My favorite television mini-series was the 1983 production of “Chiefs,” starring Charlton Heston.
In it, Heston plays the Southern political boss, Hugh Holmes, of the fictional town of Delano, Georgia. It chronicles several decades in how Heston tries to build the town and give it a good reputation. All the while, however, there is an undercurrent of activity going on involving a serial killer.
In one of the final scenes of the mini-series, Heston’s character views the carnage that has come to light and says, “I’ve worked most my life — 50 years — to give this town a name. Now every time it’s mentioned, it will be for this.”
I thought about that movie as the bizarre saga at Penn State unfolded in recent days. I’ve followed sports my entire life and there has always been tragedy and even chaos, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anything like this.
Joe Paterno probably knows how Heston’s character felt. The man who has given more than six decades to Penn State (let that sink in for a few moments) has now been reduced to a disgraced figure. Penn State, and Nittany Lion football, will never be mentioned again without this scandal in the conversation.
Paterno was head coach at Penn State longer than I’ve been alive. He had been employed at the university for as long as my parents have been alive. Still, all the conference championships, the national championships and the donations to the school’s academic programs don’t matter at this point.
It should be noted (and I’ve only heard it mentioned a couple of times) that no one has been convicted of anything. Yes, the evidence seems very damning, but we are only hearing one side. Everyone, regardless of what they are accused of, deserves their time in court. Paterno has not been charged with a crime. You can debate whether he should have done this or that morally, but legal issues and moral issues are separate under the law.
As a younger football fan, I remember Paterno’s team defeating the University of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. I remember them defeating Miami for the national championship a few years later.
Even when people called for Paterno, who is 84, to retire he declined.
Even with all that has unfolded in the past several days, it will be tough to replace Paterno as football coach. He was still loved by students, many of whom probably attended Penn State because of him. (Academic types don’t like admitting things like that, but it’s true.)
In time, the memory of the past week will fade some. A new coach will be hired (don’t look for any of the current football staff to be retained). There will be success on the football field because Paterno has constructed a rock solid foundation for decades.
Still, the sight of the Nittany Lion program in ruins is tragic on all fronts. However, if the accusations are proven true, then it will be easier for the football program to rebuild than it will be for the victims to rebuild their lives.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at
cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
