Joe Paterno to Get New Statue

While a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was torn down in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, a new bronze sculpture might go up downtown. Two alumni are behind the statue, which will cost an estimated $300,000, feature the coach reading Virgil’s Aeneid, and is scheduled to go up next fall. The alumni claim the statue has nothing to do with the university’s decision to remove the original one in July 2012, and rather it came after Paterno’s death in January 2012. "It's clear the university isn't ready to do anything; they're certainly not ready to put the statue back," said Ted Sebastianelli, one of the alumni behind the project. "For me, this is something we can do ourselves and it's a great way -- a wonderful way -- to honor Joe for his 61 years of service. The artist who has been commissioned, Zenos Frudakis, has made sculptures for the Philadelphia Phillies, Georgia Gold Hall of Fame, and Pinehurst Resort.