Joe Pa Deserved to Finish Season

Stephen Matsko bleeds blue and white.

The 1976 Penn State University graduate's bloodlines lead straight to Mt. Nittany, nestled in Central Pennsylvania. His Dad was Class of '36, his sister '79. His two kids followed, graduating in 2001 and 2003.

For 27 years, Matsko has cherished his football season tickets. Saturday's game against Nebraska is Senior Day for what was until Wednesday evening Joseph Vincent Paterno's team. Matsko will no doubt be there to cheer on his beloved Nittany Lions.

Jo Pa will be nowhere near Beaver Stadium. A panicked Penn State Board of Trustees, in the wake of a sex scandal that has rocked the storied football program to the core, ordered Paterno in a late-night phone call Wednesday to leave the team immediately. The heinous acts that prosecutors say former Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky committed against eight children undid 46 years of what was the greatest coaching tenure in college football, and the game's greatest legend.

Paterno, 84, wanted to exit on his terms, to retire at season's end. He should have been granted that last wish.

Last Friday, Sandusky was arrested on 40 counts relating to sexual abuse of eight young boys over a 15-year period, including alleged incidents that occurred at Penn State. A recent grand jury investigation reported that a graduate assistant, Mike McQueary (now a wide receivers coach), told Paterno in 2002 that he had seen Sandusky performing a sex act on a 10-year-old boy in Penn State football's shower facilities. According to the report, Paterno notified Athletic Director Tim Curley the next day about the incident.

Prosecutors say Paterno did nothing wrong, legally. Many, however, feel he did not do enough, morally. Agreed. Paterno, with 17 grandchildren, should have taken the allegation seriously enough to call the cops, but did nothing.

"There were a few people that put school and their jobs above the kids that were preyed upon by a perverted adult, and now the media seems to think it's about Joe," a dismayed Matsko e-mailed me. "I pray they (the media) focus on the real issue and think of the victims. Yes, they all could have done more, and probably should have."

Still, Paterno should have been allowed to roam the sidelines for the final four games. He would, in a month, be out of the Trustees' hair for good.

The Board of Trustees erred in firing Paterno on the spot. Here's why:

1. Paterno holds more bowl victories (24) than any coach in history. He also tops the list of bowl appearances with 37.

2. Paterno is the only coach with the distinction of having won each of the current four major bowls—Rose, Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar—as well as the Cotton Bowl Classic, at least once. Under Paterno, Penn State has won at least three bowl games each decade since 1970.

3. Paterno has led Penn State to two national championships (1982 and 1986) and five undefeated, untied seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1994).

4. After joining the Big Ten Conference in 1993, the Nittany Lions, under Paterno, won the Big Ten championship three times (1994, 2005, and 2008).

5. Paterno's teams have finished in the Top 10 national rankings 29 nine times.

6. Paterno was the first college football coach named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated magazine. He was named the 2005 AP Coach of the Year, and the 2005 Walter Camp Coach of the Year.

7. Paterno has raised $4 million in charitable contributions to Penn State, and helped raise another $13.5 million to renovate Pattee library.

8. Paterno's teams boast a graduation success rate of 78 percent

No one is defending Paterno's actions in this tragedy, including Alexander Lalos, who has lived in Penn State country for 20 years. Many just feel Paterno got screwed in the whole scheme of things.

"I think that he was in the wrong but I don't understand why it was such an emergency to bring him down and get him fired in 72 hours over events that occured ten years ago and have not even come to trial," he told me.

Lalos feels the Penn State community is split on this -  60/40 in Paterno's favor, with people thinking Paterno did get screwed. Matsko, and those who knew Paterno, understands the dichotomy. But to Matsko, Joe Pa was always like a dad, and now a grand-dad. Matsko would see him on campus every Sunday with his kids in tow after church, headed to the Berkey Creamery, known for its sherberts and ice cream.

"He always reminded the students to hit the books," Matsko said. "He is held in the highest regard, and respected. He is all about kids and family, and I am sure he is extremely upset with this entire situation.

"Quite honestly,  if he had know that the chain had broken down he would have never quit (hounding law enforcement)."

Someone needed to be held accountable for the deep fissure that has opened up in Happy Valley. Those heads have rolled way down to the bottom of Mt. Nittany.  Sandusky may die in prison a convicted sexual predator. Athletic Director Tim Curley, 57, and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz, 62, were charged with perjury and failure to report the allegations. University President Graham Spanier fell under the same axe as Paterno.

But Joe Pa should never have gotten that phone call. Not with just four games left.

Defensive CoordinatorTom Bradley, Sandusky's successor as defensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2011 season. No one knows how the bowl-bound Nittany Lions will respond on the field. Who knows how quarterback Matt McGloin will respond without Paterno limping along the sideline, running the show as he has since 1967.

"Our Penn State will never be the same, but we will recover and we will be better," Matsko said. "Onward State!"