Penn State Mess

[W3WN]

I had a feeling that this one was coming... didn't expect it today, mind you, but I didn't think it would be much longer:

"Penn State Said to Be Planning Paterno Exit Amid Scandal" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/sp...t.html?_r=1&hp

[W3MIV]

They've got to have a scapegoat, guilty or not. Penn State is not a school; it is a major, for-profit corporation which owes its first and only loyalty to itself. Screw all of the expendables who work for it, from the president down to the janitorial staff. The board is circling its wagons and anyone who is within range is gonna get shot out of the saddle until this scandal is off the front pages.

[KG4CGC]

They've got to have a scapegoat, guilty or not. Penn State is not a school; it is a major, for-profit corporation which owes its first and only loyalty to itself. Screw all of the expendables who work for it, from the president down to the janitorial staff. The board is circling its wagons and anyone who is within range is gonna get shot out of the saddle until this scandal is off the front pages.

Sad as it is, keep reminding everyone everyday that we are talking about anal sex with 10 year old boys. This should never EVER be hushed out of the media spotlight.

[suddenseer]

Sad as it is, keep reminding everyone everyday that we are talking about anal sex with 10 year old boys. This should never EVER be hushed out of the media spotlight.

Let's get real with this issue. I would think most folks on this forum would have beaten the shit out of the pervert if we witnessed what several Penn State connected people did. I would think I would have beaten the shit out of the perv. I am a gay man, and this gay man would have gotten violent if I saw that. I am a parent, and a grandparent. I would probably go to prison if someone did that to my children, or grandchildren. I am a peaceful person, but if someone fucks with my kids I would probably take the law in my hands. I am just saying.

[KG4CGC]

Let's get real with this issue. I would think most folks on this forum would have beaten the shit out of the pervert if we witnessed what several Penn State connected people did. I would think I would have beaten the shit out of the perv. I am a gay man, and this gay man would have gotten violent if I saw that. I am a parent, and a grandparent. I would probably go to prison if someone did that to my children, or grandchildren. I am a peaceful person, but if someone fucks with my kids I would probably take the law in my hands. I am just saying.

Agreed.

[K7SGJ]

Let's get real with this issue. I would think most folks on this forum would have beaten the shit out of the pervert if we witnessed what several Penn State connected people did. I would think I would have beaten the shit out of the perv. I am a gay man, and this gay man would have gotten violent if I saw that. I am a parent, and a grandparent. I would probably go to prison if someone did that to my children, or grandchildren. I am a peaceful person, but if someone fucks with my kids I would probably take the law in my hands. I am just saying.

I would love to sit on that jury. You'd be back on the street before the gavel fell.

[W3WN]

In the wonderful light of 20-20 hindsight, one wishes that when this first surfaced 10 years ago, a proper investigation would have taken place, and appropriate actions taken. If nothing else, Sandusky's office on campus & his rights to use the facilities (both part of his retirement package, when he was also named an assistant professor emeritus) should have been suspended at LEAST while the investigation was ongoing, and when all was revealed, those rights revoked. To say NOTHING of charges being brought.

Instead, it appears that the two administrators who should have investigated and called in the proper authorities (State Police, Welfare/Human Services/Social Workers, whatever) tried to cover it up and ignore it. And it just blew up in their faces and has cost both of them their jobs, their careers, and their reputations.

What I am having trouble with is knowing what role Paterno had. And word is that he was prepared to discuss it at today's press conference, which the University President's office cancelled. I simply can not believe that JoePa would ignore this or condone it. It does not fit the pattern of the man's life and actions, and the morality that he has demanded of his student-athletes. I know, some of you won't believe that, and will say that he's just another hypocritical major college football coach. I'd like to still believe that's not true of him...

I suspect that the truth, if it ever comes out, will be more on the lines that he reported it, and was told by those conducting the cover-up that there was nothing to it, to put it in a few words. And yes, he definitely should have done more... it could be nothing more than he simply couldn't believe that he one-time heir apparant, friend, etc. was in reality a sexual predator. (How many of us would believe that of someone we'd worked with for decades, based on a single accusation, no matter how heinous?). So he was human, and chose to believe the cover-up, because the accusation seemed so absurd. (How often do most people be thankful that they hear what they wanted to hear, rather than be told an uncomfortable truth. And who does that protect in the long run? No one, it only causes more long term damage). Only, as it now appears as more details (and alleged victims) are surfacing, absurd it wasn't.

Faith in someone who lied to your face as part of a cover-up, someone who chose to hide a crime rather than risk public exposure... what a way to lose your career and your reputation.

