Over 200 Penn State Letterman Petition To Return Joe Paterno Statue
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Over 200 Penn State letterman petitioned the university for the return of the Joe Paterno statue.
The statue of Paterno, which stood outside Beaver Stadium for over a decade, was removed in the summer of 2012 due to the highly controversial Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
The players also asked for the university to return the wall behind the Paterno statue honoring Penn State football and an apology for Sue Paterno.
"Joe Paterno has been cast in a negative light and we're trying to correct that narrative," group spokesman and former PSU player Brian Masella told ESPN.com. "The university has ignored us over and over again."
Penn State released a response to the petition.
"We appreciate the passion of our former Penn State lettermen for Coach Joe Paterno and the football program, and thank them for their input and many contributions/achievements. We recognize that this is emotional for many in the Penn State community, many of whom differ, yet feel strongly about this issue.
"The University's leadership has clearly indicated that there will be a time and place to acknowledge Coach Joe Paterno's many contributions. Any plans by the president to reach out to the Paterno family will be done privately."
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny and 1973 Heisman winner John Cappelletti are among the Penn State players who added their names to the letter, according to ESPN. The names on the letter include former players as far back as the 1950's, according to the Washington Post.
