My Lost Weekend

Joe Paterno might like to coach at Penn State until the end of the season, but I’ve concluded that this would be bad on a number of different levels.

First and foremost, short of Penn State forfeiting the rest of its games, each game from here on out will become a lightening rod for those folks that just want Paterno gone. Plus, while Saturday’s home game would be bad enough with Paterno walking the sideline, can you imagine what would happen next week at Ohio State? What about if Penn State makes it to the Big Ten Championship game? Absolutely terrible.

Second, letting Paterno coach sends a very, very bad message to Jerry Sandusky’s victims. It would show - in my opinion - that Paterno cares about the kids (after all, he’s resigned), but hey, there is still football to be played. Again, what a bad message to send. 

Finally, the kids on this year’s team deserve better. Saturday should be about the game on the field and about the seniors playing at home for the last time. As such, Penn State should let Tom Bradley coach, along with the other assistants for the rest of the year. Then in January, the University should clean house. 

Before I go, one other thing. Rumors are swirling that Amos Alonzo Stagg’s family is rethinking whether they want the coach’s name to sit alongside Paterno’s on the Big Ten Championship trophy. I agree - to a point. My suggestion is that the Big Ten take both names off the trophy and figure out another way to celebrate Stagg’s accomplishments. As for Paterno, the league should let time decide whether the coach should be celebrated in his own right. 

As a Penn State graduate, these are terrible times. What Jerry Sandusky did was absolutely terrible and in the end, there are no winners here. Fortunately, I and other alumni won’t let the actions of a few bring down the University we so love. 

We Are (Forever)…. Penn State