Joe Paterno Wins Restored In Settlement: He’s Again College Football’s Winningest Coach

Joe Paterno was once considered the winningest coach in college football, but his storied career as leader of the Penn State Nittany Lions came crashing down in disgrace when former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted on multiple counts of child molestation.

The squeaky clean image that Paterno had made for himself was tarnished for many because evidence showed that he knew about the Sandusky accusations but failed to go to the police.

Defenders noted that Paterno had mentioned his concerns to superiors. Still, analysts and fans across the country wondered how he could not go to the next level – law enforcement – when the school administration swept the charges under the rug.

Ultimately, it led to the NCAA negating 111 of “JoePa’s” wins. However, supporters of the late coach got some good news on Friday when the NCAA reinstated the Joe Paterno wins as part of a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in a pending litigation – state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman and state Treasurer Rob McCord.

Also in the settlement, the court “directs a $60 million fine to address child abuse be spent within Pennsylvania and resolves that lawsuit,” ESPN reports.

Many are seeing it as a win for the school and the legacy of Joe Paterno, though terms also show that the school acknowledges the NCAA acted “in good faith” when it leveled hefty fines and penalties on the school’s program.

“We acted in good faith in addressing the failures and subsequent improvements on Penn State’s campus,” said Kirk Schulz, chair of the NCAA board of governors. “We must acknowledge the continued progress of the university while also maintaining our commitment to supporting the survivors of child sexual abuse.”

Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence in spite of being convicted to a 30- to 60-year prison sentence for the molestation of as many as 45 young boys both during and after his tenure as coach.

In a statement Friday, Paterno’s family called announcement of the potential settlement “a great victory for everyone who has fought for the truth in the Sandusky tragedy,” adding the following.

“This case should always have been about the pursuit of the truth, not the unjust vilification of the culture of a great institution and the scapegoating of coaches, players and administrators who were never given a chance to defend themselves.”

Joe Paterno is no doubt loved by much of the Nittany Lions community, but not everyone believes the wins should have been reinstated.

Michael Boni, an attorney for a victim who testified at Sandusky’s trial, had this to say.

“To completely restore, in a sense, Joe Paterno’s heretofore pristine reputation, I regret that. 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.”

What do you think about Joe Paterno having his wins restored, college football fans? Overdue or travesty of justice?

[Image via Flickr Creative Commons]