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Franklin speaks about Paterno

UNIVERSITY PARK — Sunday marked the five-year anniversary of Joe Paterno’s passing in 2012 at age 85, and his legacy remains a complicated and debated issue around the country.

Current Penn State coach James Franklin was asked Saturday for his thoughts on the longtime leader of the Nittany Lions, who won 409 games from 1966-2011. Paterno was fired near the end of the 2011 season during the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Franklin explained how he gauges Paterno’s legacy.

“It’s not about the wins and the losses, it’s about how many people did you have a positive impact on, and all the players that came through here he was able to have a positive impact on,” Franklin said.

“I think that’s what it’s about. I think the championships are important and the wins and losses are important. I think you guys heard me talk about this after the Rose Bowl game — there’s a greater purpose to this.”

Franklin went on to add that a Penn State education and how much the school helps shape the rest of a person’s life are all part of the big picture.

“To me, that’s where I hope (to be) 20 years from now — that it’s not about the wins, it’s about how many people have gone on and done wonderful things as fathers and husbands and as businessmen and feel like that Penn State and our coaching staff and me had a positive impact on them,” Franklin said.

“I think that’s really (Paterno’s) legacy is the individual conversations that I’ve had with former players that feel very, very strongly about the impact that he had on his life and his teammates.”

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