Joe Paterno supporters hoping to have the ground at the Beaver Stadium appointed for the late coach apparently expect 15 years to raise this request.
The University announced on March 10 that Pennsylvania’s businessman William “BJ” Werzyn and his company, West Shore Home, would pay $ 50 million for naming rights in the Penn State football room. When the Nittany Lions welcomed Nevada during their opening match on August 30, they will do it on West Shore at the Beaver Stadium.
Werzyn, a graduate of Penn State in 1999, grew up in Johnstown. His business has his headquarters in Mechanicsburg.
“Penn State is a special place that develops our future leaders,” said Werzyn in a company press release. “The house of West Shore, my family and I are proud to help advance this critical mission.”
And this means that the mission of attaching the name of Paterno to this field is interrupted – which could be the reason why the administrators have chosen to act quickly and the check by Cash Werzyn. The West Shore Home’s name agreement is 15 years old. It has been almost 14 years that the sexual abuse scandal on the children of Jerry Sandusky ended the career of Paterno coach and permanently tarnished his reputation.
In an interview with the former NFL player and broadcaster, Ross Tucker, Werzyn said: “I hope most people understand that obtaining the name of Paterno on the ground was probably not going to happen or being a reality, so it was the best absolute thing for the football team, for the sports department and the university.”
He is right. The name of Paterno on the field at the Beaver Stadium or any other element of the football program can not occur – now or never.
Paterno will be forever linked to the scandal that rocked Penn State and the football program in 2011.
Sandusky was found guilty of 44 charges the following summer and remains in the state prison system despite numerous attempts to give him a new trial.
Paterno died of cancer in early 2012. He called allegations against his former assistant coach “one of the great penalties in my life”.
‘Build a strong future’
In addition to the Naming-Rights donation, West Shore Home has announced an “improved partnership with the College of Information of Information of Penn State” which will provide internships to students of the growing home reshaping company.
In April 2023, the Lion Legacy Club of Penn State pointed out a two -year partnership with West Shore Home and Miter Brands – a “seven -digit commitment” – to support the efforts of the name of the name (Nile) on behalf of the Nittany Lions players.
Werzyn’s investment in sports goes beyond his Alma Mater and his football. In February, West Shore Home announced a sponsorship agreement with the Max Greserman of the PGA Tour, which had six TOP-10 in 2024, its first year on the tour.
By announcing the news of the name of the stadium, the sports director of Penn State, Patrick Kraft, said: “As a former student of our major university and business owner in the center of Pennsylvania, BJ understands the essential role played by the Beaver stadium in our community, as well as the importance of preserving the great traditions of Penn State while helping to build a strong future.”
Frankly, Werzyn and his company deserved better than advancing their moment of generosity by those who cannot let Paterno rest in peace.
‘Advantage of hindsight’
Even if the move of denomination rights was being finalized, Penn State Anthony Lubrano’s trustee led the accusation on behalf of the Paterno family and described the University’s decision not to rename the Paterno field of the “Ultimate Tresh” stadium surface.
As Seth Engle de Statecollege.com reported, Lubrano told his fiduciary colleagues: “It’s a very sad and sober day in the history of Penn State. Today, for many of us, music dies. Today, the Penn State that we know and love is no longer … “
Lubrano said that the administrators were “about to turn on their backs” Joe and Sue Paterno and “For a few silver pieces, we are about to sell our soul”.
During this meeting of administrators of March 10, as indicated by Statecollege.comLubrano was joined in opposition to the decision of “West Shore Home on the ground” by colleagues Administrators Ted Brown, Suzan Collins, Daniel Delligatti, Barry Fenchak, Matt McGloin, Jay Paterno and Brandon Short. Delligatti, McGloin, Short and Jay Paterno have all played for Joe Paterno.
Statecollege.com reported that McGloin told his fiduciary colleagues that they “tried to erase” Joe Paterno’s heritage “by not naming the land for the man who was the most winning coach in university football when the scandal broke.
Paterno has never been accused of having mistreated the children himself. But as the chief of an organization struck by the scandal, he will forever wear the leader’s label which did not acted when it counted the most.
Paterno probably sealed the fate of his inheritance on November 9, 2011, when he said: “With hindsight, I would have liked to do more.”
With hindsight, Penn State could not put his name on the field of the Beaver stadium.
