Penn State's tribute to Mike Mauti: Too much?
Glorifying just one player -- essentially putting him on a pedestal -- seems misguided. Mike Mauti wasn't the only player who stepped up this summer.
Penn State's tribute to Mike Mauti: Too much?
There is no way to describe what Mike Mauti means to this Penn State team. He gave the program a backbone this summer when all seemed disjointed, everyone seemed dejected and perhaps everything was at brink of falling apart. He convinced underclassmen to stay. He lead by example,playing gritty, determined football every game this season - that is, until this game.
When Mauti left the Indiana game with a knee injury, it was a cruel ending to an epic collegiate career. Really, Mauti is the stuff of legends. The linebacker is a quiet leader. He doesn’t like the attention. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, but he plays with class. He embodies every positive trait Penn Staters pride themselves in; Success with Honor, the whole 100 yards.
Penn State is playing today with No. 42 on their helmets, to honor Mauti whose collegiate career, barring a surprising petition for a sixth year of eligibility, is over. The “42” is large and blue and takes up pretty much the entire left side of the helmet. In a sweet gesture, senior linebacker Gerald Hodges changed his jersey to No. 42 today to honor his good friend. The helmet decals are a way for the senior to be on the field with his teammates without actually playing.
A nice tribute. According to a Penn State spokesperson, it was suggested by the team. But doesn’t it seem a bit much? He didn’t die. His football career is not over. He can still rehab and has prospects for a long and successful career in the NFL. He is just missing one game.
Glorifying just one player -- essentially putting him on a pedestal -- seems misguided. Mauti wasn’t the only player who stepped up this summer. He wasn’t the only senior who called and texted underclassmen. He wasn’t the only player to keep an even keel, persevere through unprecedented adversity and leave everything out on the field. The tribute seems like something Mauti, one of the most modest athletes you'll ever come across, would not sign off on. He'd be the first person to stress that football is a team sport and Penn State's success was a team effort.
Before the game, Penn State unveiled blue letters that read “2012” above the section on the East end of Beaver Stadium, the equivalent of the rafters at a basketball arena. It sits next to the year 2008, 2005, 1994 and 1986. In total, there are 15 other years there. They represent all of Penn State’s undefeated or championship seasons. With that, the university is saying this season is just as important, just as special.
There are more than 100 players on this year’s team that contributed to that, including 30 seniors who were honored before the game. Each played a role, not just Mauti. Penn State’s motto this season is “One Team” not “One Player.” What does everyone else think of the Mauti tribute? Comment below.
Comments (52)
Emily, you are totally missing the point of what Mike Muati's Penn State teammates are doing, and why they are doing it. This is something that you do because your gut tells you it's the right thing to do, because there's a fire inside of you that drives you. I get the impression that you've never been a part of something that's bigger and more important to you than yourself, and can't possible relate to what is in the hearts of this Penn State team. Sorry.— fentonhardy- I like the tribute. Mauti is Penn State!
By the way, did they unveil "Two Thousand Twelve" or "2012?" If it was the latter, those are numbers not letters.— Penfold18 
I could not agree more with Fenton. I don't know who Kaplan is, but I suspect she spends more of her week in Philly than in State College. Bill O'Brien has hit every right note through the past year and I'm more inclined to trust his emotional pitch than Kaplan's sniping.- OK. I just read her bio and I guess she DOES spend most of her week in State College. She just sounds like she spends it somewhere else.
- This comment has been deleted.— GrindHouse
- There is no room here for your vulgar racisist anti semetic comments...PIG — bull****meter
- The perfect end to a trying season for the school, team, alumni, and fans. Stop rabble rousing just to get a reaction from the faithful. We are..........— RH
- This comment has been deleted.— GrindHouse
- Grindhouse,
You are a classless immature toad.
