Joe Paterno

[rcjunkie]

Why did the 22 year old man(GA) who saw the incident not report it to the police instead of calling his father? Even more troubling is why did this man not come to the aid of the child immediately? While Jo Pa is not blameless, I have more issue with the spineless GA.

You seriously have more of an issue with a 22 year old GA rather than an 80 plus year old Head Coach that owns Penn State, WOW!

[Jersey Boss]

You seriously have more of an issue with a 22 year old GA rather than an 80 plus year old Head Coach that owns Penn State, WOW!

Yeah, you bet I have more issue with the man who witnessed the act versus the guy who got the story second hand. Who was in the position to directly intervene and whose testimony would get this guy convicted, the eye witness or the one who got a second hand story? The GA, a former pro football player, was in a position to take Sandusky down and come to the aid of the child. I am not going to judge accountability on the basis of name recognition.

[ou48A]

This is not to excuse any wrong doing……
I’m going to guess that Sandusky had firsthand knowledge of things that would have been serious NCAA violations and that most of the key people at Penn St knew it and because of this they were willing to look the other way and hope that nothing came of this.
They probably made promises of advancement to the graduate assistant if he kept quiet.
Eventually they are probably going to find out there were wide spread NCAA violations.

[FritterGirl]

Penn State is apparently giving Paterno the gift of grace by allowing him to retire at the end of the season. It's cowardice, just as his prior acts are cowardice. I don't care how old you are, how long you've been an authority figure, and what program you are from, if you are in a position of power, and you see nothing being done to rectify what you know to be an allegation of RAPE against a minor, it is your moral obligation to see that the RIGHT people are informed. That includes going around the backs of your superiors.

It sickens me that people are rallying around JoPa. HE was the authority figure here. He claims contrition, but there is not enough contrition the world to sit on this kind of information and watch for years as nothing is done about it.

[ljbab728]

Penn State is apparently giving Paterno the gift of grace by allowing him to retire at the end of the season. It's cowardice, just as his prior acts are cowardice. I don't care how old you are, how long you've been an authority figure, and what program you are from, if you are in a position of power, and you see nothing being done to rectify what you know to be an allegation of RAPE against a duty, it is your moral obligation to see that the RIGHT people are informed. That includes going around the backs of your superiors.

It sickens me that people are rallying around JoPa. HE was the authority figure here. He claims contrition, but there is not enough contrition the world to sit on this kind of information and watch for years as nothing is done about it.

The retirement is the likely result but according to this article the Board of Trustees are still considering options which could mean leaving immediately.

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...d-coach-110911

[venture]

Nasty situation all around. JoePa definitely screwed up majorly here.

At the end of the day it is sad to know that once JoePa isn't coaching anymore, he'll probably pass away with in a year.

[okcisok]

What is REALLY sad about this whole situation is that adults didn't protect innocent children.

[rcjunkie]

Yeah, you bet I have more issue with the man who witnessed the act versus the guy who got the story second hand. Who was in the position to directly intervene and whose testimony would get this guy convicted, the eye witness or the one who got a second hand story? The GA, a former pro football player, was in a position to take Sandusky down and come to the aid of the child. I am not going to judge accountability on the basis of name recognition.

What can I say other the frickin unbelievable!!, a 22 year old over the most powerful man on the University Campus.

[Pete]

Paterno had to know that nothing was done about Sandusky because he still had an office near the football facilities and was constantly seen on campus as recently as a week ago. Plus, you know the two were good friends because Sandusky was Paterno's defensive coordinator for a long time.

So, Paterno is told that Sandusky was seen raping a 10 year-old boy in the football showers, he tells his superiors and as far as he knows, nothing happens to Sandusky. And that's it? Paterno never questions why nothing more was done, all the while Sandusky is still holding football camps for kids and is heavily involved in a nonprofit for youth?

Paterno isn't just some middle-manager who reported to more powerful men. He IS Penn State and has more power than anyone on campus and yet he does nothing? Merely tells someone in their administration and then is completely okay with them taking no action? Allowing this man continued access to lots of young boys??

That is what is so hard to understand here. The two administrators had a legal obligation to report the incident which they didn't do, then lied about it under oath. So, they will be prosecuted accordingly.

But Joe Pa clearly had a higher obligation here, especially given his position of power and influence and leader of young men. It's really hard to understand what he was thinking... Why, for example, did he not at least find out what happened to this boy and if he was still being abused by Sandusky? Wouldn't that be most people's first concern?? But rather, he just told his boss and never gave it a second thought.

