Honor due Joe Paterno 12-21-1926 100 years

Buzz75

Redshirt
Sep 28, 2025
3
20
3
Long past time for the University and alumni to honor Joe for dedicating his life to Penn State and acknowledge his many accomplishments. December 21, 2026 is Joe’s 100th birthday and it is my sincere hope that the University honor him in a meaningful way.
Perhaps the teams woes are due to a curse, let’s call it the Bureaucratic Curse. They play like a team run by soulless bureaucrats.
Joe was a man of passion and conviction and these traits were instilled in the team resulting in players performing above expectations and success in close games.
Restoring his statue would be fitting.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
1,766
1,144
113
Long past time for the University and alumni to honor Joe for dedicating his life to Penn State and acknowledge his many accomplishments. December 21, 2026 is Joe’s 100th birthday and it is my sincere hope that the University honor him in a meaningful way.
Perhaps the teams woes are due to a curse, let’s call it the Bureaucratic Curse. They play like a team run by soulless bureaucrats.
Joe was a man of passion and conviction and these traits were instilled in the team resulting in players performing above expectations and success in close games.
Restoring his stature would be fitting.
I don't care about the statue but agree with the rest. The timing would be ideal and something should be done.
 

Sharkies

Senior
Jun 14, 2013
144
442
53
Its so painfully obvious too, like a huge piece of our history is completely white washed away... you'll notice it if you really look.

- half the football fields in the conference are named after a coach that meant something to their school and none of them have the resume Joe did
- the penn state football official fb page goes out of their way to avoid pics of anything related to joe - they did a photo montage of the student section banners and notably the one that directly references joe was absent
- in game video montages... he's shown for a second? For a guy who coached here 5 decades, we show him for 1 second? Is that insane to anyone else?
- lack of video promos that can use anything related to Joe - white out report, man, it'd be a great backdrop if they did it from in front of the statue.

its jarring in a lot of ways.
 

Alphalion75

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
14,483
3,390
113
I agree with honoring Joe. However, what endures, is that what Joe built at Penn State could not be erased or torn down by Mark Emmert and the NCAA, Jim Delany and the Big Ten, mighty ESPN, other media outlets and so many others. As hard as they tried. Saturday night's white out crowd was another shining example of Joe's enduring legacy.
 

RolexKong

Freshman
Aug 15, 2025
63
50
18
Long past time for the University and alumni to honor Joe for dedicating his life to Penn State and acknowledge his many accomplishments. December 21, 2026 is Joe’s 100th birthday and it is my sincere hope that the University honor him in a meaningful way.
Perhaps the teams woes are due to a curse, let’s call it the Bureaucratic Curse. They play like a team run by soulless bureaucrats.
Joe was a man of passion and conviction and these traits were instilled in the team resulting in players performing above expectations and success in close games.
Restoring his statue would be fitting.
Will not happen as long as Bendatpudi is at the helm. She loathes his memory.
 
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Alphalion75

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
14,483
3,390
113
Of course not, because it’s not actually true.
I did read about the meeting she had with Sue Paterno in May of 2024 where she said "no" to naming the field for Joe without elaborating. But I haven't seen any comments by her regarding Joe. In the appropriate context or setting I'd be interested to know how she does feel about Joe and his legacy.
 

84lion

Senior
Oct 7, 2021
529
859
93
Its so painfully obvious too, like a huge piece of our history is completely white washed away... you'll notice it if you really look.

- half the football fields in the conference are named after a coach that meant something to their school and none of them have the resume Joe did
- the penn state football official fb page goes out of their way to avoid pics of anything related to joe - they did a photo montage of the student section banners and notably the one that directly references joe was absent
- in game video montages... he's shown for a second? For a guy who coached here 5 decades, we show him for 1 second? Is that insane to anyone else?
- lack of video promos that can use anything related to Joe - white out report, man, it'd be a great backdrop if they did it from in front of the statue.

its jarring in a lot of ways.
Penn State basically “unpersoned” Joe in the classic sense of the old Soviet Union. It’s like the man never existed. And I am supposed to continue to have great feelings about the University in general and the football program in particular why?

