Smart Talk: Jay Paterno’s new book on his father’s life and death

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, January 29, 2015:

Jay Paterno, the son of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and a former coach himself, appears on Thursday’s Smart Talk to discuss his new book Paterno Legacy: Enduring Lessons from the Life and Death of My Father.

At one time not long ago, Joe Paterno was one of the most popular and admired people in Pennsylvania and amongst sports fans across the country.  He still is an icon to many but Coach Paterno’s reputation suffered after the investigation of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case unfolded.

When Sandusky was arrested in November, 2011, Joe Paterno was fired by the Penn State Board of Trustees.  Later after a report by former FBI director Louis Freeh said Joe Paterno didn’t report an incident involving Sandusky and a young boy in a shower together, the NCAA leveled harsh sanctions that included stripping 111 wins from Penn State when Paterno was coach.

In the three years since, the Freeh report has been called into question and the NCAA has lifted the sanctions.  The wins have been re-stored which once again makes Joe Paterno college football’s winningest coach.  Many are calling for Joe Paterno to be honored as he was before.

Jay Paterno writes about the Sandusky aftermath and his life with his father in the book and we’ll discuss it on Thursday’s program.