--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can never be like it was at Penn State…" description: "\"We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.\" — James Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/james-brown-8670_anomalies_we-can-never-be-like-it-was-at-penn-stat_1400087.png" --- # We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe… ![“We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.” quote by James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/james-brown-8670_anomalies_we-can-never-be-like-it-was-at-penn-stat_1400087.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/james-brown-8670_anomalies_we-can-never-be-like-it-was-at-penn-stat_1400087.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb2/james-brown-8670_anomalies_we-can-never-be-like-it-was-at-penn-stat_1400087.png) > “We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.” [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that the Joe Paterno era was a unique anomaly, implying it cannot be replicated. **In simple terms:** The Paterno period was a singular, unrepeatable event. Key Takeaway Accept that some historical moments are unique and not reproducible. Themes historical uniqueness sports culture legacy Mood nostalgic analytical Type historical reflective When to use this quote - college athletics - public relations - media analysis Key Concepts sports history institutional memory leadership Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can be learned from that anomaly? - How should institutions prevent similar singularities? A Different Perspective Idealizing past eras may ignore underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anomalies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anomalies/) [Anomaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anomaly/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [Once Joe Paterno learned that his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was showering with a young boy in the Penn State football locker room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/once-joe-paterno-learned-that-his-former-assistant-coach-jerry/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [For me, personally, it means a lot beating a legend like B.J. Penn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/for-me-personally-it-means-a-lot-beating-a-legend-like-b-j-penn/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [From now on, anyone raped at Penn State should just tell Joe Paterno's statue. It couldn't help you any less than the real Joe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/from-now-on-anyone-raped-at-penn-state-should-just-tell-joe-paterno-s/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [We also want to make sure Penn State becomes a national leader in this whole area of child abuse prevention and treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/we-also-want-to-make-sure-penn-state-becomes-a-national-leader-in/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [Since its founding in 1854, Penn State has proven to be a leading institution of higher learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/since-its-founding-in-1854-penn-state-has-proven-to-be-a-leading/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [Penn State is a leader in food science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/penn-state-is-a-leader-in-food-science/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [Penn State in 1955 became the first university to be issued a federal license to operate a nuclear reactor, which it continues to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/penn-state-in-1955-became-the-first-university-to-be-issued-a-federal/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [Penn State was an awesome school. When I went and visited there, I was like 'Alright, I want to spend four years of college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/penn-state-was-an-awesome-school-when-i-went-and-visited-there-i-was/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [I've had a wonderful experience here at Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-ve-had-a-wonderful-experience-here-at-penn-state/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Penn State has made me into the person I am today. I've been surrounded and taught by so many people there. That university makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/penn-state-has-made-me-into-the-person-i-am-today-i-ve-been/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [The 150th anniversary of Penn State will highlight what is important and good about this distinguished institution and the fine people and research that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/the-150th-anniversary-of-penn-state-will-highlight-what-is-important/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [I'm from Pennsylvania. I grew up watching Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/i-m-from-pennsylvania-i-grew-up-watching-penn-state/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [It was a great experience at Penn State. I could not have asked for anything more from Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/it-was-a-great-experience-at-penn-state-i-could-not-have-asked-for/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [I have a graduate degree from Penn State. I studied at Penn State under a noted Hemingway scholar, Philip Young. I had an interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/i-have-a-graduate-degree-from-penn-state-i-studied-at-penn-state/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [One out of every eight Pennsylvanians and one in every 720 people in the United States, as well as one out of every 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/one-out-of-every-eight-pennsylvanians-and-one-in-every-720-people-in/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) ## More by James Brown > [I used to think like Moses. That knocked me down for a couple years and put me in prison. Then I start thinking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-used-to-think-like-moses-that-knocked-me-down-for-a-couple-years/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Get on up, stay on the scene, get on up, like a sex machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/get-on-up-stay-on-the-scene-get-on-up-like-a-sex-machine/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Got ants in my pants and I need to dance, so big fine mama, come give me a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/got-ants-in-my-pants-and-i-need-to-dance-so-big-fine-mama-come-give/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Retire for what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is helping. I'm like Moses in the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/retire-for-what-what-would-i-do-i-made-my-name-as-a-person-that-is/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don't