Joe Paterno

Paterno was fired Wednesday night, Nov. 9, 2011

At first, I was like the majority of the Penn State student body: outraged, saddened, disappointed, and shocked.  Now, still having those feelings but gathering more information, I can't help but side with the Penn State board of trustees.  However, I don't think that you can just throw away ALL that Paterno has meant to the Penn State community.  Nor do I think that Paterno is necessarily fully at fault, I just think that amidst the mess of it all, there was no choice but to let him go.  And as much as it pains me to say that Paterno had to go, he deserved a better goodbye than this.  After 43 years as the head football coach and 62 years of total service to the program, you would think there would be a better alternative to a phone call informing him of his firing.

Paterno was the heart and soul of the entire university and I would think that despite this scandal a face-to-face meeting and an opportunity to resign or leave on his terms would be more appropriate.  This was such an abrupt end to a storied career and I just wish it would have ended in a better way.

Paterno was a living legend and now his legacy will be left to question.  However, I commend his leadership in this matter.  After being the pride of Penn State University, he has handled this firing with dignity and class.  In the wake of so much turmoil, he has stood strong and has taken responsibility.

After thinking more about it, why isn't the athletic director fired?  Why isn't McQueary at the same amount of fault as Paterno is?  After all, he was the one who witnessed Sandusky in the shower and reported it to the higher authority - head football coach Joe Paterno.  Sounds familiar doesn't it?  That's exactly what Paterno did, he reported the matter to higher authorities.  I just wish he would have seen it all the way through and took further action for the sake of the children.

I think that if Paterno and the president of the school were fired there is no doubt in my mind that as of right now the athletic director and McQueary should be removed as well.  As further investigations take place I hope things get straightened out, because to me, it doesn't seem fair.

"I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.  I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today," Paterno said.

"This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more. My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this university," Paterno said.

I wish Paterno and his family nothing but the best moving forward.  It deeply saddens me to see this happen, especially to a man like Joe Pa.

It is a devastating time for college athletics, but the victims in this case should not be forgotten.  I want to make it clear that I am not disregarding the severity of this case.  I completely sympathize with the victims and their families.  I am merely pondering the way Paterno was dismissed and the legacy he has left and will leave.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

All I or anyone can ask for now is that justice be served and everything is done in a civilized and fair manner.  It's a shame, a damn shame.