He definitely needs to go but I'm not sure if he should be allowed to finish the season. One article pointed out the arrogance on his behalf, that he has decided when he will leave and under what terms. That alone demonstrates the type of power and control he seems to possess, but where was that influence when it should have been used to help this kid and the scores of others?

[RadicalModerate]

While it may be difficult to determine what [The CryBaby] at OSU or even Barry Switzer might have said, I place my faith in behavior modeling with Bob Stoops. And the athletic staff at whatever institution--in whatever conference--he chooses to be Bob Stoops.

Dang. Where is Andy Rooney when you need him?

[okc_bel_air]

Breaking news...................fired!!!!!!!

[PennyQuilts]

According to the grand jury report the GA was 28 at the time. There is absolutely no excuse for a 28 year old man witnessing what he claimed he saw not reporting it to the police immediately. He was the sole witness (other than the child and accused) so it was solely his responsibility to report it to law enforcement.

They both should have reported it but Paterno, in a leadership position, should have picked up the phone, himself if he found out it hadn't been reported by the administration. He certainly had the power at the school to twist their arm to do the right thing and they wouldn't have fired him if he ended up being the one who called the police. If he didn't ask, I have to think it was willful blindness. And I have a difficult time believing Paterno didn't have his suspicions after that. And I hate to say that. Or even think what crosses my mind about the whole thing.

[PennyQuilts]

Paterno had to know that nothing was done about Sandusky because he still had an office near the football facilities and was constantly seen on campus as recently as a week ago. Plus, you know the two were good friends because Sandusky was Paterno's defensive coordinator for a long time.

So, Paterno is told that Sandusky was seen raping a 10 year-old boy in the football showers, he tells his superiors and as far as he knows, nothing happens to Sandusky. And that's it? Paterno never questions why nothing more was done, all the while Sandusky is still holding football camps for kids and is heavily involved in a nonprofit for youth?

Paterno isn't just some middle-manager who reported to more powerful men. He IS Penn State and has more power than anyone on campus and yet he does nothing? Merely tells someone in their administration and then is completely okay with them taking no action? Allowing this man continued access to lots of young boys??

That is what is so hard to understand here. The two administrators had a legal obligation to report the incident which they didn't do, then lied about it under oath. So, they will be prosecuted accordingly.

But Joe Pa clearly had a higher obligation here, especially given his position of power and influence and leader of young men. It's really hard to understand what he was thinking... Why, for example, did he not at least find out what happened to this boy and if he was still being abused by Sandusky? Wouldn't that be most people's first concern?? But rather, he just told his boss and never gave it a second thought.

Well put. I was struggling with words and you supplied excellent ones.

[PennyQuilts]

Breaking news...................fired!!!!!!!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...DDLETopStories

It needed to be done. That he even considered not stepping down, immediately, suggests to me that his moral compass on the issue is off. And it makes be wonder where his moral compass was at the time, too.

[ljbab728]

This is part of Paterno's original resignation statement which I found very telling:

"That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can."

Obviously the board decided that they didn't have more important matters to address and they were right.

[dankrutka]

Let's look at motives here...

Why would the GA lie about what he told Paterno? (crickets)

Why would Paterno lie about what he was told? Because it would save his football program from massive embarrassment and prevent a likely downturn in recruiting and such...

Paterno knew what happened and protected the football program and himself like a coward. Like was said, if he was really just told Samdusky was "horsing around" with a kid then nothing would have been done. They're lying and a lot of people really screwed up, including Paterno.

[Pete]

There was also another incident with Sandusky and a kid in 1998 while he was still coaching for Paterno that got reported to the Penn State police.

You have to know that Paterno knew about that and if Sandusky was brought to task on the 2002 incident, certainly the 1998 thing would have come out as well and that REALLY would have made Paterno and PSU look bad.


Again last night, Paterno claimed the GA merely told him the shower incident was "horsing around". Please. First of all, what the heck is a 60 year-old man doing in the shower with a 10 year-old boy?? Secondly, Paterno testified the GA was very upset when he came to visit him at his home and report the incident. Why would he drive over and be upset if the whole thing was a big nothing?

I think this was one of those situations where a high-profile person (Paterno) was way, way out on a limb but constantly holding himself and his program out as paragons of virtue; that they did things right and were somehow morally superior. I'm always suspicious of conspicuous virtue (often a cover for personal corruption) but in this case it was probably more that everything they wanted to be known for would have been compromised first in 1998 so that was largely covered up and then one lie led to another and another, as they often do.

