Penn State to Honor Former Coach Joe Paterno in Upcoming Game

Penn State is set to honor Joe Paterno, the school’s late and legendary former football coach, in an upcoming game this month.

Paterno, who died in 2012, led the Nittany Lion football program for 46 years before his career ended in November 2011 amid former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse scandal.

Penn State is planning to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Paterno’s first game as head coach on Sept. 17 during a game against Temple, the school said Thursday in a news release about its upcoming themes for games. The controversial tribute to the man who was accused of failing to act after being alerted to Sandusky’s actions in 2002 has angered several people on social media.

Although his legacy was marred by the scandal, Paterno was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in June.