Thoughts on the Joe Paterno Situation?

[KenFSU]

What a crazy turns of events this week.

Do you guys think that he deserved to be fired, or was made a scapegoat by Penn State and the media?

[Bridges]

He absolutely needed to be fired.  Or at least resign immediately.  The indictment is absolutely horrifying.  Have you read it?  By all accounts he was fully aware of at least the one rape victim.  He never followed up on it at all. 

The biggest reason he had to go is that he is bigger than the president, and it happened under JoePa's nose.  In the locker room, by a close friend and a former staffer under him.  His program was the reason this wasn't reported.  Protect the football program and out of that you protect the school. 

When shock waves of violent crime can touch many people.  Turning a blind eye to it allows the damage to grow. 

If you believe that Catholic bishops are responsible for following up on molestation charges in their dioceses, then Paterno is responsible for calling those under him to task as well. No one should turn a blind eye.

[Basstacular]

I'm an avid college football fan and have paid very close attention to this story. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the job as a mentor and coach Paterno has done over his very long tenure at Penn State.

However, with that in mind and especially after reading the Grand Jury Report and trying to gather as much of the details as possible through multiple media reports I have come to following conclusion regarding Paterno.

He did not do enough.  Quite frankly, no one involved did enough.  The 28 year old G.A. (now current wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator at PSU) who witnessed the sodomizing of a 10 year old boy in the football athletics shower went directly to Paterno the next morning and told him exactly what he did. First the G.A. Should have went directly to the police and I feel he should be fired immediately as well. Next, Paterno went to the AD with these allegations and it stopped there.  The AD briefed the GA and said that Sandusky had his keys to the facilities taken away and had notified his charity. The buck stopped there and 10 years later a grand jury investigation opened. Our own Paul Poz with the Jags who went to PSU said yesterday that Sandusky was around the program from 2003 through all of Poz's 4 years at PSU, which would put that around 2007. Paterno had a trusted Grad Assistant tell him He saw Sandusky sodomize a 10 year old boy in the football teams shower and that man was allowed to continually be a part of their program for years to come and that falls squarely on Paterno.

I am extremely passionate about this and Paterno's lack of action is indefensible and his firing was truly justified. His arrogance in his statement released telling the Board thst he would retire at seasons end an not to worry about his position almost made me sick as well.  Sandusky is the monster. However, Paterno's unwillingness to do the right thing will forever be his legacy in my mind.

Again, these are my opinions on the subject.

[KenFSU]

The biggest reason he had to go is that he is bigger than the president, and it happened under JoePa's nose.  In the locker room, by a close friend and a former staffer under him.  His program was the reason this wasn't reported.  Protect the football program and out of that you protect the school. 

ABSOLUTELY agree.

This is the point that I think a lot of people are missing.

I'd like to know who this Graduate Assistant and his father are too, who thought they should go to Paterno rather than, you know, the police.

It's so uncomfortable to see people actually protesting Paterno's firing.

Reading the Grand Jury Report, it's downright frightening too just how many warning signs there were with Sandusky, and how no one involved did ANYTHING to protect these children.

[Basstacular]

The Grad Assistant is Mike McQueary. He is a former Quarterback at Penn State. At the time of the incident he was a 28 year old Grad Assistant. He was putting a pair of sneakers away in the locker when he heard someone in the shower. He saw the sodomizing occur and both Sandusky and the 10 year old saw him (according to the grand jury report)

He is now the wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator.

[JeffreyS]

I have thought highly of Paterno and am so disappointed in him.  I think everyone involved wanted the abuse stopped but also wanted to protect the Penn State brand.  That is why everyone was not shouting as loud as they should and the abuse was not stopped.  Fire them all and investigate for prosecution.

[CityLife]

My dad went to Penn State and I was raised FSU first and Penn State second.  I wish I hadn't read the Grand Jury report. Absolutely sickening stuff. There is no doubt in my mind that JoePa was aware of the 98 incident, which should have made him extra vigilant when the 2002 incident happened. As someone who grew up thinking JoePa was a saint, I can say that I am 100% behind him being fired for this. The Penn State BOT had no other choice. Especially with the prospects of civil cases looming.

