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In a bizarre twist of events, the NCAA decided to restore the victories former PennState football head coach Joe Paterno had vacated. Paterno’s 111 wins will now be restored making him the winningest head coach in college football history. The wins were wiped out in 2012 as part of the fallout of the Jerry Sandusky arrest for child molestation. The wins started in 1998 when a mother complained about Sandusky allegedly showering with her son.
Last year, the NCAA reinstated college scholarships for the football program and allowed the team to participate in postseason play. Many Penn State fans believed JoePa was wrongfully terminated and just collateral damage in the massive scandal. Others thought he too should have been arrested for his part in staying silent about what he knew.
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said, “The fact of the matter was, an evil predator operated in our community for years and everyone missed it. The NCAA has surrendered. The agreement we reached represents a complete victory for the issue at hand.”
One of the victim’s lawyers also spoke out about the news of the reinstated wins saying, “To completely restore, in a sense, Joe Paterno’s heretofore pristine reputation, I regret that,” Michael Boni said. “He did a world of good, but he made a huge, huge error in judgment in helping cover up Sandusky’s pedophilia, and even posthumously I think that has to be recognized.”
Paterno’s record now stands at 409-136-3. He passed away in 2012.