I see this “West Shore Home Field” thing and all the other logos, and, while understanding what football is today (NIL and all that), I think, can the school not find some way to acknowledge what Joe meant to the University? Does the school leadership feel better now that they’ve sold their soul to the highest bidder? Why not just put the stadium naming rights up for grabs too, who cares about that old Beaver guy?

It is one of those things that “sticks in one’s craw.” I see the struggles against top ten competition and, in a way, I’m glad, because the only National Championships in the sport that really matters – football – Penn State is going to have two to their name, and no others. I think that’s really the best way to honor Joe’s legacy.
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,214
3,815
113
Penn State basically “unpersoned” Joe in the classic sense of the old Soviet Union. It’s like the man never existed. And I am supposed to continue to have great feelings about the University in general and the football program in particular why?

I see this “West Shore Home Field” thing and all the other logos, and, while understanding what football is today (NIL and all that), I think, can the school not find some way to acknowledge what Joe meant to the University? Does the school leadership feel better now that they’ve sold their soul to the highest bidder? Why not just put the stadium naming rights up for grabs too, who cares about that old Beaver guy?

It is one of those things that “sticks in one’s craw.” I see the struggles against top ten competition and, in a way, I’m glad, because the only National Championships in the sport that really matters – football – Penn State is going to have two to their name, and no others. I think that’s really the best way to honor Joe’s legacy.
I totally agree on everything you stated... I don't need the statue back up. Naming the field after Joe would have been nice but we all know the BOT and PSU Admin have no spine and cave on any pushback on anything. Yes with PSU in large debt I am actually stunned they haven't opened up renaming the Beaver stadium to the highest bidder. Who cares about some general from the civil war. No one now was alive or remembers that anyway. ;) Along with Bryce Jordan Center they should put that up to the highest bidder as well. Heck why not put all the dorms and classroom buildings up to the highest bidder. The Home Depot Hartranft Hall has a nice ring to it. Time to get a big new sponsor for the creamery. PSU is now about the almighty dollar and everything else be d@mned. Neeli needs to get to work and earn her keep so much oppourtunity and time she is wasting...
 
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Psumatt85

Junior
Jan 5, 2002
245
298
63
Long past time for the University and alumni to honor Joe for dedicating his life to Penn State and acknowledge his many accomplishments. December 21, 2026 is Joe’s 100th birthday and it is my sincere hope that the University honor him in a meaningful way.
Perhaps the teams woes are due to a curse, let’s call it the Bureaucratic Curse. They play like a team run by soulless bureaucrats.
Joe was a man of passion and conviction and these traits were instilled in the team resulting in players performing above expectations and success in close games.
Restoring his statue would be fitting.
No longer matters to me. They missed the window.
 
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Bob78

All-Conference
Jul 5, 2001
1,651
3,829
113
Elaborate?
I recall hearing a year or two ago that she was on board with restoring Joe's memory, but was talked out of it by a former PSU VP (can't recall his name) who bludgeoned Joe's name in a meeting with some committee or other. Don't know how accurate that part is, but I heard from multiple people that initially, she, and Kraft, were on board. Now, the token effort of recreating his office in the museum is the only thing likely to happening.
 

RolexKong

Freshman
Aug 15, 2025
63
50
18
Elaborate?
I recall hearing a year or two ago that she was on board with restoring Joe's memory, but was talked out of it by a former PSU VP (can't recall his name) who bludgeoned Joe's name in a meeting with some committee or other. Don't know how accurate that part is, but I heard from multiple people that initially, she, and Kraft, were on board. Now, the token effort of recreating his office in the museum is the only thing likely to happening.
Frank Guadagnino. If you believe he made his remarks on his own and wasn't a stalking horse for someone else I have some real estate in Gaza you will be interested in.
 