It is just sad that this incident will define JoePa's career and legacy because the man did do some great stuff for the institution. He has quite possibly done more for Penn State as a university than any other coach ever has for their school. This is a guy who had donated $4 million of his own money to Penn State Academics. Who raised money for a library expansion that is now renamed after him, and who has done an excellent job of blending athletics and academics within his football program.

Ohhh....and there are rumors now that Sandusky's non-profit was a meeting place for other pedophiles...This story will only get uglier.

[Basstacular]

Ohhh....and there are rumors now that Sandusky's non-profit was a meeting place for other pedophiles...This story will only get uglier.

That's what I hear from multple media reports as well....This story is being reported to have some very dark and deep roots to it.

[Wacca Pilatka]

The Grad Assistant is Mike McQueary. He is a former Quarterback at Penn State. At the time of the incident he was a 28 year old Grad Assistant. He was putting a pair of sneakers away in the locker when he heard someone in the shower. He saw the sodomizing occur and both Sandusky and the 10 year old saw him (according to the grand jury report)

He is now the wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator.

I also want to know why he didn't stop it when he watched it happening, instead running out of the room and calling his father, who even more bizarrely told him to leave the premises.

[KenFSU]

The two major rumors that appear to be circulating, which both appear to be coming from Mark Madden in Pittsburgh, are:

1) Jerry Sandusky and Second Mile were pimping out young boys to rich donors.
2) Penn State agreed to cover up the abuse in exchange for Sandusky's resignation

If either one of these stories turns out to be true, this is a whole lot sicker than even initially thought.

[CityLife]

this sounds like its a bit of sensationalism, but stranger things have happened.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/11/10/rumor-sandusky-pimped-out-young-boys-to-rich-donors/

(WSCR) As if the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse allegations couldn’t get any worse, they potentially just took a devastating turn.

Sportswriter Mark Madden of 105.9 The X in Pittsburgh joined The Mully and Hanley Show on Thursday and claimed that Sandusky had pimped out young boys from his charity to rich donors.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Madden said. “The Second Mile, and there’s no nice way to say this, pimped out young boys to wealthy donors. That is being investigated.”

Madden claims the rumors are being investigated by “two prominent columnists.”

That is what most people's initial reaction is, however....Madden called the Sandusky story back in April, and had the details nailed back then. So there may be some truth to his claims.

http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/sports/mark_madden/madden-sandusky-a-state-secret/timesonline.com/columnists/sports/mark_madden/madden-sandusky-a-state-secret/article_863d3c82-5e6f-11e0-9ae5-001a4bcf6878.html

[KenFSU]

Another interesting twist is that the DA who initially went after Sandusky disappeared off the face of the planet in 2005.

His car was recovered with the hard drive ripped out of his laptop, but his body was never found.

Of course, it's pure speculation whether or not his disappearance had anything to do with Penn State (this was 2005, after all), but a strange wrinkle nonetheless:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/DA-Who-Never-Charged-Sandusky-Has-Been-Missing-Since-2005-133615093.html

[Wacca Pilatka]

I also want to know why he didn't stop it when he watched it happening, instead running out of the room and calling his father, who even more bizarrely told him to leave the premises.

fear of pumphumping his own career obviously.  The coach was a powerful guy, and there was clearly already a pattern of coverup happening.  This stuff never stays secret from the team.  It just never gets talked about outside of the circle.  Classic pattern.
[/quote]

I'm sure of it.  The question was more one of rhetorical outrage when we all know the answer.  The janitors in the grand jury report also indicated not wanting to say anything for fear of their jobs.

[Rynjny]

My thought is he's a scapegoat for this..JoePa didn't committed the crimes..

[riverside planner]

My thought is he's a scapegoat for this..JoePa didn't committed the crimes..

But he was well aware of them and failed to ensure that the proper authorities were notified.  And he continued to allow this scumbag to be affilliated with his program.  While no, Paterno did not rape these children himself, his inaction beyond telling the university higher ups is inexcusable and does warrant his dismissal.