This is the House that Joe Built

In homage to Joe Paterno.

This is the place where sportsmanship is more than a word.

This is the stadium where boo’s were not allowed to be heard.

This is the coach who put sports second to all we should learn.

This is the house that Joe built.

This is the town next door that thrives from its school.

This is the campus where honor is taught as the rule.

This is the man the media treated so cruel.

This is the house that Joe built.

This is the wing of the library named “Paterno” for him.

He prioritized learning far over a gym.

This is the light that now, will surely go dim.

This is the house that Joe built.

This is the icon who turned down money for heart.

This is Penn State, where he was proud to be part.

This is the school, which is state of the art.

This is the house that Joe built.

This is the man who proved imperfect and real.

He taught “Success with Honor” as a valid ideal.

This is the man we called leader, his loss we all feel.

This is the house that Joe built.

This is his lesson, to do what is right.

These are our banners, the blue and the white.

This is the man who taught us how to fight.

This is the house that Joe built.

When the icon took his last breath that he breathed,

And we all gather ’round to place candles and wreaths,

The Penn State community huddles close as we grieve,

To honor this, the house that Joe built.

We are alumni, half a million and growing.

We are Penn State, and our pride is still showing.

We are all broken; our tears are now flowing.

We are the house that Joe built.

Thank you, JoePa, for your leadership, influence and education.

We are all better for knowing you.

Thank you, Paterno family, for sharing this great man with us.