Johnstown native's gift to PSU blocks Paterno field-naming talk
The university announced March 10 that Pennsylvania businessman William 'B.J.' Werzyn and his company, West Shore Home, would pay $50 million for naming rights at Penn State's football venue. When the Nittany Lions host Nevada in their Aug. 30 opener, they will be doing so on West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
Werzyn, a 1999 Penn State graduate, grew up in Johnstown. His company is headquartered in Mechanicsburg.
'Penn State is a special place that is developing our future leaders,' Werzyn said in a company news release. 'West Shore Home, my family and I are proud to help advance this critical mission.'
And that means the mission of attaching Paterno's name to that field is halted – which might be why the trustees chose to act quickly and cash Werzyn's check. The West Shore Home naming rights deal is for 15 years. It's been nearly 14 years since the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal ended Paterno's coaching career and permanently tarnished his reputation.
In an interview with ex-NFL player and broadcaster Ross Tucker, Werzyn said: 'I hope most people do understand that getting Paterno's name on the field probably wasn't going to happen or be a reality, so this was the absolute best thing for the football team, for the athletic department and the university.'
He's right. Paterno's name on the field at Beaver Stadium or any other element of the football program can't happen – now or ever.
Paterno will be forever linked to the scandal that rocked Penn State and the football program in 2011.
Sandusky was convicted on 44 counts the following summer and remains in the state prison system despite numerous attempts to get him a new trial.
Paterno died of cancer in early 2012. He had called the allegations against his former assistant coach 'one of the great sorrows of my life.'
'Build a strong future'
Along with the naming-rights donation, West Shore Home announced an 'enhanced partnership with Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology' that will provide internships for students at the growing home-remodeling company.
In April 2023, Penn State's Lion Legacy Club reported a two-year partnership with West Shore Home and MITER Brands – a 'seven-figure commitment' – to support name-image-likeness (NIL) efforts on behalf of Nittany Lions players.
Werzyn's investment in sports goes beyond his alma mater and football. In February, West Shore Home announced a sponsorship agreement with the PGA Tour's Max Greyserman, who had six top-10 finishes in 2024, his first year on the tour.
In announcing the stadium naming news, Penn State Athletic Director Patrick Kraft said: 'As an alumnus of our great university and a business owner in central Pennsylvania, B.J. understands the critical role that Beaver Stadium plays in our community, as well as the importance of preserving the great traditions of Penn State while helping us build a strong future.'
Frankly, Werzyn and his company deserved better than to have their moment of generosity upstaged by those who can't let Paterno rest in peace.
'Benefit of hindsight'
Even as the naming-rights move was being finalized, Penn State trustee Anthony Lubrano was leading the charge on behalf of the Paterno family, and called the university's decision to not rename the stadium's playing surface Paterno Field 'the ultimate betrayal.'
As reported by StateCollege.com's Seth Engle, Lubrano told his fellow trustees: 'This is a very sad and sobering day in the history of Penn State. Today, for many of us, the music dies. Today, the Penn State we know and love is no more ...'
Lubrano said the trustees were 'about to turn our backs on' Joe and Sue Paterno and 'for a few silver pieces, we're about to sell our soul.'
At that March 10 trustees meeting, as reported by StateCollege.com, Lubrano was joined in opposition to the 'West Shore Home Field' decision by fellow trustees Ted Brown, Suzan Collins, Daniel Delligatti, Barry Fenchak, Matt McGloin, Jay Paterno and Brandon Short. Delligatti, McGloin, Short and Jay Paterno all played for Joe Paterno.
StateCollege.com reported that McGloin told fellow trustees that they 'were 'trying to erase' Joe Paterno's legacy' by not naming the field for the man who was college football's winningest coach when the scandal broke.
Paterno was never accused of mistreating children himself. But as the head of an organization struck by scandal, he will carry forever the label of the leader who failed to act when it mattered most.
Paterno likely sealed his legacy's fate on Nov. 9, 2011, when he said: 'With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.'
With the benefit of hindsight, Penn State could not put his name on the Beaver Stadium field.
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