go to church to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-trying-to-do-one-thing-bring-people-joy-just/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I'm kidding about having only a few dollars. I might have a few dollars more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-m-kidding-about-having-only-a-few-dollars-i-might-have-a-few/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [It's a Man's Man's Man's World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/it-s-a-man-s-man-s-man-s-world/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I've been knocked down a lot of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-ve-been-knocked-down-a-lot-of-times/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Sometimes I feel like I'm a preacher as well, 'cause I can really get into an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/sometimes-i-feel-like-i-m-a-preacher-as-well-cause-i-can-really-get/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [You got to use what you got to get just what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/you-got-to-use-what-you-got-to-get-just-what-you-want/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-don-t-want-nobody-to-give-me-nothing-open-up-the-door-i-ll-get-it/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I'm the most sampled and stolen. What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine, too... I got a song about that... But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-m-the-most-sampled-and-stolen-what-s-mine-is-mine-and-what-s-yours/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I had to tell about my colonic, which expresses the fact why I'm so neat today as opposed to a few years ago. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-had-to-tell-about-my-colonic-which-expresses-the-fact-why-i-m-so/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Take those kids and raise them up, teach them how to drink out of a righteous cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/take-those-kids-and-raise-them-up-teach-them-how-to-drink-out-of-a/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-trying-to-do-one-thing-bring-people-joy/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) [Explore all 79 James Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) ## More Anomalies quotes > [It is an anomaly that information, the one thing most necessary to our survival as choosers of our own way, should be a commodity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/it-is-an-anomaly-that-information-the-one-thing-most-necessary-to-our/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [I'm definitely an anomaly, but I'm making things. They're selling, say, martinis, and I'm kind of making vintage Riesling. People aren't going to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/i-m-definitely-an-anomaly-but-i-m-making-things-they-re-selling-say/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [An anomaly is not an abnormality. Diversity does not signify sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-canguilhem/an-anomaly-is-not-an-abnormality-diversity-does-not-signify-sickness/) [Georges Canguilhem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-canguilhem/) > [I see that women still have self-doubt, and at the same time I feel like I see all these fantastic young women, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/i-see-that-women-still-have-self-doubt-and-at-the-same-time-i-feel/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [“It's in the anomalies that nature reveals its secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-s-in-the-anomalies-that-nature-reveals-its-secrets/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [For me, I want to see diversity in storytelling sources because we live in a very diverse society, and the stories are for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-shelton/for-me-i-want-to-see-diversity-in-storytelling-sources-because-we/) [Lynn Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-shelton/) > [Religion itself is an absurdity and an anomaly, and paganism is acceptable only because it represents that purely orgiastic phase of religion farthest from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/religion-itself-is-an-absurdity-and-an-anomaly-and-paganism-is/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist-- I don't think she'd be missed--I'm sure she'd not be missed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/and-that-singular-anomaly-the-lady-novelist-i-don-t-think-she-d-be/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [Auditioning for television shows - to find a guy who has a lot of experience as a laborer is a bit of an anomaly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/auditioning-for-television-shows-to-find-a-guy-who-has-a-lot-of/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [Writing is, in the end, that oddest of anomalies: an intimate letter to a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/writing-is-in-the-end-that-oddest-of-anomalies-an-intimate-letter-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Anomaly is when you don't fit the expected norm. Like "wait what is this?! It doesn't belong here." Its what the system never planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/anomaly-is-when-you-don-t-fit-the-expected-norm-like-wait-what-is/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [When circumstances defy order, order should bend or break: anomalies and uncertainties give validity to architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-venturi/when-circumstances-defy-order-order-should-bend-or-break-anomalies/) [Robert Venturi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-venturi/) > [In any long string of letters, one can find countless anomalies that will seem like convincing proofs of hidden meaning to the mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/in-any-long-string-of-letters-one-can-find-countless-anomalies-that/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [In a noted 1943 Harvard study, there were no cases of toxemia, congenital anomalies, or neonatal deaths among a group of well-fed woman. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brewer/in-a-noted-1943-harvard-study-there-were-no-cases-of-toxemia/) Tom Brewer > [And knowing what happens on average is a good place to start. By so doing, we insulate ourselves from the tendency to build our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-knowing-what-happens-on-average-is-a-good-place-to-start-by-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 102 Anomalies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anomalies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. 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