Penn State is dominating the headlines ahead of its season opener, but it’s not because Matt Campbell is excited about his 2026 roster.
Earlier this week, Penn State announced that it’s All-Sports Museum inside Beaver Stadium will be adding the Paterno Family Football Experience Room. Despite his fallout with the university, the museum will include a Joe Paterno exhibit.
“Penn State Football’s history belongs to generations of student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters who helped build this program,” athletic director Pat Kraft said in a statement. “This room gives us an opportunity to preserve that history, present it thoughtfully and create an experience that connects the proud tradition of Penn State Football with its future.”
As you’d imagine, college football fans aren’t thrilled about Penn State honoring Paterno. This is strictly due to his ties to Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant who was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period.
The outrage online is getting louder.
“I repeat, Joe Paterno knew what was happening to those kids. F him, this trash university and anyone who defends it,” one person replied.
“This is all so gross,” another person wrote on X.
“I’m embarrassed to be a Penn state fan, hopefully a new generation comes soon and won’t stand for this,” a fan commented.
“I can’t believe it but we really do have to give James Franklin credit for exactly one (1) thing: he does seem to have been the only one really stopping this from happening,” another fan wrote.
Paterno coached Penn State from 1966-2011, winning 409 games and two national titles. While his success on the field was undeniable, former FBI director Louis Freeh concluded that Paterno “failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade.”
Do you think Penn State missed the mark with the Paterno Family Football Experience Room?
