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	They're in Penn State of Denial By Kevin Fasick New York Post November 13, 2011 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/they_re_in_penn_state_of_denial_Yf4a0VVVDPAPLeCRVosw9L Legions of Penn State fans blinded by loyalty made a shameful show of support yesterday for Joe Paterno, waving signs and belting out chants in honor of the legendary coach who was fired amid a sickening child sex-abuse scandal. Paterno, 84, who hired a criminal-defense lawyer last week as the investigation into his ex-defense coordinator Jerry Sandusky widened, watched from home as the Nittany Lions lost their first game in 46 years without him as their head coach. "It's sad because the one person who should be here today isn't," said Jim Suydam, 53, an optometrist from Reading, Pa., whose daughter attends Penn State. He wore a T-shirt saying, "I [heart] Joe: Thanks for the memories -- 62 years of great service." Current students, alumni and backers openly wept for their beloved "JoePa" from the start of pregame ceremonies through their unified chants in the fourth quarter. Some students even dressed as Paterno, wearing his signature rolled-up khakis and thick glasses. One family was wearing shorts that read, "We [heart] JoePa." "They're scapegoating him," insisted longtime Nittany Lions fan Lucious Samford, 28, a banker from Paterno's hometown of Brooklyn. "Joe got a bum deal -- he didn't do anything wrong." Freshman Spanish major Ali Deasy, 18, of Collegeville, Pa., was appalled by the Paterno lovefest. "A lot of the students are blindly loyal to him. People think that because he's not in legal trouble he didn't do anything wrong," she said. Paterno was told by then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary in 2002 that he saw Sandusky sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in the team's shower room. The coach has been criticized for merely alerting school administrators and not notifying law enforcement. "He had a moral obligation to do more," said Deasy. "He was in a position of power that he didn't use to the best of his abilities." Even though he wasn't at Beaver Stadium yesterday, Paterno still managed to address his former players. A letter from the coach was read aloud in the locker room before the game, saying he was heartbroken and wished he could be with them but asking they focus on the game and not him, ESPN reported. The players then took to the field holding hands and with tears in their eyes. They knelt at midfield and held hands with players from Nebraska as Cornhuskers assistant coach Ron Brown led an emotional prayer. He did the same after the final whistle. After the game, some of the players voiced their support for their beloved JoePa. "We were out there playing for him," said senior safety Nick Sukay. "Me and Coach P had our ups and downs, but we came together," said senior running back Stephfon Green, from The Bronx. "If it wasn't for that man . . . I wouldn't be sitting here. Coach P is the best." Many other supporters also insisted Paterno didn't deserve blame. "I'm outraged because of the way he's being treated," said Bedford-Stuyvesant resident and Penn State fan Dick Smith, 41. But not everyone was drinking the JoePa Kool-Aid. "It pisses me off that he didn't say anything to law enforcement," said Amber Wilhide, 23, a firefighter from Hanover, Pa. Penn State alum John Matko, 35, carried anti-Paterno signs, one that read "Cancel the season." "Their loyalty to him is ridiculous," said Robbie Emigh, 40, from Philipsburg, Pa. "He's always preaching for people to do the right thing and he didn't." After the game, Paterno's son, Jay, the team's quarterbacks coach, teared up when speaking about his father. "We've had better weeks in our lives, obviously," he told ESPN. "The world's kind of turned upside-down, but I think our kids were resilient." He said he gave his parents a letter before the game and choked up when asked what he wrote. "Just how proud of them I am, and, Dad, I wish you were here," he said. Later, about 75 students and supporters descended on Paterno's house and burst into spontaneous bouts of applause. Dan Navarino, 47, from Rockville Centre, LI, deposited a letter into the mailbox from his 12-year-old daughter. "She's a big fan," he said. "And she wanted to tell him her feelings." The crowd also chanted for Paterno himself to come out. Former player Kenny Jackson visited with Paterno and said, "He's just tired, he had a long day. He's done so much for so many." Paterno's wife, Sue, appeared at the door and expressed gratitude to the masses. "This has been the second-most difficult week of our lives," she said, without revealing when they had it worse. "You people have made it more tolerable. And we appreciate all the love." She added: "I just had a very good sermon at church -- and it's all about healing. We'll be back. We're not going anywhere."
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