We love our history at Town&Gown. It’s one of the hallmarks of this magazine. Just in the first eight months of this year, Town&Gown has featured stories or devoted entire issues to the 100-year anniversary of the State College branch of the American Association of University Women, new discoveries about the three women credited with starting Memorial Day in Boalsburg, the work the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has done in its 150 years, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts as it hit 50 years, local ties to the Underground Railroad, and, of course, Town&Gown as the magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary in January.
It continues in this issue with “A Golden Musical Family,” which helps mark the 50th anniversary season of the Nittany Valley Symphony.
This year also is the 50th anniversary of the first Penn State football team with Joe Paterno as its head coach. Whatever one’s opinion is of Paterno, the fact is that, looking back, his becoming the head coach of the Nittany Lions is one of the more significant events in this area’s history. He isn’t the only reason why Happy Valley has grown and prospered the way it has since 1966, but he is a huge reason why.
And it’s why the magazine has chosen to mark the occasion with this month’s story, “A Lasting Impact,” by Frank Bodani. In the story, a player from each of the six decades Paterno led the Lions shares how their former coach influenced them and how the lessons they learned from him still play a part in their lives today.
It’s predictable that some may not care for the story, or even like the fact that the magazine has published it. The story isn’t meant to cause another debate about Paterno’s legacy or even about a statue, although it’s difficult to avoid. That aspect can be fought out on message boards, social media, and rants from media personalities.
Igniting a debate about Paterno also is as pointless as trying to switch a Donald Trump supporter to vote for Hillary Clinton and vice versa. Many people have carved their opinions about Paterno in stone in their minds. He’s hated by some, while beloved by others. He’s guilty for what he did or didn’t do, or he’s had his name and reputation torn apart by a false narrative and false accusations.
Whichever side you fall on, or if you’re one who actually has yet to make up your mind, the story in this month’s issue is simply to recognize the fact that this one person had a profound impact on the young student-athletes he coached, and he changed not just a football program but also a school and a region forever, mostly for the good. Of that, there is little debate.
