LaVar Arrington, the Penn State great and former NFL All-Pro linebacker, paid a visit to Lancaster County on Saturday as the guest at the Ephrata Lions Club’s 46th annual Sports Card Show and Auction, and he didn’t disappoint the hundreds of fans who came to the Ephrata recCenter to meet him.
What did they want to know?
Even 15 years on, many fans inquired what Arrington thought of the firing of longtime Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno in 2011 in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
“I’m very vocal with the entire situation,” Arrington said. “I don’t think people realize just how people look at all Penn State players and coaches as ‘guilty’ as a result of what happened and that’s the problem.”
Arrington continued: “Joe was there when the slogan ‘We Are’ began, and that has carried over today to everyone associated with Penn State whether good or bad.”
Arrington, a two-time All-America selection during his three seasons at Penn State (1997-99), wouldn’t say if he believed Paterno knew what was happening during Sandusky’s tenure, but is hurt by what happened and the fallout that is still happening to this day.
“It is well known that (former) Coach (James) Franklin couldn’t win the ‘big’ game,” Arrington said. “It was all part of the death sentence Penn State had. The loss of scholarships, no bowl games, etc. It was difficult.”
The three-time Pro Bowler, who was the second pick in the 2000 draft pick by Washington, credited Penn State’s leadership for opting to move on from Franklin.
“If a general is losing a war, do you allow him to continue?” Arrington asked. “Right or wrong, the leadership of Penn State had to step in and make a change.”
Arrington — whose son, LaVar Arrington II, is now a sophomore defensive end with the Nittany Lions — made his mark in the NFL during a career marred by injuries.
He finished with 417 tackles, 23.5 sacks and 38 pass deflections while scoring two defensive touchdowns in six seasons with Washington and one with the New York Giants.
In December 2014, the Big Ten Network included Arrington on “The Mount Rushmore of Penn State Football,” as chosen by online fan voting. Arrington was joined by John Cappelletti, Jack Ham and Shane Conlan.
He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Arrington’s signature play at Penn State came during a 27-0 win over Illinois at Beaver Stadium in 1998. On a fourth-and-short play, Arrington anticipated the snap count and jumped over the offensive line to tackle the runner in the backfield. The play became known as the “LaVar Leap.”
“I studied so much film,” Arrington said of his game-preparation process. “I pride myself in learning what a quarterback or running back might do. Sometimes by the way they moved their shoulder or nodded their head. I noticed a certain movement in (the Illinois quarterback’s) head and shoulder, so leaped and stopped the running play.”
Today Arrington is the host of several podcasts and is involved in working with the Penn State Alumni Association.
And, he said, “most of all I’m a husband and dad.”
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