Artist removes Paterno’s halo
Paterno's halo, painted after his death, is now gone. (AP photo)
Michael Pilato, said he decided the halo had to go after the release of a report by former FBI director Louis Freeh, which was sharply critical of Paterno and other Penn State officials for their handling of the child abuse scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, reported Onward State, an independent student news blog.
He had added the halo to the painting after Paterno’s death in January.
“Sadly, today is one of the hardest things that I’ve done,” Pilato was quoted by Onward State. “I had to … I got rid of his halo.”
Pilato decided to keep a blue ribbon he painted on Paterno’s jacket symbolizing support for child abuse victims.
The university, meanwhile, has received pressure to remove the statue of the late coach that stands outside Beaver Stadium.
Officials said Sunday trustees and administrators haven’t decided what to do with the sculpture.
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52 comments Add your comment
dnn
July 17th, 2012
6:31 pm
Amazing how all this came out after he broke(same week)Coach Robinson all time wins record.
Dawg x 2
July 18th, 2012
5:16 am
Penn State still doesn’t get it, it’s new President is saying all the wrong things. Stand up and make a statement for humanity. I am a huge college football fan (10 years season tickets to UGA and 2 years to Clemson, in same season), but have you no perspective. It’s a stupid game, you would think someone so educated would understand that. They obviously brought in the wrong guy as the new university president, he doesn’t get it either. Talk to the NCAA and shut down the program for one year and start fresh (allow any student to transfer with no penalty, or stay and gain one year’s additional eligibility). Take down that statue immediately. Put together a strategic plan, as CEOs are supposed to, and outline everything you are going to do to help fix things going forward. Penn State needs a fresh start and new perspective, a year away from football is a beginning. BTW, it must be this year. They can not play this season! Next season is too late, the point would be missed.