Posts tagged ‘Joe Paterno’
A Classroom Discussion on the Week’s Events
Class started with a moment of silence. Someone dimmed the lights, and the standing-room only crowd—700-plus strong—in 100 Thomas Building for Sam Richards’ SOC 119 class paid tribute to victims of sexual abuse. And not only the alleged victims of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
“We want to honor what they’ve been through and how they are a part of this and how they have been forgotten,” said sociologist Laurie Mulvey ’94g, Richards’ wife, who teaches the class with him. “And we also want to recognize the people in this room who are victims. There are plenty of you in here.”
So began another afternoon in the classroom of one of Penn State’s more outspoken faculty members. The title of the course is Race and Ethnic Relations, but that’s just a jumping off point sometimes. Richards had tweeted the day before that he couldn’t see sticking to the syllabus during such a momentous week on campus.
“We really thought a lot about whether we were going to do this class,” Richards said Thursday afternoon, introducing the discussion. “We decided the value of speaking today was greater than the value of staying silent.”
Added Mulvey, “We want to let you know from the outset that we are definitely not here to give answers. At best, we’re here to give you guidance about how to walk through this difficult moment and think through this difficult moment. “
Richards started by asking the students to complete this sentence: “I feel …”
Here’s a list of the answers:
Trying to Find Teaching Moments
After a night of wandering downtown State College and campus, sadly reporting on the riots that followed the firing of Joe Paterno (the resignation of president Graham Spanier didn’t seem to be on anyone’s mind), I got up this morning, and I went to class.
Mike Poorman ’82 developed and teaches COMM 497G, “Joe Paterno: Communications and the Media,” and this semester’s section conveniently meets Thursday mornings at 9:45. I sat in the back row, a few seats a way from a couple of current football players who are enrolled in the class, and listened to two of sports journalism’s best, Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated and Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports, speak about how the media has covered the sexual abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky ’66, ’71g, the perjury charges against athletic director Tim Curley ’76, ’78g and acting vice president Gary Schultz ’71, ’75g, and the ensuing events.
Said Posnanski, who’s been living in town to write a biography of Paterno, “I’ve never been around a story that has changed as fast as this one.”
Said Forde, who parachuted in after the LSU–Alabama game last weekend to jump on the story, “I packed for two days and this is Day 4, with Days 5 and 6 to come. I might be running around here in gym shorts soon.”
The students asked good questions, including (more…)
Another Unbelievable Day
I took this photo at 3 p.m. today. It’s a bunch of Penn State students gathered on the Old Main lawn to mark 100 days until the 2012 edition of THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. These kids and their countless hours of dedication represent much of what remains great about the University.
It’ll be a monumental challenge in the coming months to remind the world that Penn State is more than what has come out over the past five days.
The latest news—and it remains strange to type—is that in addition to the pending departure of Joe Paterno, who has announced his retirement effective at season’s end, multiple outlets are reporting University president Graham Spanier will soon step down as well. What will tomorrow bring? Not a clue.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
Of Barry White, Molly Hatchet, and My Dear Friend, Pat Boland
Pat Boland is giving a toast at my wedding -- and making the guests crack up -- in this photo by Gene Maylock.
During my 25 years in journalism, I’ve heard a lot of reporters, writers, teachers, academics, and wanna-bes explain how to succeed in the profession. But only one ever got to the heart of the matter by quoting velvet-voiced crooner and consummate ladies’ man Barry White.
That’s longtime State College radio broadcaster—and way more important, my friend—Pat Boland.
Pat ’91 was visiting my journalism class a couple of semesters ago when one of the students asked him a question about interviewing. This was right in Pat’s wheelhouse. After a throwaway reference to former Soul Train host Don Cornelius (you had to be there, but I swear it worked), he told everyone they should consider a line from one of White’s hit songs, “What am I Gonna Do with You Now?”
“Ain’t what you got, babe,” Pat quoted. “It’s how you use it.”
It was vintage Pat, making a connection that no one else would see, one that was equal parts obscure, hilarious, and somehow dead-on accurate.
In this case, he drove home to the students that (more…)
Beaver Stadium Turns 50
Beaver Stadium as it looks today.
This is shaping up to be a big year for milestones for Penn State football. There’s the first freshman quarterback to start the season opener in Joe Paterno’s career. Paterno’s probable 400th victory. Evan Royster being only 481 yards away from breaking Curt Warner’s career rushing record.
And Beaver Stadium, the second-largest college football stadium in the country, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sept. 17. On that date in 1960, Beaver Stadium hosted its first game, a 20-0 victory over Boston University. (Before that, it was the site for the Class of 1960′s graduation.)
I’ve always thought Beaver Stadium was a unique place, and I learned why over the summer when I attended one of the sessions at Traditional Reunion Weekend—a talk about the history of Beaver Stadium by Harry West, a professor emeritus of engineering. (Except for the first photo, from Penn State, all of the photos on this post are ones he’s collected for his slide show.) (more…)
Paterno the Center of Attention at Big Ten Media Day
This Associated Press photo was taken when Paterno spoke with mostly local Penn State media in the hall after his formal press conference Tuesday.
Joe Paterno is always good for some snappy one-liners when he faces the press, and his appearance Tuesday at Big Ten Media Day (which you can watch here) was no exception. He characterized the illness that kept him from making public appearances over the summer as not intestinal but “something lower than that,” and he name-dropped Mark Twain in joking that “the rumor of my death has been over-exaggerated or something.”
