Category Archives: Penn State

Paterno (2018)

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by Travis Normand
May 24, 2018

For those who may be unaware, the film titled “Paterno” has officially been released and can be seen on HBO and/or HBO.com, as well as Amazon.com Prime Video. I have posted the official trailer below, as well as a link to both the film’s IMDB.com page and its Wikipedia page.

I have not yet seen the film but caught about 20 minutes of it earlier this month when staying at a hotel. I would have watched the entire film right then and there, but unfortunately I had to run out to a conference. The small portion that I was able to see has me very intrigued and dying to watch the film in its entirety. I don’t have HBO, but if I can watch it on Amazon.com, I will do so in the near future and post my thoughts here afterwards.

 

The following synopsis is from the film’s page on HBO.com:

Paterno centers on Penn State’s Joe Paterno in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. After becoming the winningest coach in college football history, Paterno’s legacy is challenged and he is forced to face questions of institutional failure in regard to the victims.

Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Al Pacino (HBO’s You Don’t Know Jack; Scent of a Woman) stars in the film’s title role. Paterno is Pacino’s third HBO collaboration with award-winning director Barry Levinson, having starred in You Don’t Know Jack, which earned Pacino a Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Emmy for acting and Levinson an Emmy for directing. Pacino also starred in the title role in HBO’s Phil Spector, which Levinson executive produced. Levinson directs Paterno from a script by Debora Cahn and John C. Richards.

To read the rest of this, visit HBO.com by clicking here.

 

 

Maryland’s Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Updated Nov. 3, 2014)

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by Travis Normand

Today, Maryland defeated Penn State, 20-19.  However, before the game, Maryland’s team captains refused to shake hands with Penn State’s team captains.  I have watched a lot of college football in my life and I have never seen such a blatant act of unsportsmanlike conduct.  It is my understanding that Maryland was flagged for this stunt, and I truly hope that was the case.

I won’t rehash the specifics of the incident, as you can read about it on ESPN.com, ESPN.com (Big 10 Blog), SI.com, and BleacherReport.com (video).

Photo from ESPN.com

**Update:  Nov. 3, 2014 – The Big 10 Conference has fined Maryland $10K for its pre-game behavior.  You can read more about this fine / punishment at Yahoo Sports and / or SI.com.  You can also read the Big 10’s official press release about this punishment at Big10.org (and I have also posted it below).

According to the press release, the conference did not specifically punish Maryland for the failure to shake hands prior to the game.  However, it did call the behavior “exceptionally regrettable.”

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Forever Unattainable

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by Travis Normand

I was reminded today of an article I wrote and published over at BleacherReport.com.  The article was posted 25 January 2012, and concerned the passing of Joe Paterno.  More specifically, I was reminded that I would never get the chance to meet one of my “college football idols.”  Here is an excerpt from that article:

JoPa was the last “great one” and there will never be another like him.  With his death, we enter a new world of college football.  Our connection to the past is gone, and with it another college football experience is forever unattainable.

I once told a friend of mine that I was going to get on a plane and fly to State College, Pa.  My whole purpose in going was merely to shake Joe Paterno’s hand.  I did not want to take up his time or bother him for an autograph.  I simply wanted to say that I had the honor of meeting Joe Paterno.

I never did catch that flight to Pennsylvania.

Click HERE to see the entire article.

Penn State AD Tim Curley will not return

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The following report is quoted from Philadelphia.CBSLocal.com

Report: Penn State AD Curley Will Not Return
October 16, 2012 10:26 AM
From: Philadelphia.CBSLocal.com

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Penn State athletic director Tim Curley will not return after his contract expires in June, according to a report from the Daily Collegian.

Curley has been the athletic director at Penn State since 1993, but was placed on administrative leave when he was charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse in the Sandusky case.

Spanier’s Attorney Blasts Freeh Report in Press Conference

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Click HERE to see VIDEO of the press conference held by former Penn State President Graham Spanier’s attorney [ABCNews.com]

Spanier’s attorneys blast Freeh report, press conference ends abruptly
August 22, 2012
By Lauren Ingeno and Rachel White
Collegian Staff Writers

PHILADELPHIA – In a scathing rebuttal of Judge Louis Freeh’s investigative report that implied former Penn State President Graham Spanier covered up child sexual abuse, Spanier’s attorney Timothy Lewis calledFreeh a “self-anointed accuser” who used biased information to “support his version of the truth.”

Click HERE to read the rest of this story at The Daily Collegian or The CollegianOnline.PSU.edu

NOTICE:  Click HERE for a PDF copy of the Freeh Report critique as prepared by Spanier’s attorneys.

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“Paterno,” Biography by Joe Posnanski – Released Today August 21

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by Travis Normand

The biography of Joe Paterno, written by Joe Posnanski, was released today.  I ran out of the office today during lunch to pick up my copy.  I haven’t started reading it yet, but can’t wait to get started.

I got my copy at Barnes and Noble, however it is more than $10 cheaper through Amazon.com.  If you don’t mind waiting a couple days (for shipping), this is probably the best way to go.

Click HERE to see / buy “Paterno” on Amazon.com

As you can imagine, there is no shortage of opinions on this book.  However, most of the opinions I have read are anything but insightful.  Here are a few opinions that I thought were better than most:

Regardless, I would advise reading the book yourself and making up your own mind.

Freeh Report is Insufficient to Justify NCAA Punishment

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by Travis Normand

When I quote an entire article in one of my posts, I always feel as if I should start by saying, “I hate doing this.” However, in this case, there are simply far too many things in the article that I would like to highlight.

As you will see below, The Chronicle of Higher Education released an article this past week with some interesting information and comments on the Freeh Report.  Please read the following quote[s] from the article and then see my bulleted comments after.  [Emphasis added]

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