[Husker] Joe Paterno

[Don Rietsch]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and offer up some support of Joe Paterno.
Here in rural Howell, MI  with no Cable access until 8 years ago, we didn't
get to watch many Husker games.  So we became Penn State fans (my wife Pam's
dad was a PSU grad) and have watched quite a few PSU games over the last 40+
years.  Several years ago, judging by his behavior on the sideline (pacing
back and forth alone in his world,  saying not a word to anyone), we thought
he may have suffered a stroke or may have developed some other aging
disease.  This was about the time Sandusky was caught in the act.  Penn
State was going downhill fast and Paterno was asked to resign.  He refused.
A year or two later, he looked like he had recovered somewhat but he has not
been at his best since.  I believe the last few years he has been the coach
in name only, sort of like Bear Bryant was at the end of his reign.  Today,
if you listen to him talk, you can hardly make out what he is saying.  I
believe (and I'm no Doctor) age has caught up with him.  Yes, he should have
done more but I suspect he had no idea what was going on with Sandusky.  

 

I think firing him was classless and heartless.  What the h_ll would it have
hurt to let him stand on the sidelines and be the "coach" for one more game?
Are the kids better off because he was fired and not allowed to retire?
Firing him doesn't accomplish a damn thing except destroy an old man.  An
old man that has spent 40+ years totally dedicated to PSU.  Doesn't that
account for anything???   The Trustees fired him to show how tough they are.
That and to save their asses from criticism.  They fired him because the
media wanted him fired.  They are gutless because they took the easy way
out.

 

Don Rietsch