I work at a large Penn State branch campus. In recognition of homecoming we were encouraged to wear blue and white today. I'm wearing a JVP shirt. I've already been asked 3 times, "Who is JVP."
Sad reality...
- Thread starter Achowalogan
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By students? If so, this is not terribly surprising. I'm sure they know who Paterno is, but there is only a subset of younger fans that would recognize the initials. If it said "JVP 409" or "JVP:Success with Honor" I think you'd have less "utes" asking.
When you say "Joe Paterno" do they know who he is then? Not everyone will know Joe's initials, but they should be fired if they don't know who he was.
Story time from my freshman year at PSU (1999). A kid in my dorm was from India and had come down to my room to hang out. I had a small Joe cutout (the same one as the life size ones people have) on my shelf. He asked me if that was my dad. I was like, "you don't know who that is? That's Joe Paterno!"
He did not know who Joe Paterno was.
Being asked by other employees Shirt is from Joe's 50th anniversary celebration and does include "Success with honor".
That saddens me, especially at a Penn State Branch campus, but then a lot of Americans are not very good with initials. Ask them, for example, who FDR was, or what GOP stands for, and many are clueless.
I'm sure you appreciate that to some university employees (especially if you are not in a college town or at a branch campus) their job is a job and have no affinity for the university's sports teams or traditions.
I worked for two years at Syracuse University. I hated (still do) their sports teams and I'm sure I couldn't have told you who their winningest all time football coach was, let alone his middle initial. (for the record I think it's
Schwartzwalder, but I had to look it up).
Look, Joe is one of my heroes. What the BOT and media did to him was evil. But many millions of people still know who he is. It is not required that everyone know who he is, just like it is not required that everyone know who Taylor Swift or Ernest Hemingway are.
Seriously? You expected a kid from a country 9500 miles away to know who Joe Paterno was?
No, they are good with initials. But it is the text message initials they are expert at such as OMG and TTYL.That saddens me, especially at a Penn State Branch campus, but then a lot of Americans are not very good with initials. Ask them, for example, who FDR was, or what GOP stands for, and many are clueless.
Meh, not a big deal. About ten years ago I made a Hitler reference and the young lady I said it to asked who Hitler was. I laughed, then saw that she was serious. I had to give a brief synopsis of Hitler and she responded with one of those, “Oh yeah, right, right” responses. I was stunned.
True, but I chose to number among my friends those who know the latter but not the former.
Yeah, I did. I mean, once he came to PSU I did. Had he not, then no. He also did not know that Graham Spanier was the name of the president of the university. He thought it was a title, "The Grand Spanier" and that he ran the school. I also had to explain that to him.
Yea thats not a really good example.
I'm sure if I went to india I wouldn't know who their Cricket coach was/is.
True, but I chose to number among my friends those who know the latter but not the former.
Every once in a while, BTN runs the special on the 1986 team. A few players are interviewed, including Trey Bauer. At the end of the broadcast, Bauer is talking about the locker room after the Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami - he says he is setting next to Mike Russo, and Russo says "Hey - why is Mr. Coffee standing with Joe (Paterno)? Bauer looks at the two men, looks back at Russo and says "Mr. Coffee? That's Joe DiMaggio.". Russo says "Who is Joe DiMaggio?"
No, but if you bet money that it's a guy named Patel, Shah or Singh, you have a chance of winning the bet.
I agree. But there is a subset of the population who would look at you like an alien if you didn't know who Taylor Swift was (FTR: I couldn't pick her out of a lineup)True, but I chose to number among my friends those who know the latter but not the former.
HAAAA!!!!! In honor of one of the funniest posts of the year, all future Penn State Presidents, including Barron, should be now addressed as the "Grand Spanier"!!!!! : ^ )
I'm shocked a kid from India had no idea who Joe Paterno was.
Actually, now that I think about it, I'm more shocked you told us that story.
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anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
Guest
Where American football isn't of interest. At all. That's not surprising, at all.
But fair to say that until recently, one would expect any PSU to know who JoPa was.
Your input is worth about as much as my story, it seems. I'm tempted to guess what the DB stands for in your username, but I have a feeling we all already know.
When I worked in Harrisburg in the late '80s, I worked with a woman that had lived in South Central PA for over 10 years and did not know who Joe Paterno was. I was gobsmacked. The only things she watched on tv were soap operas.
The guy she was living with was found embezzling from the Food Bank.
The guy she was living with was found embezzling from the Food Bank.
Haters are gonna hate. You seem predisposed to hate athletes. Put into context, fans of country western know Taylor Swift. Fans of American literature know Hemmingway. If you are associated with Penn State then you should know JoePa. It's a travesty if you do not. It's on par with not knowing who your congressmen are. For those who don't know Joe, point to the library on the main campus and tell them to do some research.
I'm predisposed to hate athletes? Hahahahaha. Good one.
My point was that not all employees of a university are sports fans and even if they are sports fans they may not be a fan of that university (see my example from when I worked at SU). If you worked in the athletic department, you should know JoePa. But there are many people who are associated with PSU that have probably never seen a PSU football game.
It's not like I'm putting words in your mouth. Re-read your post. About your time at Syracuse. Jesus!
I would agree with you if Joe and Sue Paterno hadn't donated over $5M to the university, thereby impacting lives way beyond the athletic dept.
I say Joe-Pa you say Ter-no...
In my house Joe Paterno was more popular than a sitting President. Both my parents knew about him through me and Italian cable stations that would broadcast shows on famous Italian Americans. If you asked my mom a question about the school he coached for (PSU) she would have a blank stare. My dad and I watched several PSU football games, especially when they played Rutgers.
I hate Syracuse athletics, not athletes. I am an athlete for eff sakes.
Their impact was absolutely felt beyond athletics, but I would say that most university employees wouldn't know most big donors (unless there was a building named after them) and even then they'd probably only know the last night and not be able to identify them based on their initials (which is what the OP was concerned about).
if it is any consolation, I was talking with a group of current students 2 weeks ago and mentioned "Nittanyville", they quickly corrected me and said it was "Paternoville"!! So all hope is not lost!!
I’ve spent most of my adult life in the Deep South and I can tell you that the average college football fan here is quite aware of JVP and his accomplishments. The overall prevailing opinion is that he received a raw deal and how could a school treat a legend so poorly. We put statues of great coaches up and keep them up.
According to all media outlets, it was Joe that was the Grand Spanier so your posts now make perfect sense.
