Joe Paterno Said Some Supremely Ironic Things To The L.A. Times In 1987

In 1987, the L.A. Times ran a lengthy, largely laudatory feature on Joe Paterno. Considering certain recent revelations, there are a couple quotes that are awfully intriguing.

Paterno had this to say on the SMU death penalty:

"It's unbelievable to think that kind of corruption came right from the top of the power structure. The NCAA did what it had to do."

If you thought that was ironic, wait just a minute. Paterno said this at an NCAA convention, in response to accusations that new academic requirements were harmful to black student-athletes:

"We have raped a generation-and-a-half of young black athletes. We have taken kids and sold them on bouncing a ball and running with the football and that being able to do certain things athletically was going to be an end in itself.

"We cannot afford to do that to another generation."

IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS . . . : HE'S NOT AN AVERAGE JOE : Paterno Wants to Win—and Usually Does—but What Sets Him Apart From Many Football Coaches Is That He Won't Put Game Ahead of Academics, Integrity [LA Times]