Franco Harris, Other Nittany Lions ‘Appalled’ at DeAndre Levy’s ‘Pride in Breaking Paterno’s Leg’ Comments

On Monday we brought you the story of DeAndre Levy, the Detroit Lions linebacker who told Men’s Journal he fondly recalls accidentally breaking Joe Paterno’s leg during a 2006 college football game as the “proudest moment” of his college career.

Levy, who also called Paterno a “dirt bag,” made the comment to express disgust with Paterno, who he believes mishandled the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State. Levy followed the rant with a column in The Detroit Free Press, where he wrote, “Any person or institution, Joe Paterno included, that turns away from or fails to act against sexual assault is a ‘dirtbag.’”

Levy’s harsh words brought forth a response from 21 former Nittany Lions, with Hall of Famer Franco Harris among them in an e-mail to the paper. The players wrote, “We find the recent statement by DeAndre Levy about Coach Paterno appalling, along with the silence that has accompanied it. To joyfully and proudly take credit for hurting a defenseless human being is sad, in and of itself.

“But, to couple this gleeful statement with a willful ignorance of the facts and circumstances surrounding our coach speaks to a complete lack of character and moral integrity on the part of Mr. Levy. Mr. Levy’s comments reflect poorly on him, his university, the Detroit Lions and the NFL, and are certainly deserving of vocal condemnation.”

Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter: @themightygwinn