[Roadhawg]

It's sad all the way around. Mostly sad for the kids abused, the students, the football program and the years it will take the University to rebuild it's name, if it ever will. I agree 100% it should have been dealt with immediately by firing the D coach when it was first reported. There would have been a scandal but it would have blown over, this won't.

[Just the facts]

Jim Traber says that Penn St will be sued and that it could bankrupt the entire Penn State University causing the entire university to be shut down.

I spoke with a couple last night who worked at PSU for many years and there is a lot of concern that government research funding will completly dry up. They compared it to the defunding of Accorn. They said you can't even begin to imagine the power Joe Paterno had over every aspect of PSU. There is also a huge fear that the NCAA will come down very hard on Penn St. This is far worse than making too many phone calls or giving a player some money. Penn St will be lucky to have a football team by this time next year.

This takes lack of institutional control to a whole new level. It wasn't just Paterno getting fired, the president of the university got canned as well.

[ou48A]

I spoke with a couple last night who worked at PSU for many years and there is a lot of concern that government research funding will completly dry up. They compared it to the defunding of Accorn. They said you can't even begin to imagine the power Joe Paterno had over every aspect of PSU. There is also a huge fear that the NCAA will come down very hard on Penn St. This is far worse than making too many phone calls or giving a player some money. Penn St will be lucky to have a football team by this time next year.

This takes lack of institutional control to a whole new level. It wasn't just Paterno getting fired, the president of the university got canned as well.

The more we find out the worse this looks.

But I have a hard time believing that the entire institution would ever be completely shut down as Traber suggested.
I’m pretty sure Trabers statement was just more hyper bold and hypocritical talk.

I would agree that “This takes lack of institutional control to a whole new level”

[Just the facts]

The more we find out the worse this looks.

But I have a hard time believing that the entire institution would ever be completely shut down as Traber suggested.
I’m pretty sure Trabers statement was just more hyper bold and hypocritical talk.

I would agree that “This takes lack of institutional control to a whole new level”

Apparently Penn St is a very politically connected University and there is concern that if local, state, federal politicians try to distance themselves from Penn St. going into an election year that it could decimate the university.

Will they shut down? No, but they could lose most of their research funding.

[ou48A]

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...imped-out-kids
If this^ turns out to be true I might change my mind about the possibility of PSU being shut down.

Pittsburgh radio personality Mark Madden -- who wrote a column in the Beaver County Times seven months ago detailing the child abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky and Penn State's lack of response -- joined the Dennis and Callahan show on Thursday and added another disturbing potential layer to this scandel.

"I can give you a rumor and I can give you something I think might happen," Madden said. "There's a rumor that there will be a more shocking development from the Second Mile Foundation -- and hold on, this is gross, I will use the only language I can -- that Jerry Sandusky and Second Mile were pimping out young boys to rich donors. That is being investigated by two prominent columnists even as I speak."

[MDot]

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...imped-out-kids
If this^ turns out to be true I might change my mind about the possibility of PSU being shut down.

That's just sick. If that turns out true I'd be more shocked if PSU didn't get shut down (or atleast their football team).

[soonergolfer]

I have a feeling that we only know the tip of the iceberg. I will be curious to know what the former athletic director, who has been busted for perjury, will say about Paterno. I do not think he will protect him anymore, especially facing prison.

[Pete]

Another thing about the incident in 1998...

At that time, Sandusky was only 55 and considered the heir apparent to replace Paterno. Suddenly in 1999 he just retires from football and no real explanation was given and no other school even approached this guy even though he supposedly the architect of Linebacker U.

It would certainly appear that he was pressured to step down by Paterno and PSU after this incident. Their way of sweeping it under the rug and trying to distance themselves from something they knew was really bad.

Yet, nothing is done in 2002 after an eye witness report from someone on their own staff? Probably because they knew this other incident would come up too (there was a campus police report) and at that time he was still employed by PSU and a member of Paterno's coaching staff.


This is all so far beyond any other scandal in college football, because those incidents were always about some money being paid a player or recruiting violations. Even the death penalty SMU thing was just about boosters giving college kids money.

But we are talking about a man raping a 10-year old boy in the showers of a major college football program, at least four high-powered university officials knowing about it, and nothing being done.

And after further thought I do find the Graduate Assistant very negligent as well. I didn't realize Sandusky was a friend of his father's, which is why he chose just to leave and do nothing and then call his dad. Obviously, he should have pulled himself together and tried to intercede and get that kid out of that situation -- but he just ran out the door.


This whole thing almost defies belief and it's pretty clear everyone involved were all much more concerned about protecting themselves, the football program and even Sandusky rather that a young rape victim.