— RH - Emily-take a hike.After all PSU has been thru this year you would think you could find something positive to write about. It was a TREMENDOUS season thanks to ALL. Go PSU!!— philsfansince1946
- Emily, you are correct, Michael Mauti would not want to be recognized except as part of the team; but, it was the team that wanted this tribute. It is hard for folks to understand what this team accomplished this year, and Mike Mauti was the heart & soul and leader of this team.— Bigbirch
- I'm not sure how you can cover a team all season and not understand the importance of Mauti to the team. Also, it seems that in Kaplan's short time at the Inquirer, she has quickly adopted their biases against Penn State. Not a good way to start your journalism career.— Penfold18
- @GrindHouse you are classless so shut up. Emily, Mauti is the emotional leader of this team and the team chose to honor him in this way. That is their prerogative and a very nice gesture.— joemotrucks
- I've been a a Penn State fan since Rip Engle was the coach.Over the years,there have been lots of great names ,lots of great victories,too.Mike Mauti now joins that list of great names & going forward,there might not be a bigger name.— Yankee Air Pirate 12
- At first I questioned the tribute, but you are right Mauti, will be spoken of fondly for decades... And probably never have to buy a drink in State College. — Souperdad
- Women sports writers don't get it. Pink ribbons or shoes are OK but saying thanks to a guy is "too much." Get a life and cover women's beach volleyball.— johnroberts
- I loved it. Was it a motivator? I think so!— Norm3
- The 2012 is being honored at the end of the stadium, but to honor the year is to honor something abstract. It makes perfect sense, that in honoring Mauti, the players picked one face who personified the trials and toughness of this season, and how they persevered (even when Mauti could not physically play) till the end. Nice job, Penn State!— Robman
- Nice piece Emily. I'm swimming against the tide with the other posters, but I think that you're spot on in your assessment.
And sorry about the few cretins lurking anonymously out there who post such vile and offensive crud. I'm sure their mothers would be so proud.— FishFryFrank - This comment has been deleted.— GrindHouse
- You, sir, are sick and probably projecting your own sublimated desires on a reporter. — johnroberts
- Great win. Emily, yes, you missed the point. Some men like Mauti represent the team effort, they embody it. Don't knock it. All those guys looked up to their captain and respected what he did help glue together to splintered pieces of Penn State football. I know it's only a game, but I was proud of all those involved today, and for this year. I'm in court for abused children during the week and glad that I can take the time on the weekends to extend a tradition that goes back to a simpler time.— retzlaff
- Is it a requirement to be a miserable, judgmental, arrogant, condescending jerk to be in the print media, or merely preferred? How ANYONE could even think to make an issue of this is beyond me. Congratulaitons, Emily. You're officially as obnoxious as most of your male colleagues.— bill_atkin,s
- Emily, After reading that article all I can think is, WOW, you just don't get it. Maulti isn't dead? Really? As a 32yr State College resident from Philly, you haven't a clue. With what this program went thru this year, his leadership was something historic in my years of following PSU football. You can actually find fault with the team honoring him with his number? Did you watch the game and see the motivation he tried to provide from the sideline? Time to switch majors kid.— tomdrum7
- Wow what abunch of classless ignorant beings. I'd apologize Emily but I'm afraid it's too little tto late. I couldn't agree with you more. If anyone should have been honored today it should have been Jordan Hill and all he's done in his entire career. But I guess actual domination on the field takes a back seat to emotional leadership at PSU. Maybe these "fans" actually deserve three more years of football purgatory.— JLH
- Emily, your reasoning is bad. Mauti has been a leader of the team and helped to hold it toggether along with other seniors like Zordich. Maybe you don't know it but Mauti was injured last week andcouldn't play. This tribute was from a team that recognized a great teammate and leader.— Drumgoole
- there is no room for this vulgar slop on Philly.com..Why wasn't Gridhouse banned? HE is a disrespectful PIG— bull****meter
- Rid this page of the filth spewed by grindhouse.Bettter editing required or rid the columns of comments..please— bull****meter
- I tend to agree with Ms. Kaplan. When I heard of the tribute, I thought it was a bit too over-the-top because Mauti isn't down for the count. His enthusiasm on the sidelines shows he has a lot invested in the team and is respected by the players and coaches, but his number on helmets? Too much. I sincerely wish JVP had been scrawled on the helmets of the seniors.— Izzie
- This is why women should not cover and write about football. The inverse would be men trying to write about giving birth. Regardless of how much you may think you know about it, you are still untterly clueless.— Bluegrass Funk
