Survey: Pennsylvanians favor reinstallation of Joe Paterno statue
A majority of Pennsylvania residents surveyed support a statue of Joe Paterno returning to a place of prominence on Penn State's campus, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.
Nearly 60% of residents polled are in favor of placing a statue of Paterno on campus, according to the poll, while 25% of responders are against a memorial honoring the former football coach, who was fired in November 2011 after allegations of sexual abuse against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky first surfaced.
The statue of Paterno, which was completed in 2002 by a local sculptor, was removed from its place outside Beaver Stadium in July 2012, six months after Paterno's death from complications of lung cancer.
Penn State Alumni Association executive director Roger Williams, speaking to Paste BN Sports last week about the Paterno statue, said, "Coach Paterno had iconic status across the country. I certainly hope we're at the beginning of a process that will see his rightful place in the pantheon of college sports be reclaimed over the next several years."
Support for the statue bridged all genders and age groups, according to the Quinnipiac poll.
"It appears time heals all wounds and legends get a second chance," said Tim Malloy, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
Paterno's "tarnished image may never be totally repaired, but Pennsylvanians seem to be in a forgiving mood."
Pennsylvania residents polled also had strong support for the recent settlement between Penn State and the NCAA restoring 112 wins to the Nittany Lions' win total. These wins, along with postseason ban and a $60 million fine, were levied against the football program in the wake of the Sandusky scandal.
The NCAA overturned the postseason ban in early September, allowing the Nittany Lions to reach and win the Pinstripe Bowl in coach James Franklin's debut season. Last month, Penn State and the NCAA reached a settlement that restored the wins and reconciled the $60 million fine.
Of those polled, 64% of Pennsylvanians supported the new settlement, while 15% responded negatively. As with the statue, support for the settlement found no "virtually no gender gap, and little different in support among age groups," according to the Quinnipiac poll.
To complete the poll, Quinnipiac surveyed 1,023 Pennsylvania adults from Jan. 22 through Feb. 1. The poll holds a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
PROJECTING NEXT SEASON'S TOP 25