Twitter strikes again. The FBI released a damning report today confirming Joe Paterno “repeatedly concealed critical facts” from authorities regarding former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse. Tweets of support for Paterno immediately started flowing, proving that you can indeed find the wrong answer to any question on Twitter.
Paterno served as head coach for Penn State for 62 years, during which he racked up 409 wins and two championships (and earned a whopping half-million dollars a year by the end of his career). Paterno colluded in concealing Sandusky’s sexual abuse of 10 victims in children’s programs on campus over 15 years with “utter disregard” for the victims’ wellbeing, according the FBI. Below are some tweets still insisting Paterno is a #LEGEND.
Hate college FB but I love paterno. Always will. A football legend no matter what.
— John (@phillyphan108) July 12, 2012
Joe Paterno is still the greatest football coach of all time #legend
— Matt Boynton (@MattBoynton24) July 12, 2012
wtf? Paterno is a legend. You dont shiton him or his family for what someone else did. #fuckhaters #paternoisgod #RIPJoePaterno
— Joe Marigliano (@FarmerJoe44) July 12, 2012
@_ErikaLeigh - i didn't go to #PSU....but spent 30 years of my life in that state..... born and raised. he is still a legend.#Paterno #PSU
— Dave (@newstouse) July 12, 2012
It really pisses me off how bad SportsCenter and everyone rips into Paterno for something sandusky did. #Legend
— Blake Pakos(@ShmackinOff) July 12, 2012
joe paterno is still a legend everyone can't be perfect
— Zach Ryter (@ZACHRYTER) July 12, 2012
Joe Paterno is still a legend. Sandusky deserves to rot.. but I question why the "victims" waited so long to come forth.
— David Hicks (@60hicks) July 12, 2012
Why would they tear down #Paterno's Statue at #PennState ? He still deserves respect. HE'S A LEGEND! At least turn the statue the other way.
— Ageeeeent'.™ (@Agentroxs) July 12, 2012
So tired of hearing about Joe Paterno and the Sandusky thing.. hes still a legend and did a lot for Penn State, leave his family alone.
— Vinnie Keller (@vinniekeller) July 11, 2012
Stop. RT @60hicks: Joe Paterno is still a legend. Sandusky deserves to rot.. but I question why the "victims" waited so long to come forth.
— JAA (@JasonAAV) July 12, 2012
I know that Paterno made some mistakes, but I hope that he is remembered as the legend that positively impacted thousands of young people
— Brian Daubenspeck (@d_speck50) July 12, 2012
I REALLY REALLY wish they would let the LEGEND Joe Paterno rest in peace.
— $5CIROC@Merienda FRI (@gdbpromotions) July 12, 2012
RIP Legend of Joe #Paterno (1966-2012). Died of exposure. Funeral to be held publicly across America.
— Jim Powers (@jimmystagger) July 12, 2012
I wasn't particularly fond of Penn State or Paterno, but you hate to see a deceased legend's reputation completely ruined.
— Mike Bradley (@_MikeBradley) July 12, 2012
Paterno is a legend and was a great person, this is absolute bull shit. Dont turn this on him? #RIP
— ROB {DoubtMe} (@Brob22Brandon) July 12, 2012
From legend to villain in hours RT @robby305: still kills me how Jo Paterno went out...
— Jose Rodriguez(@esoj__) July 12, 2012
Joe Paterno was a legend with a bad ending
— Burrrandon (@__KingB__) July 12, 2012
July 12, 2012 at 5:42 pm, Dan Pogue said:
What's confusing about this? He's a college football legend, without question. He's also a scumbag.
July 12, 2012 at 5:57 pm, Christopher Ziegler said:
You probably should get your facts straight first. He was not head coach for 62 years. Also, all 10 occurrences of abuse did not take place on campus and didn't involve 'children's programs'. JS brought kids from his charity on campus and on a few occasions did use the facilities to abuse them. Its horrible and I am not defending the lack of action but if you going to skewer people for defending the man's accomplishments against his obvious faults it would behoove you to get your facts straight. These kinds of oversights are what is wrong with the way this story has been 'reported' from the start.
July 13, 2012 at 4:31 pm, Nike to remove Joe Paterno’s name from Child Development Center | Death and Taxes said:
[...] I missed that Joe missed it, and I am extremely saddened on this day.”While many are still defending Paterno as a sports legend even after Freeh’s report, Nike’s choice to distance themselves from the #legend is [...]
July 24, 2012 at 3:57 am, Tom Johns said:
Paterno was nothing but a good man doing a job he loved, coaching football. It is a true shame that the world has changed so much that it allows others to tear down everything he did in the many years of coaching. To watch this drama ( and I do mean drama) unfold over time is saddening. Here is an idea. Go anywhere online asking about Joe Paterno the first 75 hits are not about his accomplishments although many, instead they are about this scandal. It is a true shame.
August 02, 2012 at 11:10 am, Sandusky thinks NCAA sanctions against Penn State are unfair | Death and Taxes said:
[...] irony is so thick and gross you could cut it with a shit-smeared knife.The now infamous Penn State assistant athletics coach convicted in June of sexually abusing 10 children over 15 years at the [...]