The Radvocate Issue #7

Former Penn State player, and current Chicago Bears defensive tackle Anthony Adams, expressed mixed emotions about Paterno in an interview with Chicago Bears beat reporter Michael Wright last November, saying “…we all know what Coach Paterno meant to the university, [and] we all know what he meant to us as individuals." Asked to comment for this article about the disposition of the Paterno statue, before its early morning Sunday removal, and his opinion of Paterno’s legacy, Adams (@spiceadams) responded via Twitter, “Keep it. He worked hard.”

Echoing Valenti’s and Adams’ stance was 18-year old Penn State freshman, and area resident, Connor Bortz.

A self-admitted Paterno supporter “all my life, now and forever,” Bortz (@Bortzy67) believes that while “this was the Sandusky Scandal, not the Penn State scandal,” Paterno’s “statue should stay, legacy is tarnished.”

In a phone interview, Chris Morelli, editor of the Centre County Gazette (State College Park, PA), and 1991 PSU graduate, tried to rationalize this rabid, albeit slowing support of Paterno’s once pristine legacy.

“When you live in a small community, like State College, there seems to be this idolatry put out towards people like Joe Paterno,” Morelli explained. “I think more people are coming around and realizing that maybe he wasn’t such a good guy, but there are people who…will not admit their hero was flawed.”

On the day the Freeh Report was released, Nike founder Phil Knight announced that the “Joe Paterno Child Development Center” at Nike headquarters would be renamed. From making an impassioned support of Paterno during his eulogy on January 26, and drawing thunderous applause from those in attendance, Knight reversed course on July 12, saying in an official statement: “It appears Joe made missteps that led to heartbreaking consequences.”

Morelli believes the Nike action was inevitable, as is University and local area actions, citing Paterno merchandise disappearing from stores’ shelves as just the beginning.

“We’re gonna get to a point where the statue comes down, and I think that’s just the first step,” Morelli said. “If you’re going to get a fresh start, if you’re going to start a new era with the new football coach,