Model of new Joe Paterno statue revealed, doesn't include a bench as originally planned

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Zeno Frudakis' clay rendering of how he hopes to build a new Joe Paterno statue in downtown State College.

(Kim Intorre)

The sculptor planning to build a statue of Joe Paterno in downtown State College revealed a model of "Joe's Bench" on Thursday – but the model includes no such bench.

"At one point, we had a design that had Joe seated on a bench," Kim Intorre, one of the leaders of the project, said in a press release. "But Zenos [Frudakis] made it clear, Joe was never seated. He was always on the move."

A clay rendering of the project shows that instead of being seated on a bench holding a book, former Penn State coach Paterno will be standing on a base that has yardlines on it. The statue is expected to be built in Centennial Walkway outside popular State College restaurant, The Tavern.

Frudakis explained his decision on the group's website, saying "I felt the bench was a 'cliché,' and Joe was not a cliché. Anyone can sit on a bench, there are many statues with people sitting on a bench, Joe was an active individual, and he was not a bench warmer."

The statue, which is not meant to be a replacement for the one formerly outside Beaver Stadium that was torn down in July 2012, is expected to cost around $300,000. So far, an online fundraiser has raised about $25,000. Penn State isn't involved in the construction of the statue

The statue is expected to be unveiled by Nov. 9, 2015 -- the four-year anniversary of Paterno's firing.

Paterno, who was the winningest coach in Division 1 football history before more than 100 of his wins were stripped by the NCAA, was fired by Penn State's Board of Trustees just days after former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was indicted on charges he sexually abused boys. Sandusky was convicted in 2012.

Shortly after, a university-commissioned report was penned by former FBI director Louis Freeh and implicated Paterno, along with other administrators, in an alleged coverup of the sexual abuse. After the Freeh Report dropped in July 2012, the Paterno statue on campus that used to sit outside Beaver Stadium was torn down by the university.

Some commenters on the group's Facebook page weren't so happy with the change in direction:

Rose Stepnick wrote: There was a Joe that stopped on his was home from the stadium to talk to us and ask how class was going. Are we working hard. He was the educator Joe. The dad Joe. The example Joe who made sure we kept our priorities straight. He carried a brief case. Let him sit and talk to us again.

Christine Bahry wrote: I donated to the film even though I don't think we need another film. The money I donated on indiegogo was for the sculpture and I made that clear to Kim at the time. The Joe's BENCH sculpture -- every day Joe -- not football Joe walking the sidelines. I've said it before and will say it again -- we ALREADY have football Joe, we just need to get him back out of storage.

Chris Morris wrote: I'm not opposed to this, but I really wanted it to show Joe for who he was, and all he did for us *AWAY* from the football field. He did sit on benches like a real human after all. As big of a football fan as I am, I really wanted it NOT to be about football, and I think Joe would too. Maybe let the Paterno family decide?

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