Penn State Scandal: Where Does Paterno's Legacy Now Lie?

Joe Paterno began as a head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 1966. 

Three weeks ago he would have easily gone down as one of the best (if not the best) coach in Division I football history with his record 409 wins.

The scandal surrounding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky allegedly sexual abusing children in the Penn State football buildings has created quite a dark cloud over Paterno's illustrious career.

Back in 2002, a graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, apparently made Paterno aware of the sexual abuse he allegedly witnessed.  Paterno had reported the findings to the Atheletic Director Tim Curley. 

To Penn State nearly 10 years later, that wasn't enough.

Amid the horrendous allegations that are circling the university, they found it best to cut their ties with their idolized head coach of 46 years. 

As terrible as the situation was and as poorly as it was handled with the children who were abused in mind, did JoePa get a bad rap?

True, he probably could have done more.  He did what he thought was best, though, and put it in the hands of his superiors.  He could have dug deeper himself to get to the bottom of such a heinous crime that was allegedly committed by one of his coaches, but he didn't. 

Still, from the perspective of Paterno being a coach and educator and all-around leader of men, I don't know that washing ties with Paterno was the best idea.

Paterno had made insurmountable contributions to the school.  He coached a team that had a graduation rate well above Division I collegiate averages and standards, and he continued to win.  During the scandal, the school felt it was best to clear its name from all of those who were there at the time, as if Paterno allowed it to go on.

Is it being forgotten that he went up the ladder and made what he was told known?  There is no question that the alleged abuse at the hand of Sandusky was one of the worst things that could ever happen to a college football program. 

To what standard, though, is Paterno being held?  In my mind, he did what he was supposed to do.  He has told reporters that he told the athletic director and the vice president of the school. 

Was Paterno, as a head football coach, supposed to go on a CSI rampage and figure out what was going on himself and make a citizen's arrest?  Maybe, but I think to hold him to that standard is ridiculous. 

No head football coach today is prepared for such a situation.  Paterno sent the information up the ladder—he didn't sit on it and ponder what should be done to his long-time fellow coach. 

I hate that there were children allegedly abused in the worst way.  I hope the legal process figures out everything and everyone that was hurt and Sandusky is taken care of accordingly.  I also hate that Paterno is being made a scapegoat by the school just to make things easier amid the scandal. 

Paterno loves Penn State—everyone knows that.  Of course he didn't fire up a press conference and dish out the details when he was made aware of what was happening.  That would have been detrimental to the school he loved and would have been wildly inappropriate to the children and families involved.  Is that what he was supposed to do?

He made a calculated decision and told on his friend.  I am sure Paterno thought the vice president and athletic director would do the situation justice.

For all that Paterno had done for the school in a time where coaches jump ship for the next best offer was valiant.  He has been long counted as a molder of young men and will now be stripped of his gift too soon. 

It is especially frustrating that Paterno was fired so unceremoniously when he was surely so close to retiring on his own.  Paterno, though, was not given the option to resign or retire on his own with his legacy intact.  His long and storied career will always have this blemish hanging over it.

All because his superiors dropped the ball so many years ago, and the university felt it was easiest to rid themselves of the extra media attention Paterno would garner.

There really was no way to get out of this situation and save face, but firing an icon was not the best answer.  Paterno will forever be endeared by college football fans and especially Nittany Lions fans, but within the school how will his legacy be left? 

His name has already been stripped from the Big Ten Championship trophy, and his name is still on structures around the Penn State campus.  Will they continue to hold his name that honors his many contributions to the school?

Will they mend their relationship with Paterno in a few years when the scandal is behind them? 

I sure hope so—if anyone deserves that it's Joe Paterno.