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Pennsylvanians Favor Renaming Penn State Stadium to Honor Paterno, Poll Finds

By Kim Glovas

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (CBS) -- A new poll shows many Pennsylvanians would like to see Beaver Stadium, at Penn State, renamed to honor the school's iconic late football coach, Joe Paterno.

The Quinnipiac University Poll released today shows that Pennsylvania voters support changing the name of the stadium to "Joe Paterno Stadium" by a 46-to-40 percent margin.

College football fans were even more in favor: 55 percent in favor, 37 percent against.

Quinnipiac pollster Tim Malloy says he believes the Jerry Sandusky scandal influenced the numbers.

"What you could reasonably assume from this is people still care for Joe Paterno," Malloy told KYW Newsradio.  "However, you have to look at this and realize that if none of this had ever happened, and (regardless of whether) Joe Paterno were alive or dead, and they asked that question without the Sandusky scandal, probably close to 100 percent (would say yes)."

The survey was conducted the week of March 7th through 12th, and included more than 1,200 Pennsylvania voters.

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