Harrison: Penn State HAD to take it down

Phil Harrison on the taking down of the Joe Paterno statue

Phil Harrison
Harrison: There was no alternative?

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You can put the decision to take down Paterno’s statue in the same bucket as the decision the Penn State Board of Trustees had to grapple over in regards to firing Joe Paterno.

Say what you want about this polarizing topic, but the stark reality is that school president Rodney Erickson HAD to do this—much like the Board of Trustees HAD to let go of Joe Paterno.

The level of abominations that occurred at Penn State are despicable at best, and to allow the statue to remain would have resulted in further irresponsibility on the administration’s part. On the contrary, any right reaction could not fall short of removing the statue of Joseph Vincent Paterno.

Yeah there are all sorts of things still to play out in the legal process—and apparently also from the Paterno family. But what has come to fruition in regards to the conviction of Jerry Sandusky in combination of the damning details released in the Freeh report has been enough to unleash a media blitzkrieg on Happy Valley.

And if the bronze bust of Paterno is left standing, you can bet that the media outcry will reach epic proportions. And rightfully so.

But most importantly now is the time to move forward and let the many victims try to find some way to put salve on the deepest of wounds we may have seen inflicted in the sports world in a long, long time. The lockers of the men in charge during the crisis have been cleaned out, and they have been replaced by new leaders with new ideas (and ethics hopefully). But all of that just wouldn’t be enough if the symbolism of Joe Paterno still sits front and center outside Beaver Stadium.

For all the good that Paterno has done for Penn State, what would have been remembered the most when gazing at the statue is the countless victims of child abuse that were let down by the Penn State administration. After all, that’s the legacy with which Paterno will now be remembered. With that constant reminder, how can everyone truly move on?

In the end, the Paterno statue had to be removed or it wouldn’t be the only thing set in stone. The reputation of the university depends on it, and so too does the healing of many in its wake.