- I agree with Emily 100%, and I am a HUGE PSU fan! What don't you people get? The problems at PSU happened because of the culture and worship of Joe Paterno. I loved JoePa, but he was the reason everything got covered up. He had way too much power. There is no waythey should have put a single player's number on their helmets. Not that I would even agree with this, but at l east ust put it on the uniform shoulder, not the helmet! The helmet represents that team! And she is right, you put numbers on uniforms for players that have passed. Emily I am sorry you have to deal with the disgusting comments on here. But I guess if you stick to journalism, you have to learn to have thick skin. Philly.com stinks.— carlosbeltran
- PSU's team had to suffer the need for the NCAA to get it's pound of flesh for the Sandusky deeds, even though nobody associated with the team now had anything to do with his sick conduct. The kids that play football there now were about 8 years old when the infamous 'shower incident' occurred. Mauti was able to keep a team together and be a leader in the most adverse circumstances a football team can suffer. His teammates wanted to honor him that way, that should tell you all you need to know.— drbob1
- I have to disagree Carlos on more than one account. Not only do you seem to fail to grasp the big picture that it was more about showing respect and creating unity than putting a player on a pedestal, but your comment about JoePa is as crude as some of the others posted here. Not only is JoePa dead and cannot defend himself but he was crucified up until the day he died and every day thereafter ... without due process (key phrase) AND a district attorney chose to
not press charges and then went missing (key word). If you want to profess facts, at least call it like it is instead of being blinded by misguided emotion and parroting the shameful reporting that went on.— Bluegrass Funk - Yes, the point was missed. If you've ever been part of a close sports team, you know why the players did what they did. Sounds like you've got the makings of a great sideline reporter.— echosmyron
- It's their team, Emily. This wasn't something the marketing department conjured up. But there you sit, at a keyboard second guessing the team's decision. That's what I hate about sports "journalism".— Cville
- You obviously never played a team sport to post this story! So you have to die now to get respect?— twpman
- Emily-- you seem a bit clueless. The tribute wasn't for you (or any other reporter), it wasn't even for the fans. It was a tribute that the players decided to offer not only for Michael but for all those seniors who stayed. It was emblematic of the commitment exemplified by all those who chose to stay and represent the best of what Penn State football embodies. Michael Mauti and Michale Zordich where the leaders (acknowledged by all players). MM couldn't play. It was an appropriate and significant tribute, but Emily the fact that you don't get it, simply indicates, you really don't get it.— sgn1255
- Whether by design or accident the gesture was a motivator for a team that was considered down an out from the beginning and the underdog going into this game. This team led by these seniors never asked for anything other than the opportunity to play football together for the university that they loved. None have asked for recognition or lamented the situation that others put them in. So if the seniors, who made the request, decide to honor their leader then who are we to judge them? They upset Wisconsin in OT! Who knows but if that 42 on the helmets fueled the extra effort that gave Sam Ficken the extra 5 yards needed to squeeze the winning field goal through the uprights. A stretch maybe but who even gave this team a chance for a winning season let alone 8-4? The answer is these young men with the hearts of lions.— Lion4ever
- I wonder if the fall intern position gets hazard pay for dealing with Philly sports fans. Hers is a valid argument. His number on the helmets seems a little over the top. I could see a gesture like this following Adam Taliaferro's devastating on-field injury. But if there's anyone who has defined the post-scandal Penn State it would be Mauti.— slovak34
- Emily, good for you for writing about sports. Your resume shows that you have covered quite a bit in your young life. I don't know if you've actually ever played team sports, because this tribute to Mike Mauti would not even have been a "story". This young man stands out as a leader among other great young men. With the emotionally charged season that this team had, it is natural and admirable to have honored Mike in this way.— lutheegirl
- Idol worship is alive and well in State College. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Sad state of affairs.— jvwowls86
- "But doesn’t it seem a bit much? He didn’t die." What a classy comment. You'll fit in perfectly with the miserable old drunks in sports print journalism.— bill_atkin,s
- I agree with the article I think the "tribute" to Mauti was more because he has shown himself to be a true apostle of the church of JoePA more then his play. That with the 2012 as one of the "greatest" PSU team just shows that nothing has changed up there. It's all about football, idol worship and a university whose identity is soley the football team.— jd587
- JD587, you show your bias by the sheer illogic that you display by saying "that with the 2012 as one of the "greatest" PSU team [SIC] just shows that nothing has changed up there. It's all about football, idol worship and a university whose identity is soley [SIC] the football team".
