On Joe Paterno's Birthday, Hundreds Of Former Penn State Players Sign Letter Pledging Support

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 12: Penn State fans leave notes for Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium after the Penn State vs. Nebraska NCAA football game in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal on November 12, 2011 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State lost their final home game 17-14 to Nebraska. Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno was fired amid allegations that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was involved with child sex abuse. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Former Penn State football players pen a collective letter pleading for the public not to judge the school or coach Joe Paterno before all the facts are out.

Dec 21, 2011 - With former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno turning 85 on Wednesday, a group of his former players and coaches have penned a collective letter in the apparent hopes of lifting his spirit. It is signed "The Penn State Football Family" and had more than 400 signatures.

While acknowledging the disgusting allegations against Jerry Sandusky, the letter asks that the public not judge Paterno nor the entire institution before all the facts are out. It also goes to great lengths to point out that Penn State is much bigger than Paterno. Here is an excerpt:

Having known Coach Paterno for many years, we can say with certainty that Joe Paterno is a remarkable man and that Penn State is a remarkable institution. Joe has had a profound effect on the lives of almost every member of the Penn State family. Joe has taught Penn State faith, fairness, philanthropy and the importance of academic excellence - all values that make Penn State a great institution today.

Penn State's new president recently said that he wants the university to be known as a great research institution. In fact, the institution that Joe helped build is much larger than a single coach or team. Penn State is 94,300 students on 24 campuses. We are Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Dickinson School of Law and Smeal College of Business. We are the world's largest dues-paying alumni association. We are home of the world's largest student run philanthropic organization. We are the University that has raised over $500,000, to date, for victims of child abuse during its darkest hour.

We are much more than just one man or one sport. We are a great research institution today and a university that prepares all of its graduates for success in many different fields.

Related: Jerry Sandusky fallout, replacing Joe Paterno, and Penn State's movement to support sexual abuse survivors. For more on the Nittany Lions, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries. More college football news.