[WX7P]

What I am having trouble with is knowing what role Paterno had. And word is that he was prepared to discuss it at today's press conference, which the University President's office cancelled. I simply can not believe that JoePa would ignore this or condone it. It does not fit the pattern of the man's life and actions, and the morality that he has demanded of his student-athletes. I know, some of you won't believe that, and will say that he's just another hypocritical major college football coach. I'd like to still believe that's not true of him...

Faith in someone who lied to your face as part of a cover-up, someone who chose to hide a crime rather than risk public exposure... what a way to lose your career and your reputation.

Constant deification to the point of sainthood will eventually corrupt even the most perfect individual.

JoePa put Penn State on the map and was rewarded by an extended tenure that outlived the shelf life by about 15 years.

I get your innocent until proven guilty thing, Ron, but this thing is way bigger than lying about phone calls to recruits or having knowledge of illicit tattoos. Paterno would have been better off not commenting at all, rather than issue that mind bogglingly stupid statement saying he reported the incident, so he's cool. What bullshit. I'm not sure who's worse, Paterno, or the that weasly graduate assistant who A. Didn't stop Sandusky from assaulting that child, and B. Didn't go to the cops himself. If it had been me in that locker room, the assault would have been over even it meant I got the hell beat out of me.

We can talk about fairness and doing the right thing, but this stuff was nothing but illegal, non-consential assault on MINORS, and some people felt the program and JoePa was far more important than doing the right thing.

All of these clowns should resign or be fired NOW, including JoePa. Who knows what else is being covered up?

[W3WN]

Constant deification to the point of sainthood will eventually corrupt even the most perfect individual.

JoePa put Penn State on the map and was rewarded by an extended tenure that outlived the shelf life by about 15 years.

I get your innocent until proven guilty thing, Ron, but this thing is way bigger than lying about phone calls to recruits or having knowledge of illicit tattoos. Paterno would have been better off not commenting at all, rather than issue that mind bogglingly stupid statement saying he reported the incident, so he's cool. What bullshit. I'm not sure who's worse, Paterno, or the that weasly graduate assistant who A. Didn't stop Sandusky from assaulting that child, and B. Didn't go to the cops himself. If it had been me in that locker room, the assault would have been over even it meant I got the hell beat out of me.

We can talk about fairness and doing the right thing, but this stuff was nothing but illegal, non-consential assault on MINORS, and some people felt the program and JoePa was far more important than doing the right thing.

All of these clowns should resign or be fired NOW, including JoePa. Who knows what else is being covered up?

Valid points all.

JoePa had to say something, since the DA revealed that he was called before the Grand Jury, testified, and it was determined that he did not do anything LEGALLY wrong. Yeah, he could have said something better... he made a few remarks off the cuff without fully thinking through the consequences. I'll be he regrets making those comments in that way now.

Oh, and I feel obligated to add... the few reporters who are actually reporting news (facts, not innuendo and blood lust) have reported that the previous DA WAS informed of the investigation into Sandusky's alleged act, and chose not to file charges. Why? Was he completely informed? Was he part of the cover-up? We'll never know, as the man disappeared several years ago and is now considered legally dead.

And let me be very clear on a couple of things:

- First, why didn't the GA who witnessed the alleged asault intervene? I think he has some 'splainin' to do on that.
- Second, in no way do I defend Sandusky or what he is alleged to have done. And even as I say, in the interest of fairness, "alleged," personally I want to beat the crap out of him too. There can be no excuses, none, for a sexual assualt of any sort on a 10 year old.
- Third, the administration should have suspended his access to the campus facilities, including the office he was given as part of his retirement, immediately until & unless he was cleared. They didn't. Those who didn't need to be held accountable for this inexcusable oversight.
- Fourth... I believe that Paterno will be gone at the end of the season. If not before. If he was involved in the cover-up and/or had direct knowledge of the depth of the alleged assault, he has to go. If he was kept in the dark by the school administration, he will be sacrificed to the blood-lust of the crowd. Either way, you'll also see a bloodletting on the football team's coaching staff. Don't be surprised when everyone, and I mean everyone, goes. Next year's team will have a new coach, new coaching staff. The Grand Experiment will be over, and Penn State will just be another football conglomorate masquerading as a major university.

[N8YX]

...First, why didn't the GA who witnessed the alleged asault intervene? I think he has some 'splainin' to do on that...

This particular question definitely requires follow-up. The rabbit hole may go a little deeper than people suspect.