Joe Paterno, the winningest Division I football coach in NCAA history has died at the age of 85.
Paterno led the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years and won 2 national titles during his tenure. But it would be his firing in mid-season in November 2011 that will forever taint his legacy. He was relieved of his duties by Penn State trustees in November 2011, after long-time assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child sexual abuse charges.
Despite the incident, Joe Paterno's legacy on campus seems to have not been tainted. The board of trustees announced this month that Paterno remained a tenured member of the Penn State faculty, even though he is no longer coach, and the University honored his contract as if he retired at the end of the season. The details of his retirement were still being finalized when his death was announced.
He remains a beloved figure on campus, seemingly bigger than life, itself. On campus, students cleaned snow off the statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium and are using the area as a makeshift memorial.
I've often stated that what you do is how people will remember you by, and by all accounts, Paterno's accomplishments on the field should be noted and not the evil doings of a few people. At this moment in time, that's what should be the order of the day.
What's done is done.
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