As much as I hate talking about controversial subjects (Pitt vs Penn State rivalry), I feel the need to bring this particular article up. If you were to ask anyone who knows me, knows that I am a die-hard Pittsburgh Panthers fan (I even stuck out the most recent Pitt Penn State game in 50-degree weather with freezing cold rain until the end). However, I completely disagree with this “#JoeKnew” hashtag. It is said in crowds, on t-shirts, on hats, and everywhere else you look. This is embarrassing as a Pitt fan that we use
“Joe Knew” as a statement against Penn State. I enjoy all college football, but little kids should not be harmed in the making of college football. Honestly, I am glad that Pitt Penn State will not be playing each other after next year because the game brings to much hate up between the two colleges. I understand that #JoeKnew is used as a funny (joke?) between Pitt and Penn State but think about the little kids that were abused for years upon years. If they heard this statement, do people really think this is funny? It comes to the point where enough is enough, football is just a game, and sexual harassment is not a game or funny. Although, Penn State fans can be annoying and rude, Pitt fans should not use “#JoeKnew” as a comeback against Penn State.
Sexual harassment against all ages, sexes, races, and demographics is terrible and not something that should be brought up (even as a joke). The song “Sweet Caroline” is sung in the third quarter during Pitt football games, and Pitt students always sing “Lets Go Pitt!” during the music, while no lyrics are being sung. Penn State fans sing “eat shit Pitt!” during the song. While I find that low of the fans, Pitt fans are not much better. “#JoeKnew” has the right intentions towards Penn State but to bring it up during a football game, not knowing who was affected by the hashtag, is wrong. During the most recent Pitt vs Penn State football game, September 8, snapchat actually had a filter that said “#JoeKnew”.
Pitt and Penn State are rivals, and we all want our team to crush the other team. To what extent though? Is it worth bringing up #Joe’s past…let alone to the victims? Why can’t college football just be an innocent game and fans just have fun and not bring up the past? As said before, I understand why Pitt fans say “#JoeKnew” because of what Jerry Sandusky and that’s actually why Penn State deserves to lose, but is a football game the place to remind the victims of what they went through?
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