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Penn State to honor Joe Paterno anniversary

By The Sports Xchange
A bobble-head of former coach of Penn State Joe Paterno replaces the real statue on a mound of grass where the original state was at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania on September 1, 2012. UPI/Archie Carpenter
1 of 3 | A bobble-head of former coach of Penn State Joe Paterno replaces the real statue on a mound of grass where the original state was at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania on September 1, 2012. UPI/Archie Carpenter | License Photo

Penn State plans to honor the legacy of Joe Paterno on Sept. 17 -- the 50th anniversary of his debut as the university's football coach.

The school will commemorate the career of Paterno, who was fired in late 2011 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. Paterno died in early 2012 of lung cancer.

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Paterno's first game as Penn State coach was a 15-7 victory over Maryland on Sept. 17, 1966.

The Nittany Lions host Temple on Sept. 17 this season.

Paterno finished his career with an FBS-record 409 wins. The NCAA stripped him of 111 wins in the aftermath of the scandal before later restoring the victories to his win total.

But his legacy has been forever tainted due to his close relationship with Sandusky.

Paterno's reputation was tarnished when it was learned he failed to notify police in 2002 after he was told that Sandusky had molested a young boy inside the Penn State football complex.

Recent legal maneuvers disclosed that Paterno may have known of Sandusky's actions as far back as 1976. The Paterno family has denied that allegation.

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The university removed Paterno's statue from outside Beaver Stadium in 2012. In July, a group of more than 200 former Penn State football lettermen -- including 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti -- petitioned the university for the return of the statue.

The statue has remained controversial since being removed. Its current whereabouts are unknown and Penn State has previously stated it is in a "secure location."

Sandusky was convicted on 45 of 48 counts related to sexual assault on June 22, 2012, and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.

Last month, Sandusky participated in an appeals hearing seeking to have his 45-count conviction on child molestation charges thrown out or to receive a new trial.

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