Joe Pa

A lot of journalists and members of the media have been doing pieces on ESPN and all over the Internet about what they see to be Joe Paterno's legacy. Frankly, it has been the majority of what has been covered over the past 48 hours aside from two extremely close and exciting NFL Conference Championship games. In my opinion, it should be.

Paterno, who released news of his lung cancer to the world on November 18 and fell and broke his pelvis on December 11, passed away in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Reports of his condition worsening came Saturday afternoon, launching an abnormally large chunk of the media world to believe he was already gone. Even though I felt personally that he was either going to go that night or Sunday sometime, I must admit I was not entirely prepared for it.

As you all well know, I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember-Packers, Buckeyes, Reds, you name it-and I can say without hesitation that I have never had more respect for an opposing coach then I do for Joe Pa. Sure, there were times when his teams had down years, such as the 3-9 season in 2003 and the 4-7 season in 2004 where I felt he should give it up and walk away to not tarnish his legacy any further. But Paterno kept chugging along, winning more and more games until scandal hit both he and Penn State.

I'm not going to get into the details of that scandal, because I'm sick and tired of how every single time I read a piece of news regarding Joe Paterno it is mentioned without fail. All and all Paterno finished his career with 409 victories, more than any other coach in college football history.

And yet, all that anyone in the media (it feels like anyways) wants to focus on his how the last few months of his life were marred by scandal and how he was fired. Not about the wins, the Conference Championships, the National Championships, or about how no matter the circumstance Joe Pa was always (almost) on the sidelines of Penn State games pacing up and down the chalk.

Paterno's legacy to me is similar to former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel in the sense that a scandal is what everyone loves to talk about regarding each of them. Everyone loves when those who are high and mighty fall, screw up, or show some sort of fallacy that makes us believe they are just like us. The reality of it is that they are like us to an extent. Sure, they get paid more than we do and go to work everyday at their dream job. But they are people just like we are. Americans looking to make a living doing something that they love to do.

I personally think it is just plain unfair how the majority of the media is refusing to remember Paterno for what he did prior to the sex abuse scandal that shocked the nation. As I stated before, I have more respect for him than any coach that Ohio State lined up to play against on Saturday afternoons in the fall. Paterno won with class. Paterno lost with class. Countless of former players and their families have expressed their love for Joe and the way that he both handled himself and what he did for not only Penn State's football program but for their academics as well. It feels as if people forget that he donated over $4 million dollars back to the university, mainly for construction of the school's library that bears both he and his wife Sue's names. All that anyone wants to talk about is how a former assistant of Paterno allegedly assaulted numerous children and that Paterno in turn did nothing about it. Sure, he was wrong in not going to authorities once he learned of the atrocities that Jerry Sandusky committed there is no doubt about that. But can we all take a step back and think about this for a moment?

What would you have done had it been you in that situation? Would you have had the courage to report one of (if not the) very best coaches on your staff to authorities after learning about something such as this? You're on top of the world, winning Conference Championships and revered by everyone who bears your color. Would you have had the balls to step up?

I am not going to say whether or not I would, because it is such a disgusting thing to think about happening and I feel absolutely terrible for the victims and their families involved with it. I just know that it would not be very difficult to do what Joe Pa did.

I will certainly miss Joe Paterno. I know college football will miss Joe Paterno. And I know for certain that Penn State will (and already does) miss Joe Paterno. College sports has officially lost an icon and there will never again be anyone like Joe Pa. The next closest coach on the active wins list is Steve Spurrier with 198. Nowhere even close to 409.

Part of the Ohio State Penn State rivalry was the joy of watching Paterno scheme on the sidelines through rain, sleet, or snow. It is simply a shame how quickly his life deteriorated once he was fired from his post at the helm of the Nittany Lions. I once said he was going to coach until he died. Well, it looks like he died because he couldn't coach anymore.

Rest In Peace Coach Paterno, your legacy is safe with me.

Proud Buckeye and Sports Enthusiast,

Eric Seger

Daily Segs