Joe Paterno Fired: Did Living Legend Deserve to Finish out the Season?

In another wild twist in the disturbing child sex abuse scandal at Penn State, head football coach Joe Paterno has been fired and will not finish out the season as the Nittany Lions head coach.

John Surma, who is the Vice Chair on the Penn State Board of Trustees, took questions tonight in front of a packed media room when the announcement was made that both Paterno and school president Graham Spainer have been dismissed of their duties.

So with this news, we have to ask, did Paterno deserve to finish out the season?

First thing's first: this incident is by no means about the game of football, this incident is about horrific decisions made by former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations about his involvement in molesting young boys through his charitable youth foundation. This incident is about the victims at hand in this disturbing incident. 

Paterno was informed about the actions of his assistant coach, but failed to report the issue to authorities as a legal matter; instead, just told his university boss.

Outside of that, from what we know, Paterno's involvement in the situation was slim. So, did he deserve to finish out the season? Perhaps he did, but it simply wasn't an option.

This is not an NCAA infraction, these are the most unthinkable, disturbing acts that anyone could imagine that go far beyond the game of football.

Paterno's dismissal was a business decision that was in the best interest of Penn State University, and this is bigger than Paterno and everything he accomplished on the football field.

His dismissal was not about what Paterno did do, but instead, it was about what he didn't do.

When Surma was asked in the press conference about the decision and why it had to come right now, he responded, "I thought we had enough information needed to make the decision."

"Today was the day our board felt we had sufficient view to reach that decision. We felt it was necessary to make a change in our leadership and set a course for new direction." 

Joe Paterno is a legend and there are people who have a right to feel very upset about this decision. If this decision what not made to protect the university, then yes, maybe Paterno should have been allowed to finish the season. 

After all he has done for this program and this university, perhaps he should have gained the right to coach his final home game in a memorable, historic manner.

Again, this was a business and public relations decision made by the people who run Penn State University. It was made to protect the university in what the trustees believed was the best move for Penn State.

Almost everyone involved with this program is most likely devastated by this decision, but it was a decision that had to happen.

It's just unfortunate it had to happen like it did.