Surely they saw this coming…
Joe Paterno is obviously one of the most legendary coaches in college football history. He’s the winningest coach in Division I college football history with 409 wins over his 49 seasons at Penn State, with two national championships and 3 Big Ten titles during his career. But unfortunately for Paterno, his legacy is overshadowed by the child abuse sex scandal that resulted in his firing back in 2011, just two months before his death.
Back in November 2011, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested on 52 counts of child sexual abuse that occurred between 1994 and 2009, with a grand jury investigation reporting that Paterno had been informed of the allegations as early as 2001. Paterno had reportedly informed the athletic director and university vice president at the time, but failed to notify police or follow up on the allegations.
While Paterno had met his legal obligations under the law, a report released after his death accused Paterno of trying to hide the allegations against Sandusky to protect the football program, while also continuing to allow Sandusky access to football facilities even after his retirement and after he knew of the alleged abuse.
Paterno was ultimately fired by the university soon after Sandusky was arrested, despite support from the community at the time that included a crowd at his house rallying to let him stay on as coach.
A few months after his death, the university removed the Joe Paterno statue from outside of Beaver Stadium, and the NCAA stripped Penn State and Paterno of his final 111 wins. The university ultimately agreed to a settlement that restored Paterno’s wins while Penn State agreed to donate $60 million to child sexual abuse prevention and treatment programs in Pennsylvania.
Needless to say, Paterno’s legacy will forever be overshadowed by the disgusting scandal – which is why it’s so odd that the university recently unveiled their new “Paterno Family Football Experience Room.”
According to Penn State, the room at Beaver Stadium will serve as “a permanent museum experience celebrating more than a century of Penn State Football history” and features a “Coach Joe Paterno exhibit” featuring “Coach Paterno’s original office desk and workspace, personal artifacts and a curated timeline documenting significant moments from his more than six decades at Penn State.”
The university says the room was funded by “a lead gift from an anonymous donor supporting the creation and naming” of the exhibit, while Michael and Patty Kirschner supported the Coach Paterno desk exhibit and display.
Well as you can imagine, the backlash to the announcement was swift – and should have been expected:
This is so tone deaf. Shame on any alumni involved.
— Jared (@JaredBets) September 2, 2026
Interactive?!?! pic.twitter.com/6eNVjxWYEP
— Mike Ott (Lover of beer and green bean casserole) (@DustyBottoms04) September 2, 2026
Yeah, remind me not to take a tour of the Paterno “experience room.”
— c (@Chase13167253) September 2, 2026
Is it just looking the other way for 30 years?? I dont have that much time.
— midwestdude (@midwestdude99) September 2, 2026
An entirely predictable – and deserved – response.
