Restaurant plans new statue of Joe Paterno in downtown State College

Last updated: April 23, 2014 - 2:34pm


A 2012 vigil is held at the former Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium after the legendary coach was fired in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (File photo)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Fans of the late Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno are planning to commission a new bronze statue of him, and place it across from the school. Organizers say the statue will feature Paterno sitting on a bench reading. The website Onward State was reporting that the project is called "Joe's Bench," but is expected to be called "Reflections" when complete. Paterno, who studied literature at Brown University, will hold one of his favorite classics, "Aeneid," while seated on the bench, organizers told the website. The statue is expected to cost about $300,000 and could be completed in 2015 by Philadelphia sculptor Zenos Frudakis. Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers says the school isn't involved in the plan. But a the owner of the Tavern restaurant along East College Avenue in downtown State College says he's interested in having the statue in front of his establishment. In 2012, the school removed a Paterno statue from the campus after an investigative report alleged the late coach and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

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