Penn State’s Joe Paterno up for Medal of Freedom

It would be hard to find a more respected football coach than Penn State’s Joe Paterno. The legendary coach who faces the Alabama Crimson Tide September 11 in Tuscaloosa was nominated for the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom.

According to the AP, “Congressmen including Glenn Thompson, Mark Critz and Tim Holden say the Hall of Fame coach deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to the Nittany Lions, the university and the State College community. Their nomination letter to President Barack Obama says Paterno personifies sportsmanship on the field and academic achievement in the classroom while also noting Paterno’s philanthropic efforts.”