Penn State trustee introduces — then withdraws —proposal to name field after Paterno

A Penn State trustee introduced — then withdrew — a resolution to name the field at Beaver Stadium after former football coach Joe Paterno during a board meeting Friday afternoon.

Trustee Anthony Lubrano introduced a resolution to name the field after Joe Paterno, as well as declare “Joe and Sue Paterno Day” at an undecided date in the fall of 2024.

Jay Paterno, a trustee and Joe Paterno’s son, asked the resolution be held for a future date. Lubrano withdrew the resolution and said he reserved the right to reintroduce it.

While introducing the resolution, Lubrano said he’s urged the administration and trustees to “meaningfully recognize the innumerable contributions of Joe and Sue Paterno to our great school” since he returned to the board in 2020. He said everyone should be proud of the contributions of Joe Paterno, who was fired in 2011 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

“Joe Paterno’s contribution to this university can never be erased and he will never be forgotten. So, my fellow trustees, we have reached the moment of truth. Are we going to honor two people who have literally given their lives in the pursuit of a better Penn State? Or are we going to allow fear mongering to prevail?” Lubrano said.

In a lengthy statement, Jay Paterno said the president’s administration indicated to the board that they don’t want this resolution to happen at this time.

“They’ve cited factors unrelated to him with reasons for postponing the recognition of this time. They want to focus our university on current challenges with an eye toward future recognition,” Jay Paterno said.

He continued: “If we want to truly honor the legacy of Sue and Joe Paterno at this moment, we should respect the wishes of this administration. We should also work together with this administration to show that the hard work ahead is borne by sacrifice by everyone at Penn State. If Joe Paterno was here right now, he’d respect the vision of our president and implore us to do the hard things required for the future of Penn State. The things being asked by President Bendapudi. He’d focus on making sure future generations of Penn State graduates can afford their education, with a chance to start their post-college years building lives of meaning and service that will swell the fame of dear old state. He’d be more concerned about improving academic rankings and off the field APR academic football scores and than seeing his name on the field.”

Brandon Short, a trustee and former football player who played under Joe Paterno, said he supported the resolution and honoring Joe Paterno and his wife, but didn’t support “continued political stunts in Joe Paterno’s name.”

“To put out a resolution, to say all this, and then pull it back, is insulting to me, personally. It was not necessary. … I support the resolution but I would not have supported it brought to this board, in this manner, making stunts over and over again.”

“If you really wanted to do the resolution, then put the resolution up and call for it. But to put it up and then pull it back means you never wanted it and it doesn’t seem like you actually care about it. So please stop using Joe Paterno as a political football. ... If you want to honor him, honor him. Put it up and vote on it,” Short said.

Joe Paterno was the Penn State football coach from 1966 until 2011, when he was fired during the Sandusky scandal and died 10 weeks later. Sue Paterno has remained an active member of the community, volunteering for events involving Thon, the Special Olympics and many others, and has continued to donate to charitable causes.

Earlier this week, Spotlight PA reported trustees and high-ranking university representatives met privately twice in January to discuss honoring the Paternos. The meetings potentially violated the state’s Sunshine Act, a state law that requires governing bodies to conduct business in public view.