That said, Paterno looked tired. He’s lost weight. And his speech was notably slower and a little slurred, which is reflected in the coverage. You can check out a nicely framed and written story from The Daily Collegian here, the observations from the astute and often controversial Dave Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News here, and the story by USA Today’s Marlen Garcia, who kicked off the press conference by asking Paterno if he would coach until he died, here.
And if you want to hear more directly from Paterno, you can watch a here’s a post-press conference video from Fight on State here.
Paterno said repeatedly that he’s doing fine and is ready for the season, which is rapidly approaching. Driving past Beaver Stadium on my way home yesterday, I noticed that the numbered “parking stops” marking the spaces are already in place along Park Avenue.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
Couple Says $9,000 for JoePa’s Glasses Was a Bargain
By now you’ve probably heard that Joe Paterno’s glasses, which were auctioned off over the weekend to benefit WPSU, went for a whopping $9,000. What you might not know is this: The winning couple, Kevin and Michelle Coppola, were prepared to pay up to $10,150.
“I think anybody who went to Penn State would totally understand,” Michelle ’04 told The Baltimore Sun. “What better thing to have than [Paterno's] glasses? That’s part of his iconic image.”
The Coppolas will add the glasses to their stash of memorabilia, which includes helmets, jerseys, and a couple of Wheaties boxes autographed by Paterno. Kevin ’03 said, “When we finally buy a house, we’ll have a pretty cool sports basement.”
You can get all the details in this story from the Sun.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
So That’s Why Paterno Donated His Glasses
Sure, Joe Paterno has a history of helping good causes, and I imagine that’s why he donated a pair of his glasses to be auctioned off at WPSU’s Connoisseur’s Dinner and Auction. But it turns out that there might be another reason: He doesn’t need them anymore.
Paterno and his wife, Sue, were honored Thursday for their work with the Centre County Volunteers in Medicine 2010 Boston Marathon Challenge, and during the event, Paterno mentioned that he had undergone surgery to correct his vision. According to this story from Fight on State, Paterno had been having trouble reading for a few months, and his long-time eye doctor said he could fix the problem completely.
I can’t imagine Paterno without his glasses, and it turns out I’m not the only one. It feels odd to Paterno, too. “When I don’t wear ‘em, and I put on a sweater, I reach to take the glasses off and I don’t have them on,” he said. So he had a pair made with thinner lenses.
If you’re nostalgic for the Coke-bottle lenses, you’ve got until Feb. 17 to bid on the pair he donated. The high bid so far: $5,050.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
For Sale (Really): Joe Paterno’s Glasses
So you’ve got your blue-and-white replica jersey. Some sweatshirts or T-shirts from various bowl games. Something with a football player’s autograph—a program, or perhaps a football or helmet. Maybe even a Stand-Up Joe. So what other Penn State football memorabilia could you possibly need?
How about Joe Paterno’s eyeglasses?
Turns out, they’re available. Joe and Sue Paterno, long-time supporters of Penn State Public Broadcasting, have donated a pair of Joe’s trademark glasses to be auctioned off at the 18th annual Connoisseur’s Dinner and Auction. All proceeds benefit WPSU, which has had a rough year. And Joe even autographed the glasses—right across the prescription lens.
You’ll need to open your checkbook; the previous items Paterno donated to the auction didn’t go cheap. In 2006, the winning bid for the tie he wore in the Orange Bowl was $2,500. In 2007, he donated two pairs of socks, and each one went for $1,050. A pair of shoes brought $1,350 in 2008, and last year, a framed pair of autographed, khaki pants went for $3,100.
In the past (and for the rest of this auction), you need to attend the dinner to bid. But for this unique item, bidding will be opened up nationwide. Bidding on the WPSU Web site will run Feb. 1 through noon on Feb. 17, and the winner will be able to determine a maximum amount for a proxy bid at the dinner, Feb. 20.
To bid on any of the other items, you need to attend the dinner. (You can find details on tickets and other information here.) But there’s something there that could be of interest for more thrifty Penn State fans—the tie Paterno wore for the Capital One Bowl, autographed.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
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Fran Fisher: Still a Great Storyteller
Fran Fisher and Joe Paterno go way back, as you can tell from his photo, which Fisher provided to The Daily Collegian several years ago.
It’s been 12 years since we’ve heard Fran Fisher calling a Penn State football game, so it was a real treat to hear Fisher’s voice again on Wednesday. Pat Boland ’91 and Kevin Nelson ’72 interviewed Fisher on the State College radio show Lion Country Comments, and Fisher was in fine form, telling stories about everything from his early days in radio and his first impressions of Joe Paterno to what he does now during Penn State football games.
For health reasons, Fisher ’08h hasn’t been able to attend games in a few years. He watches at home. “Now I yell at the television commentators,” he said, “instead of Joe.”
As usual, Fisher was particularly good when discussing Paterno. He characterized the coach as “cocky” and “sure of himself” when they first met, and added, “He was low man on the totem pole on that staff. He was the baby, but it didn’t bother him. He had confidence in his ability.”
And now? “He’s the only guy younger than I who’s really my idol,” Fisher said, adding that Paterno seems to enjoy seeing him. “When I’m around, he’s not the oldest guy in the room.”
Of course, all of that sounds better in Fisher’s voice. You can get a more enjoyable experience by listening to this podcast of the interview.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
June 17, 2010 at 5:40 pm Lori Shontz Leave a comment