Penn State Football Stadium Should Be Named After Joe Paterno [Poll Results]

A recent poll of Pennsylvania’s registered voters shows that 46 percent of the state’s citizens support renaming Penn State’s Beaver Stadium to “Joe Paterno Stadium.”

Joe Paterno died in January after he was fired as the football teams head coach following the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.

According to the Quinnipiac University survey 46 percent of the participants polled believe the stadium should be renamed while 40 percent were opposed to the idea.

Survey takers who strongly backed the idea described themselves as “very or somewhat interested” in college football.” Survey takers 65 and older also favored the name change.

As it stands at the moment Beaver Stadium is named after former Pennsylvania Governor James Beaver who served on the school’s board of trustees in the late 19th century.

The survey was given to 1,300 registered voters during six days in early February. According to the poll there is a plus or minus 2.8 percent margin of error.

Joe Paterno served as the head coach of the Nittany Lions for more than four decades and the Paterno family name is already attached to the schools library and spiritual life center.

University officials have already said they plan to memorialized Joe Paterno following his death from lung cancer.

While Paterno was fired from his position in November he was never formally charged with any crimes and he has never been considered a target for prosecutors.

In the meantime the Jerry Sandusky trial now looms with the 68-year-old heading to court in May to face charges that he molested 10 boys over a 15-year span.

Do you think Beaver Stadium should be renamed in honor of Joe Paterno?