Let it Be

Coincidentally, my first week of this blog is also a HUGE week in Penn State history.  Last Sunday, our university lost a coach, a teacher, a father, and a legend when Joe Paterno passed away at 85 years old after a short battle with lung cancer.  At Joepa's incredible memorial service today, 15,000 members of the Penn State family stood in applause when Sue Paterno entered the arena.  The audience held their breath as she embraced her children and her grandchildren, the tears streaming down her face magnified on the Megatron screen.

I tried to imagine the indescribable pain "SuePa" must be feeling, but I just can't.  I've never felt a love as strong as the one Joe and Sue shared.  Anyone who witnessed the couple's embrace after Joe's 400th win last season can attest that their fairytale romance never faded in all of the years they spent together.  What will she do now that he is gone?  What will this university do?  What will any of us who call Joe Paterno our hero do without his guidance?

Let it Be


According to www.songfacts.com, Paul McCartney wrote this beloved ballad in reference to his mother, Mary, who died when Paul was 14.  To me, the song is about letting go of the problems in life and moving forward, learning from 'times of trouble' but not being overcome by them.  Recently, Penn State has been hit with some pretty big times of trouble.  Our Alma Mater sings, "May no act of ours bring shame," and yet a devastating sex scandal was uncovered last fall.  Students anguished and rioted in the streets when the Board of Trustees wrongfully fired coach Joe Paterno from the university he dedicated his entire life to, and we mourned upon the news of his death only two months later.  In times like these, we must trust that 'there will be an answer,' that there is a reason for this mess.  We must remember that even though Joe is gone, there is 'still a light that shines'.  He's still here at Penn State, and he's still at home with SuePa tonight.  As long as the Penn State family continues to strive for "success with honor," the legend of JoePa will never die.  Rather than despairing over his sad ending, we must celebrate the life Joe Paterno lived.  How else can we cope with this tragedy then to accept what has happened and find peace with the future?  How else can we continue to honor 'Dear Old State' unless we...

Let it Be.