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Penn State Fires Paterno: Do You Agree?

Despite his plans to retire, the legendary coach falls victim to sexual-abuse scandal.

 

Updated 8:08 a.m., Nov. 10, 2011

Wednesday night, legendary football coach Joe Paterno was fired by the Penn State Board of Trustees.

Paterno, 84, became another victim of the sexual-abuse charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Also losing their jobs were the university president and athletic director.

However, Paterno -- the winningest coach in Division I history -- already had announced plans to retire at the end of the season over the scandal. But he is not being allowed to leave on his own terms.

The decision sparked rioting at Penn State overnight, according to news reports.

Among Paterno's 400-plus victories was the 1982 Sugar Bowl over Georgia in what turned out to be Herschel Walker's final college game. Ths year, the Nittany Lions are 5-0 in the Big Ten and 8-1 overall, and ranked 12th in all major polls.

So tell us, Suwanee: Do you agree with Penn State's decision to fire Paterno?

  • Should Joe Paterno Have Been Fired by Penn State?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes, no one should be spared in a scandal like this.
        36 (59%)
    • No, he should have been allowed to finish the season, which was his choice.
        22 (36%)
    • Undecided
        2 (3%)
    • Other (tell us in the comments)
        1 (1%)
    Total votes: 61
  • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: Football, Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno, and Penn State
Do you think Penn State should have fired Joe Paterno? Tell us in the comments.

Jack Kobaba

11:42 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011

This is about child abuse and the players he has recruited deserve better as he would be a distraction to the best interest of the team by him being allowed to coach the remaining games. He reported the child abuse event to "administration" but they too took no action to investigate or report the matter to the police. That whole interaction between him and the administrators could be construed as a way to cover his tail (and the reputation of Penn State), but since the administrators did nothing it stinks as a possible complicit scheme to give the appearance they had acted, when in fact they had not. I suppose that is why the Chancellor was discharged as well. Unfortunately child abusers seek positions of trust such as in this case child welfare, youth activities, etc. to gain opportunity and access to innocent children. No one person or organization is above the protection of our children as well as the teams they are part of.

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Todd Little

4:39 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011

If this was his Grandchild I'm sure he would have done more to make sure kids were protected.

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Paul Shepherd

6:59 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011

Yes, he should be fired. Since he found out about the child abuse, told his bosses, and the bosses didn't do anything, and the child abuse continued and he knew the abuse was continuing, he should also go to JAIL. Telling his bosses and then doing nothing when his bosses did nothing makes Paterno part of a conspiracy to allow child abuse. The Victims should sue the pants off Penn State, and Paterno should spend the rest of his life in prison.

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