How many universities do you know that would recognize a team with 4 losses as one of its greatest football teams? Obviously the accomplishments on and off of the field were taken into account heavily. If you look at Penn State's academic accomplishments honestly, without bias, you could not possibly accuse its identity as being solely the football team.
— train2965 - Whatever his teammates want to do is fine. That is between them and him. But the TV coverage of the whole thing was outrageous. He got more air time than did players making the big plays in the game. The TV coverage throughout the game was all about him. Whoever the TV producer that was responsible for making him the game needs to be fired.— Kioto
- Nice article. Typical responses from some people whose loyalty to the program has prevented them from engaging in rational thought or discussion. Has then been a "normal" year for Penn State? Of course not. Yes the players were penalized for no wrongdoing of their own and Mauti was obviously a huge leader for the team. However I think there is some perspective needed. Mauti misses his last home game of his collegiate career, certainly a tough break. But lets pretend this guy is never going to play football again or that his life was going to be changed forever due to this injury. Putting 42 on the helmet seemed a little overkill.
I don't remember Eric Legrand from Rutgers having his number cover the helmet after being PARALYZED in a game. A simple message "believe" above the facemask where it normally says Riddell or whatever was used. Newsflash, lots of seniors who are leaders get hurt and miss their last games. However you rarely ever see any "tribute" to this extent in football. So yes, it's a fair question to ask.— kp81 - It should have been a small decal on the back of the helmet. It was 10x the size of the Child Abuse ribbon. Once again it shows the "Idol"-ism that occurs at PSU. Eric Legrand at Rutgers was PARALYZED! They didn't pay tribute with numbers that take up they whole side of the helmet. The size of the "42" decal is the only thing that is bothering everyone, and rightfully so.— Mikey Fresh
- So, will O'Brien be the Eagles coach next year?— bobcitydoc
- Great season of overcoming adversity! This article is a negative reach. The leadership demonstrated by this young group of men is admirable!— mlogan49
- Where are my comments ?— frank castle
- It is so ironic, Emily Kaplan is one of the biggest defenders of Penn State and the Nittany Lions football team. Yet if she dares question anything, she is immediately denounced by commenters here who question her involvement at PSU, her loyalty, etc. This is the root of the problem with the PSU football community. If you question anything, you are branded a "traitor." It doesn't matter if you are asking a question, standing up for a principle, or challenging an assumption. What happens is you are either an unquestioning disciple of "the program," or you are branded as somehow not loyal to PSU. That is nothing less than a CULT, and cult mentality. This is the real challenge that must be learned from the PSU Scandal. It is sad that no one in the PA media gets it. Or perhaps that don't DARE say the truth.— psuchildrights
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About this blog
Joe Juliano has been a staff writer for The Inquirer for 20 years, covering college sports, golf and the Penn Relays.
This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.
Emily Kaplan is the Inquirer’s fall intern covering the Nittany Lions. She is a senior at Penn State and has covered a variety of sports for the university’s student-run paper, The Daily Collegian. Over the last two years, she has reported for The Associated Press from State College.
A Montclair, N.J. native, she has also interned at MLB Network, NHL.com and covered the 2012 Olympics in London. Follow her on Twitter here @EKaplan24.
Joe Juliano
This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.
Emily Kaplan is the Inquirer’s fall intern covering the Nittany Lions. She is a senior at Penn State and has covered a variety of sports for the university’s student-run paper, The Daily Collegian. Over the last two years, she has reported for The Associated Press from State College.
A Montclair, N.J. native, she has also interned at MLB Network, NHL.com and covered the 2012 Olympics in London. Follow her on Twitter here @EKaplan24.
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