Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany announced Monday that former (former!) Penn St. Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno's name will no longer remain on the conference's football title game trophy, which had been named the Stagg-Paterno Trophy. It's now just the Stagg Championship Trophy.
Joe Paterno’s Name Removed From Big Ten Championship Trophy
Delany:
We believe that it would be inappropriate to keep Joe Paterno’s name on the trophy at this time. The trophy and its namesake are intended to be celebratory and aspirational, not controversial. We believe that it’s important to keep the focus on the players and the teams that will be competing in the inaugural championship game.
The family of Amos Alonzo Stagg, the Stagg in Stagg-Paterno, has expressed displeasure in being associated with the Penn State debacle. Stagg coached football, basketball, and baseball at Big Ten-founding Chicago, also serving as athletic director. His Big Ten career lasted 30 years and included two football national championships and seven Big Ten crowns.
It was always kind of awkard that Paterno’s name appeared on the trophy anyway, since he hadn’t even retired yet when it was unveiled and spent fewer than 20 years in the Big Ten.
Related: Jerry Sandusky fallout, replacing Joe Paterno, and Penn State's movement to support sexual abuse survivors. For more on the Nittany Lions, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries. More college football news.
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