Joe Paterno once said, “My best team will be the one that produces the best doctors, lawyers, fathers and citizens, not necessarily the one with the best record. Let’s keep it in context.” Regardless of where one stands, few who will judge will have ever had to stand in the shoes of one so compassionate and successfull in building goodwill and men and women of character.
Paterno’s words resonate “in the context” of so many wonderful life achievements — and for the outstanding football program that has been the hallmark of Penn State University.
I think few programs can live up to its success in terms of building so many positive individual and athletic team “academic” records, strong moral character in its graduates and positive role model leadership traits.
It takes years of commitment, dedication, perseverance and personal sacrifice to create such an outstanding track record of success as that, which is, and can still be found, at Penn State University. In that context, and in the spirit of moving forward, may recent events be a reminder of the responsibilities that we all share for the health, welfare and safety of our children.
May they serve as a caveat moment as to the importance of facing the moral, ethical and emotional challenges that may come to bear in fufilling our responsibilities.
Most important of all, may this strengthen our resolve to choose goodness over evil, and may how we deal with these events become a testimony to the humility and compassion that we must find and nurture in our hearts.
Victor Murray
Class of 1976
