He was, as they say, bigger than life.  Joe Paterno.  A legendary name that’s synonymous with greatness, but Paterno was well beyond legend.  His name, and his brand, were solidly entrenched in the category of American Icon.  In the next several days, you’ll hear many opinions on the legacy of JoPa.  You’ll hear about his 409 wins, his 37 bowl appearances, his 24 bowl wins, and his two national championships.  But the wins and the on-field accomplishments are only part of the Paterno story.  There’s also the millions of dollars he donated to his beloved university, the academic achievements that set the standard in college athletics.  Unfortunately, the legacy will also include Paterno’s stunning fall from grace.  Paterno himself admitted that he wished he had done more to combat a horrible sex abuse scandal that overtook his proud football program.  Paterno’s failure to act cannot and will not be defended, but his inadequacy (his words) to deal with the situation was, simply, his fatal flaw.  Paterno had a remarkable record of accomplishment, and I believe in my heart that he was a good man as well.  His story is a harsh reminder that even good and remarkable men, even those with five perfect seasons, don’t possess perfection.  Unfortunately, Paterno’s imperfection played out in front of the world.  The football record books already place his name at the front of the class, but history will determine if he’s to be judged by that alone.

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