The debate over the statue of Joe Paterno on the Penn State campus has taken to the skies.
On Tuesday, a small plane pulled a banner over State College reading, "Take the statue down or we will." The plane is licensed to Air America Aerial Ads of Genoa, Ohio. A person who answered the phone at Air America declined to give his name or identify who paid for the flight.
Federal Aviation Administration records show the agency grounded a plane from the same company after it towed banners taunting Tiger Woods during the 2010 Masters golf tournament.
The Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium has been a point of much contention since the results from a scathing report by former FBI director Louis Freeh were made public and greatly tarnished the reputation of a man once known as "JoePa."
Critics have called for the statue to be taken down after the Freeh report concluded that Paterno was aware of allegations levied against convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky in 1998 -- in contrast to his grand jury testimony and an interview given after his firing -- and that he was involved in the decision to not report a 2001 incident to the authorities even after his superiors had decided to.
No decision on the statue has been made yet.
Although there was some negative reaction to Paterno immediately after Sandusky's arrest -- the Big Ten dropped Paterno's name from the conference championship trophy where it had been next to that of Amos Alonzo Stagg, who won almost 100 fewer games -- the pace has picked up since the Freeh report was released.
On Monday, the student group that manages the area outside Beaver Stadium named "Paternoville," where students camp out for prime football tickets, changed the name of the tent city to "Nittanyville."
Brown University -- the late coach's alma mater -- said in a statement that not only had it removed Paterno's name from its head football coaching position and a student award, but it was also reviewing whether to remove him from the school's athletic hall of fame, too.
Paterno graduated from Brown in 1950 and was inducted to its hall of fame in 1977.
Nike took Paterno's name off a child care center on its corporate campus on Thursday, the same day the Freeh report was released. Company founder Phil Knight -- whose rousing defense of Paterno at a memorial service after his death drew thunderous applause -- said in statement that "it appears Joe made missteps that led to heartbreaking consequences. I missed that Joe missed it."
Penn State Scandal
Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts in his child sex abuse trial on Friday night. ESPN.com Topics has full coverage of the trial and the verdict. Topics Page �
The halo that had floated above Paterno's head in a State College mural was removed Saturday. In its place the artist added a blue ribbon in support of child abuse awareness.
And a Connecticut middle school said it would paint over its own mural of Paterno.
The Freeh report raised the culpability of Paterno and former university president Graham Spanier to the same level as two other key figures: former vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley.
Both Schultz and Curley await trial on charges of perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. A judge on Monday set an Aug. 16 court date for oral arguments on pretrial motions.
Spanier has not been charged.
Goodell Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Players Association Mike Tomlin Super Bowl
No comments:
Post a Comment