Penn State Football Legend Has Strong Take on ‘Paterno Field’ Naming Rights Debate
As it seems to happen at least a few times a year, Penn State Football fans online battled once again over the Paterno legacy and the field naming rights for Beaver Stadium.
For years, the “old heads” of Penn State fandom have been clamoring to name Beaver Stadium’s field after the late Joe Paterno now more than a decade removed from his departure from Penn State amid the Sandusky scandal.
Instead, on Monday, Penn State announced a naming rights deal for the field at Beaver Stadium for West Shore Homes, a home improvement company owned by a Penn State graduate and megadonor.
Immediately after the deal was announced, fans took to Twitter to express their feelings on the naming deal, which came in at $50 million over 15 years for the University.
Penn State Legend Blasts Beaver Stadium Field Naming Rights Deal
Joining the online debate following the announcement was one of Penn State’s most respected former players, All-American linebacker Michael Mauti.
Mauti’s contributions on the field earned him plenty of respect from the Penn State fandom, as Mauti accrued numerous honors over his five-year career with the Nittany Lions. During his time at Penn State, Mauti was named a first-team All-American linebacker and the Big Ten linebacker of the year in 2012.
However, Mauti is probably best known for his impact off the field for Penn State. After NCAA hit Penn State with sanctions after the Sandusky scandal, Mauti was one of the vocal leaders of the team that held the 2012 team together.
In a viral video after the NCAA sanctions were levied on the program, Mauti announced that “We take this as an opportunity to create our own legacy. This program was not built on one man and this program sure as hell is not going to get torn down by one man.” Mauti and teammate Michael Zordich, who joined him in making the video, kept Penn State’s 2012 team together in what was one of the most impactful player led movements in college football history.
In the online debate Monday, Mauti once again attempted to lead the charge for Penn State into the future. In speaking on the new naming rights deal, Mauti posted the following message:
“I played for Joe Paterno. My dad played for Joe. Certain his legacy isn’t about a name on a field—it’s about what we do on it and the impact we make outside the lines. IMO best way to honor him is to go win a national title. Let’s get aligned around that. WeAre.”
Beaver Stadium’s field naming rights certainly bring the program ever closer to another elusive national title.
As Penn State and the rest of college football progress in the NIL era and now move into the revenue sharing era, these deals are vitally important to keep Penn State competitive with other programs around the country in the arms race.
Mauti in his role as associate director of development for Penn State understands that Penn State must embrace the changing landscape of college football if the Nittany Lions want to continue to succeed.
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