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PSUForever

Senior
Feb 17, 2007
600
526
93
Long past time for the University and alumni to honor Joe for dedicating his life to Penn State and acknowledge his many accomplishments. December 21, 2026 is Joe’s 100th birthday and it is my sincere hope that the University honor him in a meaningful way.
Perhaps the teams woes are due to a curse, let’s call it the Bureaucratic Curse. They play like a team run by soulless bureaucrats.
Joe was a man of passion and conviction and these traits were instilled in the team resulting in players performing above expectations and success in close games.
Restoring his statue would be fitting.
I agree with your post but the reality is they won't do anything. They barely acknowledge his existence. His 100th birthday will not change anything. These tribute videos played at the stadium barely show him. To this day he is still the personification of Penn State football. They talk about Basic Blues, no names, etc. That is all Joe. He built everything we saw last Saturday. West Shore Field??? Really? It is so obvious it should be Paterno Field but the spineless wonders will never do that.

You make a great point about Joe the coach and person being a man of passion and conviction. He got the most out of players and we won close games. Not all of them but we won a lot of them. Now we have a guy who is as corporate as they come and can't win a close game against an equally talented team if his life depended on it. If a 39 year old James Franklin became the head coach of Penn State in 1966 would the program become what it became? No. To be fair, no one could have done what Joe did. There was only one Joe and Penn State was blessed to have him. It is a shame now in 2025 they have forgotten him.
 

MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,931
1,750
113
Penn State basically “unpersoned” Joe in the classic sense of the old Soviet Union. It’s like the man never existed. And I am supposed to continue to have great feelings about the University in general and the football program in particular why?

I see this “West Shore Home Field” thing and all the other logos, and, while understanding what football is today (NIL and all that), I think, can the school not find some way to acknowledge what Joe meant to the University? Does the school leadership feel better now that they’ve sold their soul to the highest bidder? Why not just put the stadium naming rights up for grabs too, who cares about that old Beaver guy?

It is one of those things that “sticks in one’s craw.” I see the struggles against top ten competition and, in a way, I’m glad, because the only National Championships in the sport that really matters – football – Penn State is going to have two to their name, and no others. I think that’s really the best way to honor Joe’s legacy.
It is shameful!
 

IBeBlockin

Junior
Dec 28, 2022
113
240
43
Elaborate?
I recall hearing a year or two ago that she was on board with restoring Joe's memory, but was talked out of it by a former PSU VP (can't recall his name) who bludgeoned Joe's name in a meeting with some committee or other. Don't know how accurate that part is, but I heard from multiple people that initially, she, and Kraft, were on board. Now, the token effort of recreating his office in the museum is the only thing likely to happening.
For additional context, please see Barry’s website linked below concerning Lubrano’s comments on a meeting Sue Paterno and Dana Harris (Franco’s widow) had with Bendapudi in May 2024.

Sue Paterno asked: “Do you intend to name the field at Beaver Stadium after Joe?”

Dr Bendapudi replied, “No.”

Sue Paterno then asked, “Why not?”

Dr Bendapudi said, “I don’t have the words to explain.”


 
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MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,931
1,750
113
For additional context, please see Barry’s website linked below concerning Lubrano’s comments on a meeting Sue Paterno and Dana Harris (Franco’s widow) had with Bendapudi in May 2024.

Sue Paterno asked: “Do you intend to name the field at Beaver Stadium after Joe?”

Dr Bendapudi replied, “No.”

Sue Paterno then asked, “Why not?”

Dr Bendapudi said, “I don’t have the words to explain.”


Shame, shame…cowardice.
 
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Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,214
3,815
113
For additional context, please see Barry’s website linked below concerning Lubrano’s comments on a meeting Sue Paterno and Dana Harris (Franco’s widow) had with Bendapudi in May 2024.

Sue Paterno asked: “Do you intend to name the field at Beaver Stadium after Joe?”

Dr Bendapudi replied, “No.”

Sue Paterno then asked, “Why not?”

Dr Bendapudi said, “I don’t have the words to explain.”


Yup... Neeli and the BOT are spineless. They move whatever way the winds blow them and any pushback they cave like a $2 suit... Amazing how they all work in the business world yet have zero strength to stand up to anything.
 
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MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,931
1,750
113
Yup... Neeli and the BOT are spineless. They move whatever way the winds blow them and any pushback they cave like a $2 suit... Amazing how they all work in the business world yet have zero strength to stand up to anything.
Most are simply political hacks…