The Legend of Joe Paterno: Good or Bad?

The sports world lost one of its most iconic, but much-maligned figures this past weekend.

Former Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno died early Sunday morning after a three-month battle with lung cancer. Paterno's death has not only rocked the landscape of college football, but the world in general. He was 85-years old.

The beloved Paterno was the face of Penn State football; becoming an institution. Known by many as the legendary "Joe Pa", Paterno was a part of Penn State for 61 years. His first 15 seasons were as an assistant; from 1950 to 1965. Then, he would become the head coach the following year and served in the position until this past November, when a child-abuse sex scandal involving one of his assistant coaches, Jerry Sandusky, forced the university to let him go after he failed to report. Paterno was fired on Nov. 8.

Just weeks after being let go as head coach it was revealed that Paterno had lung cancer. Although earlier reports said the cancer was treatable, Paterno's health diminished over the next eight weeks. A week and a half ago he was admitted to a hospital in State College (Pa.) and remained there until his death.

Not since the death of former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Bear Bryant in January 1983, has a college football coach's death saddened a nation. Many people from throughout sports and abroad have been touched by Paterno's death. Former president George H.W. Bush called "Joe Pa", "One of the most outstanding Americans".

Paterno, the winningest coach in the history of college football, has a resume that cannot be disputed. Two national championships (1982 & 1986), 409 wins (most in NCAA history), three Big Ten titles, most bowl wins (24), and hundreds of other accolades.

One of his most accomplished efforts was being named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year" in 1986; it was the first time in the history of college football that a coach had been named in that honor.

Another one of Paterno's greatest achievements was his relationship with his former players. Paterno has sent over 350 players to the NFL; 32 of them were first-round draftees. He was very stern when it came to academics. Penn State's graduation rate of its athletes under Paterno was 90 percent. Twice, Paterno led the Nittany Lions to a No. 1 ranking of BCS-schools in academic achievements among student athletes (2009 & 2011). The top-ranking also included a successful graduation rate of its African-American athletes.

"Joe Pa" was also a humanitarian at heart. Paterno and his wife, Sue, donated over $4 million dollars to Penn State; the university's library bear their name for their monetary contributions. He also was a staunch supporter of ethics surrounding college football. Paterno was a strong advocate of a playoff system. Despite his two national titles, Paterno led the Nittany Lions to five undefeated seasons, however, because of the bowl system that had been implemented, he finished atop the polls twice. Paterno also had been in favor of college athletes receiving a stipend.

However, for all of the good and charitable causes that Paterno did at Penn State, it was his disposition surrounding the school's child-sex scandal, involving Sandusky, that now have many questioning his legacy.

Paterno and Sandusky's relationship was harmonious. Sandusky played at Penn State while Paterno was an assistant. Sandusky was a graduate assistant for one season (1966), left, and returned to State College three years later as a defensive assistant coach. Eight years later, Paterno entrusted the entire defense to Sandusky; naming him defensive coordinator. He served that position until 1999.

In Sandusky's tenure, the Nittany Lions produced some outstanding defensive players that went on to the National Football League. However, little that Paterno knew, that his most trusted assistant, had a serious problem that went undetected. Paterno knew of Sandusky's involvement with children with his charitable work, "The Second Mile", but was superficial when it came to Sandusky having sexual relations with the children.

When Paterno came into the awareness of Sandusky's deplorable affairs, it was too late. Over the course of fifthteen years, Sandusky had been involved in having sexual realtionships with boys. One of the sexual assualts took place in an on-campus locker room. A former Penn State assistant walked in on Sandusky physically raping the youngster, and reported it to Paterno. Paterno informed the school's athletic director and another campus employee. However, many wondered why Paterno failed to go the extra mile.

A man of his integrity and his firm stand of morals and ethics, should have done more but did not. It was later revealed that Paterno had no wrongdoings in the matter and was cleared. However, when the truth finally came out, Penn State University did the logical thing: fire him. Paterno's firing on Nov. 8 did not sit well with loyal supporters. Students protested and destroyed property. The university's brass officially ended its relationship with Paterno after 61 years.

Although Paterno was let go at Penn State, it did not taint his legacy. Paterno is, was and will always be Penn State. He became a cultural insititution. His famous thick-squared glasses and his rolled-up khaki pants was a welcome site on the sidelines.

I have no clue what Paterno's last days were like, however, I can imagine Paterno having remorse for not doing what he should have done. While most people will diminish his legacy for what he did not do in the Sandusky case, others, like myself, will always remember him for what he did for college football and that was turning boys into men.

Paterno's legacy