STATE COLLEGE, PA — Penn State to Honor Late Coaching Icon Joe Paterno with Posthumous Award, Stirring Reflection Across College Football
In a gesture steeped in emotion, legacy, and no small measure of controversy, Penn State University has officially announced plans to honor the late Joe Paterno with a prestigious posthumous award—one aimed at recognizing his decades of service and unparalleled impact on the university, the sport of football, and the generations of student-athletes he mentored throughout his legendary career.
The announcement, delivered during a press conference held at Beaver Stadium early Tuesday morning, was met with both reverence and deep contemplation. Athletic Director Pat Kraft, speaking before a packed room of reporters, alumni, and current staff, confirmed that the university’s board of trustees had unanimously approved the creation of the Joseph V. Paterno Legacy Award, a commemorative honor that will be given annually to a coach or educator who exemplifies “integrity, leadership, academic excellence, and an enduring commitment to student development.”
“Coach Paterno’s legacy is layered, vast, and deeply rooted in what Penn State represents,” Kraft said. “This award is not about revising history—it’s about acknowledging the undeniable and lasting impact he made in collegiate athletics, education, and in the lives of so many who wore the blue and white.”
A Monumental Coaching Career
Joe Paterno served as the head football coach at Penn State for an astonishing 46 seasons, from 1966 until his controversial dismissal in 2011. Over that time, he amassed 409 wins—the most in major college football history at the time of his retirement—and led the Nittany Lions to two national championships, five undefeated seasons, and countless bowl appearances.
Beyond the gridiron, Paterno was known for his unwavering dedication to academics. Under his leadership, Penn State football consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation in graduation rates, and he famously emphasized the role of the “student-athlete.” Paterno and his wife, Sue, donated millions to the university over the years, including funding for the Paterno Library, a symbol of his belief in education as the foundation of success.
“Coach Paterno always told us that what we did off the field mattered just as much as what we did on it,” said former quarterback Todd Blackledge, who led the Nittany Lions to the 1982 national title. “He wasn’t just coaching football. He was shaping young men to be leaders, fathers, professionals. This award feels like a rightful acknowledgment of that legacy.”
A Complicated History
Despite the accolades and praise, the announcement does not come without its share of controversy. Paterno’s career ended under a cloud in 2011 when he was dismissed amid the fallout of the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal. Though Paterno was never criminally charged and his exact level of knowledge about Sandusky’s crimes remains a point of public debate, his firing and subsequent death from lung cancer just months later in January 2012 left the Penn State community stunned and divided.
In the years since, Penn State has wrestled publicly and privately with how to handle Paterno’s legacy. Statues were removed. Wins were vacated—then later restored by the NCAA. Public opinion has swayed in waves, with some calling for complete exoneration and others maintaining caution over any form of official recognition.
University President Neeli Bendapudi addressed the complexity head-on during Tuesday’s announcement.
“Honoring Coach Paterno with this award is not about ignoring the past, but rather engaging with it fully,” she said. “We must acknowledge both the light and the shadow that accompany all historical figures. In doing so, we can allow truth and reflection to co-exist with admiration and remembrance.”
Family Reaction: “A Moment of Peace”
The Paterno family was present for the announcement, and emotions ran high. Jay Paterno, Joe’s son and a former Penn State assistant coach, wiped away tears as he spoke on behalf of the family.
“This means more than we can ever express,” he said. “My father loved this university with all his heart. He gave everything he had to Penn State and believed in its mission. For our family, today brings a moment of peace—a sense that his full legacy is being recognized in a thoughtful and balanced way.”
Sue Paterno, now 84, was seen embracing former players and university officials, her presence drawing a long ovation from those in attendance.
National Reactions Pour In
Across the college football landscape, news of the posthumous award sparked a wide range of reactions.
ESPN analyst and former coach Urban Meyer called it “a powerful and courageous move by Penn State,” adding that “whatever your views are on the past, there’s no doubt Joe Paterno shaped the sport like few others ever have.”
Others were more measured in their response.
“This will always be a tough topic for a lot of people,” said journalist Paul Finebaum. “There are still wounds that haven’t healed. But I think this step by Penn State shows a willingness to move forward while keeping its eyes open to the past.”
Looking Ahead: The First Recipient
The inaugural Joseph V. Paterno Legacy Award will be presented during Penn State’s Homecoming Weekend this fall. According to university officials, the recipient will be a coach, professor, or administrator whose career reflects “the core values Joe Paterno championed: excellence, education, humility, and servant leadership.”
Speculation is already mounting as to who might receive the first award, with names like Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, Stanford’s David Shaw, and even longtime Penn State academic counselor John Collett being floated as early favorites.
Conclusion: Remembering a Complicated Giant
In the end, Tuesday’s announcement marked a significant turning point in Penn State’s ongoing dialogue with its past. By choosing to honor Joe Paterno with an award that focuses on mentorship, character, and education, the university has taken a bold step toward acknowledging the depth and complexity of one of college football’s most iconic—and debated—figures.
As the sun set over Beaver Stadium, the emotions in State College were unmistakable—pride, remembrance, pain, and healing, all rolled into one moment.
And in the words of Pat Kraft, “Coach Paterno once said, ‘Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.’ Today, we honor a man who believed in greatness—not just on the field, but in every corner of life.”
