. I will cheer on the football team and hope they beat Nebraska to continue a great season. But above all else, I will stand up in that stadium in support of Joe Paterno, whether he stands along the sidelines with HIS team or not. It crushes my heart to know his legacy will end this way and will forever be remembered in this light. Joe Paterno deserves more than that. He is the greatest football coach in college football history, and I will continue to support him as a football fan, an American citizen, and a Nittany Lion at heart.
I <3 You JoePa, Always & Forever!
