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Restoring Paterno’s Legacy?

WILKES-BARRE — The question still surrounds Penn State University’s football program. The NCAA already lifted sanctions, now how does the school rec...

WILKES-BARRE -- The question still surrounds Penn State University's football program. The NCAA already lifted sanctions, now how does the school recognize the legacy of former head coach Joe Paterno?

Penn State's caravan rolled into Wilkes-Barre Thursday afternoon and the school's new athletic director answered Newswatch 16's questions about “JoePa.”

On June 22, 2012, the bronze sculpture of Joe Paterno was removed from its spot outside Penn State's Beaver Stadium. The university cited that the statue had become a "obstacle of healing" after the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

But now with the NCAA sanctions lifted, the Nittany Lion football program is rebuilding and the healing has turned to forgiving and understanding.

"When I see those things in our student athletes, when I see them really maturing and acting in ways that I know the Penn State community would be really proud of them, and maybe that's in a victory or maybe it's in a defeat, and how they handle that, that brings me a great sense of pride," said Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour.

Barbour was quick to praise the conviction of former Penn State football players who feel passionate about honoring Joe Paterno's legacy.

"That says to me that where Penn State is today, Joe Paterno was a big part of that and that deserves him having a lasting legacy and this university at the right time and the right place honoring that."

Head Football Coach James Franklin agrees that honoring the program's past will help strengthen its future and if that means paying tribute to a coach once scorned, Franklin is on-board.

"Honoring our past and our traditions and history is really important and the foundation of success with honor and everything we're about. It started there," Franklin said.

The discussion of honoring Paterno brings us back to that bronze statue that stood for more than the man. Will it be resurrected and reclaim its place in front of Beaver Stadium?

"Time will tell what actually and how that actually takes place in terms of how to honor his legacy, but I'm very confident that his legacy will be honored."

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