Penn State takes down Joe Paterno statue

Workers from Penn State's Office of Physical Plant cover the statue of former football coach Joe Paterno near Beaver Stadium on Penn State's campus in State College, Pa., on Sunday, July 22, 2012. The university announced Sunday that it was taking down the monument in the wake of an investigative report that found the late coach and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. / AP Photo/Centre Daily Times, Christopher Weddle

Last Updated 9:10 a.m. ET

(AP) STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The famed statue of Joe Paterno was taken down from outside the Penn State football stadium Sunday, eliminating a key piece of the iconography surrounding the once-sainted football coach accused of burying child sex abuse allegations against a retired assistant.

Workers lifted the 7-foot-tall statue off its base and used a forklift to move it into Beaver Stadium as the 100 to 150 students watching chanted, "We are Penn State."

The university announced earlier Sunday that it was taking down the monument in the wake of an investigative report that found the late coach and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

The statue, weighing more than 900 pounds, was built in 2001 in honor of Paterno's record-setting 324th Division 1 coaching victory and his "contributions to the university."

A spokeswoman for the Paterno family didn't immediately return phone and email messages.

Construction vehicles and police arrived shortly after dawn Sunday, barricading the street and sidewalks near the statue, erecting a chain-link fence then concealing the statue with a blue tarp.

Penn State President Rod Erickson said he decided to have the statue removed and put into storage because it "has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing."

"I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse," Erickson said in a statement released at 7 a.m. Sunday.

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He said Paterno's name will remain on the campus library because it "symbolizes the substantial and lasting contributions to the academic life and educational excellence that the Paterno family has made to Penn State University."

The statue's sculptor, Angelo Di Maria, said it was upsetting to hear that the statue had been taken down.

"It's like a whole part of me is coming down. It's just an incredibly emotional process," Di Maria said.

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[NBTownsend]

When Joe Pa was alive he was idolized by all that went to a proud State college, but in the wake of his death a nation has cast stones from their own glass houses. What he knew or didn't know went to his grave with him and those that are still grasping at straws are hoping that by throwing his name under the bus.
I don't know what Joe Pa knew or when he knew about it or who he told or when he told them. I do know that he too will stand in front of his maker in the second coming of Christ and that he will be held accountable for his sins at that time. Who are we to judge the dead? The Bible tells us to Judge not lest ye be judged. My thoughts and prayers are for those that hurt during this tragedy and that they too can heal and forgive the living and the dead.
Joe Pa did allot of good in his life time and he was a good person for the most part. He should still be remember for those accomplishments as well.

[scarpia37]

Perhaps another lesson here is that it's never a good idea to see a statue of yourself. I don't care how decent a person you once might have been: to see, every day, a 7-foot bronze public homage to the glory that is YOU...well, that's going to warp your head sooner or later.

[patty1058kir]

We are all judge, jury and hangman so to speaker on Joe Paterno but to continue to speak ill of the dead is not good.....the young men in this horrible situation need assistance and help ..so that they will be able to lead normal lives (if that is possible) ...what saddens me is Joe is not the only one who knew....the janitors knew and when are they coming to court for not alerting the police...they are guilty as Joe is.....they saw things and knew things....lets see when is mike mcqueary dad coming to court for not reporting the actions of Sandusky....if you are going to charge one you must charge all of the individuals who never spoke up for the victims.....

[JGavin8732]

Paterno as a pedophile facilitator extraordinaire. In 1998 and 2001 he participated in the implementation of the law. His version was to do little and allow the bungholes of the children to still be exposed to -"We ARE Penn St.".Joe was no victim. Joe was the big man on campus. Save the football but the a$$holes of children donot matter.From the comments on this board I would suggest PSU fans to apply for the return of tuition. Surely the inabilaty of PSU to teach humanity has been lost.

Slap them in the showers
Up against the wall
WE ARE PENN STATE

Donot worry
we donot prosecute
WE ARE PENN STATE

Up against the wall
Spread them for Joe
We Are Penn State

[joeleandri]

For Joe Paterno, the jig was up sometime in 2011. Apparently as more of Sandusky's heinous actions were reported to the Board of Trustees,it just doesn't seem a plausible scenario where Paterno was ignorant of those whom worked for him and ignorant to those Paterno worked for. Therefore, Paterno was complicit in withholding child molestation information from his superiors. In the end, the Board of Trustees laid all their cards on the table. The Board of Trustees offered Paterno a $3 million buyout and promised to forgive the $350,000 in loans from PSU he owed "only if he resigned in 2011". The Board of Trustees knew then the Paterno statue must come down.

[sammie123456789]

He said Paterno's name will remain on the campus library because it "symbolizes the substantial and lasting contributions to the academic life and educational excellence that the Paterno family has made to Penn State University."
Maybe because they do not want to give the 4 million dollars back
the Paterno gave them for the library. Can't have it both ways Penn State

[Twaker]

It's a time honored plan, lay it all on the dead guy, he can't defend himself. It will make us all feel better like we really resolved the issue and it will never happen again. It satisfies our lust for blood without having to really think or look at the larger problem. Humans are really a sad species......

[sweetlife007]

Uh... the dead guy- Paterno- he really had plenty of time to defend himself---he could have produced emails and dates and times of conversations where he tried to stop Sandusky BUT the truth is- and it is a HARD truth- at the very very least Paterno passed the buck-hoping someone else would make sure Sandusky was stopped(somehow). (That's the very LEAST.) The very most? Paterno knowingly allowed Sandusky to have the power and authority to be in a position of trust with young boys EVEN though Paterno KNEW he was a MOLESTER!! HE had time to defend himself! Also even after his death a lawyer could produce evidence for him to be exonerated! (Have not seen this)

Sorry the buck stops with Paterno.

Those poor boys.

[joe1022joe]

I sure you're right, but I think there is more to this than just "piling on the dead guy." I also think that Joe Paterno's name was what drove much of the media coverage and Freeh's so called "investigation." If you "take down" (code words for ruin) a prominent man's reputation, you are a bigger deal than if you "take down" three unknown school administrators. Take away Paterno's name and much of this story loses its "legs." Therefore, gotta involve Joe Paterno. If he's can't be crammed into this story as an evil doer, the much of the story falls flat.

[nancy_naive]

Wonder where that finger has been?

[vielmann]

What a weak and disgusting comment. Naive is right.

[Rob_Stanton]

JoePa is no longer giving the University Admin the finger. Good! Now melt the statue down and make bedpans out of it so it will be of some real use!

[Robert_M1]

Removing the Joe P statue is a positive move by Penn State. Those that support that statue were not in the shower room with J Sandusky., if they were they would want the statue removed also. Now Penn State needs to fire all of those aware of the abuses and in power to stop it but chose to pretend it did not happen.

[IPonUall]

Educators are not POLICEMAN, only common human beings.
Stop the false accusations.

[twmat311]

There are many areas (in PA) where if a child care worker (schools or day care) knows of an issue and does not notify law enforcement, directly or through a supervisor, they are complicit in the crime and are at risk for being charged. From reading some of the writers here, I guess sports are supposed to be exempt.