I Wish Joe Paterno Was Alive To Watch His Legacy Crumble

ESPN – The Joe Paterno statue was removed Sunday morning from its pedestal outside Beaver Stadium, and it will be stored in an unnamed “secure location,” Penn State president Rodney Erickson announced. The Paterno family issued a statement only hours later saying the statue’s removal “does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State community.”A Paterno family spokesman told ESPN.com that Penn State has not been in communication with them about the statue’s removal. Erickson’s announcement came exactly six months after Paterno died. I fully realize that my decision will not be popular in some Penn State circles, but I am certain it is the right and principled decision,” he said. Some critics had also called for the Paterno family name to be removed from the library. But Erickson said no. “The library remains a tribute to Joe and Sue Paterno’s commitment to Penn State’s student body and academic success,” Erickson said, “and it highlights the positive impacts Coach Paterno had on the university. Thus I feel strongly that the library’s name should remain unchanged.”