We see clips of Joe Paterno’s statue being removed from Beaver Stadium’s doorstep. Through a phone call from his Pennsylvania prison, Sandusky himself speaks with an ESPN reporter and maintains his innocence. Other tidbits within the documentary, although entertaining, repeat storylines we know ad nauseam. However, little substance in the film’s interviews sheds light on anything new. Their words are meaningful, though, and to hear them speak directly about the scandal is a rare occurrence - especially when Spanier and Schultz both say they regret not acting on initial reports of Sandusky’s abuses. Each interview is short, and you’d likely be hard-pressed to find many new details to latch on to if you’re even briefly familiar with the high-profile case. Other interviews with Gary Schultz, Penn State’s former vice president, and Aaron Fisher, the first victim to speak out against Sandusky’s abuse, add a bit of context, too. We hear directly from former President Graham Spanier, for example, who reflects on the tumultuous period of Penn State’s past, all while having an ankle monitor strapped on under his dress pants.
While the production value is high, the beginning of ESPN’s documentary tells a familiar story we’ve seen many times before: Joe Paterno was revered, the Sandusky scandal broke, and Penn State suffered in disgrace.Īs “The Paterno Legacy” spends most of its time rehashing the same tale we’ve heard for a decade on end, it does so through some brief but fresh perspectives. Nearly half of “The Paterno Legacy” summarizes the Sandusky scandal and its lasting effects, including the state’s initial prosecution, Sandusky’s quick trial, and Paterno’s firing and decline in health. Although “The Paterno Legacy” is well made and deeply sourced, it fails to offer new information that would help viewers at home ponder Paterno’s place at Penn State today. Throughout the roughly 45-minute documentary, ESPN’s team doesn’t meaningfully explore Paterno’s legacy, instead offering brief interviews with key figures and metaphorical shoulder shrugs when tasked with answering any lingering questions.
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