Paterno's Death Prompts Debate Over Legacy

(The Wall Street Journal) - Joe Paterno's death Sunday at 85 set a half-century of epic college football triumphs against his dramatic firing in November over a sexual abuse scandal, highlighting a debate over his legacy that is likely to continue for many years.

The praise for major college football's record-holder for victories swept across Penn State University and college football on Sunday, and overshadowed, for a moment, the controversy that dogged Paterno's dismissal as coach after allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced against Jerry Sandusky, a former player and assistant coach. Paterno's death isn't expected to have an impact on the case against Sandusky, who has pleaded not guilty.

Penn State president Rodney Erickson said, "We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, an ex-officio Penn State board member who voted along with other trustees to fire Paterno, said he was saddened by the news. "As both man and coach, Joe Paterno confronted adversities, both past and present, with grace and forbearance. His place in our state's history is secure."

Alumni, students and fans, many from outside Pennsylvania, paid their respects at a statue of Paterno, known as JoePa, in front of the university football stadium, in below-freezing temperatures Sunday. Former students exchanged anecdotes online about his generosity, from opening a door for them at a campus ice-cream shop to calling a relative suffering from cancer.

Paterno, who died Sunday morning of lung cancer at Mount Nittany Medical Center, was fired with a phone call in November by university trustees who said he failed his moral duties in not alerting law enforcement officials when told that Sandusky was seen in a Penn State shower allegedly sexually abusing a young boy in 2002.

Paterno informed two university officials at the time. After Sandusky was arrested on charges of sexually abusing eight boys between 1995 and 2009, Paterno said he wished he "had done more." He said the scandal was "one of the great sorrows of my life." Though he promised to quit at season's end, he was fired before it was over. His name was removed from the Big Ten championship trophy.

His firing inflamed tensions at the university among faculty, students and alumni, who accused trustees of acting prematurely and called for them to step down. Trustees defended their actions last week, but they also said they regretted firing Paterno by telephone. The explanation failed to quiet the debate.

On Friday, the board chairman and vice chairman both stepped down. The faculty senate has scheduled a no-confidence vote Tuesday on the board.

The Penn State men's basketball team found out about Paterno's passing Sunday morning, before their game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. Penn State players wore black bands on the left shoulders of their jerseys in honor of Paterno. The public-address announcer called for a moment of silence.

Sandusky, who has maintained his innocence, expressed his sadness through his lawyer, saying, "Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life."

Legal analysts said the case against Sandusky would not be harmed by Paterno's passing.

As Penn State's head football coach since 1966, Paterno won a major-college record 409 games and captured two national titles. He gave $4 million to the university.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal