PHOTO: Workers Remove Covered Joe Paterno Statue

You will not see a better photo of Joe Paterno’s statue being removed than the one Centre Daily Times photographer Christopher Weddle took on Sunday morning.

Paterno’s statue being shrouded in the blue his teams wore proudly for more than half a century, its arm raised and the single index finger extended to show the world who is number one? The symbolism is obvious, and Weddle may well be up for photojournalism prizes at the end of the year because of it.

Paterno’s statue was removed early Sunday morning, with a statement released by Penn State president Rodney Erickson explaining that leaving it standing would have made it “a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse.” It has been taken inside Beaver Stadium, where it will likely be stored indefinitely.

For more on Nittany Lions football, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire, SB Nation Pittsburgh and SB Nation Philly.