Following a sexual abuse scandal involving former Penn State football assistant Jerry Sandusky which led to multiple sanctions for the program and the discovery that former head coach Joe Paterno and the coaching staff knowingly turned a blind eye to such allegations, an on-campus statue of Paterno was removed.
Now, five years later, more than 200 former Penn State football players have come together for a petition asking that the statue returns to its old home.
According to WGAL News 8, 1975 alumnus Brian Masella and many others requested the statue return to the front of Beaver Stadium. In addition, the petition asks for an apology to Sue Paterno.
“We have been told during the last four-plus years that the board and administration are waiting for the appropriate time to repair the damage they created. Now is the appropriate time. Enough is enough!” Masella said in a statement.
It comes as no surprise that Penn State alum are calling for the statue to return.
Despite the allegations and evidence that was raised against Sandusky and the fact that Paterno and his staff did nothing to raise concern to authorities or university superiors, the ex-head coach remains a local hero in State College.
Common sense would say the statue should remain off campus and it likely will not return to Beaver Stadium, but this won’t be the last we hear of JoePa supporters crying foul and asking for their beloved statue to re-appear.
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