Joe Paterno has quickly succumbed to lung cancer amidst a troubling time within the Penn State football program. Almost immediately, the fans and Penn State alumni have begun to pay tribute to a man who's iconic legacy formed an immortal caricature folk hero. We all knew a day like this would eventually come, but it still doesn't soften the blow. He formed a program for 60+ years while being credited by being a stalwart among changing NCAA football athletics. He did things his way; by an honor code. His teams weren't flashy - they didn't overboard their celebrations. And now that he's gone, the program will most certainly change to keep up with the evolving attitudes of the modern college athlete.
I once had the privilege to shake his hand when the Penn State/Pitt football rivalry was going to be renewed in 1997 season. He was doing a live outdoor interview with a Pittsburgh cable television station. While being still very green to the main campus that junior year, I chose to take off for the location with the intent of being in JoePa's presence. When I arrived, the interview segment had already ended. I was told that he had gone inside the Nittany Lion Inn and his car was parked nearby. I would simply wait around for 20 minutes with the hopes of meeting him. All I wanted to do was shake his hand and tell him how much he had meant to me. My patience was eventually rewarded and found classically eluding more public interaction. But this time, he saw me approaching with my hand outstretched. I told him thank you and pleaded for a victory over the Pitt program.
My emotions today are of sadness and anger. It's directed at the one University I've honed my journalism skills as well as once called my home. How could they callously dump an honorable man and refuse to give the benefit of the doubt. He deserved a hero's goodbye.
[Via: Centre Daily Times]
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