Penn St investigation results revealed. Sick to my stomach

[megomania]

Like a lot of colleges, I think they also had youth programs for younger children apart from the regular curriculum.

Also, they should melt down that statue of Paterno and make big bronze weiners out of it then give one to every one of Sandusky's prison mates.

Sandusky was running his own foundation for underpriveleged kids that was not affiliated with the university, but he would bring the kids around since he obviously had access to the facilites. He preyed on pre-teens and teens. Can you image if he tried to pull that crap with a football player? They would have kicked his ***.

In 1977, Sandusky founded The Second Mile, a non-profit charity serving Pennsylvania underprivileged and at-risk youth

-Chris

[Duncan]

Well, I did PSU as an undergrad and OSU as a grad, so unfortunately I'm familiar with NCAA investigations & punishment. As far as the PSU case is concerned, I'm sad and embarrassed. I wish Joe were alive to answer some more questions, but I can't defend him based on what I've read of this case. I will say that I don't see the value in punishing current and/or future student athletes for the criminal actions of coaches, and allegedly administrators and board members. The current football players were 8-10 years old when this stuff happened. That's like the Ohio State scandal - they can't go to a bowl this year, though most of the guys who broke rules are now being paid to play on Sunday...and Gene Smith kept his job. I don't have much respect for the NCAA.

Let's keep pursuing criminal charges against the administrators who allegedly participated in the cover-up, and see if we can't send a few more folks to jail. I also hope that the civil cases name specific individuals, and not just the school. That's the best way to keep this kind of thing from happening again - make individuals responsible, not institutions.

[MegoSteve]

What's really sad is that there are people here in central PA that are defending Paterno and pretending there's no proof he was involved and that he's somehow being made the fall guy.

The best comment I read today re: the statue was that they should just keep it, but turn it so it's looking the other way.

[MIB41]

I think this case is a sad commentary on how our society disproportionately values sports and the people involved. Those people coveted that man like he was a Christ-like figure. And the thing is HE cheered it on! Talk about self-gratification and a whacked out ego. Even after he was fired, he stood at the door of his home giving these victims little more than an after thought deciding instead to cheer on the football team? The man was absolutely deranged. He couldn't even put into context the enormity of the crime committed because he was too busy soaking up the adulation. That right there shows how truly detached he was from reality. It was all about him 24/7. And now it will never be about him again. I guess it's true. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Hopefully these brainwashed supporters will be able to sit down and clear their heads one day and understand he was just a football coach. The rest was just a facade to build him up to be something that quite honestly he never was. He has the legacy he deserves...now. Between Sandusky and Paterno it's very difficult for me to see them as anything other than partners of the same crime. Which is more heinous? A man committing these acts or a man who claims to be a person of 'moral authority' using his position to not only cover for these crimes, but provide this predator with a place to commit more? And then you have to ask this question - What did Sandusky have on Paterno? There is no telling what else was going on at that school. One thing is for sure. It was not as it was sold to be. And it's scary to think this could be happening somewhere else right now.

[madmarva]

MIB41, you make excellent points. On one hand the case had nothing to do with football. A similar situation with a boss and a longtime employee could happen in almost any business setting. But then again, it had everything to do with major college football, the overimportance we place on sports, Paterno's legacy and the success of the program he built.

Paterno's fame, notoriety and yes excellence and success as a football coach fostered such adulation and with it such "power" that he had the hubris to believe if he just close his eyes and it would all go away. He was delusional. Obviously, Paterno did more than just turn his head. He participated if not instigated the cover-up.

I remember ESPN reporting how unexpected Sanduskey's resignation as defensive coordinator was in 1998 — obviously this came after the first accusation of him showering with and fondling a teen was written off when Sanduskey apologized to the mother and said he wished he was dead — and about how he was Paterno's expected heir apparent. And there was talk prior to Sanduskey's resignation that Paterno might retire in the near future. But after Sanduskey resigned, Paterno held tighter to the reins.

Certainly a coach who had the success of Paterno would be given some latitude, but Penn State has been a shell of the program it was in the 60s, 70s, 80s ad 90s over the past decade. Most major programs would have made a coaching change after some of the seasons PSU had, but when you see that Paterno, the university president and athletics director were all involved in this cover-up, it's easier to see why Paterno kept coaching so long when in the late 1990s it appeared he was ready to retire and why the administration did not act to hire another coach during the programs' struggles in the 2000s. Certainly, he had is staunch supporters, but there were those who were ready for a change.

While this is just speculation, I believe he held on to the job so long and was allowed to hold on to the job so long in part because of this cover-up. The university president and athletic director could not risk ousting Paterno against his will without the possibility of the cover-up coming out.

I empathize with Paterno on one level. He coached Sanduskey for PSU and coached with him for 30+ years. They obviously were friends and held great regard for one another. Nobody wants to believe a close friend or even a trusted associate is a monster. But, when the proof is there, how could he not turn him in?

The human mind can rationalize anything it wants. Tell a lie long enough and in the mind, it becomes the truth. And when such rationalization is backed up by power, crazy things happen. Look at what all those sub-prime loans did to our economy or how otherwise "good" men could fight to defend slavery or how a nation could allow the Holocaust to happen. There are so many examples on larger and smaller scales than the Penn State scandal.

Calling this situation a shame just doesn't do it justice. But, I don't think dismantling Penn State's athletic department is a just punishment. There are too many good people who did not wrong to make such a radical move. And those calling for the NCAA to act, don't understand the purpose of the organization. This is out of its jurisdiction. Paterno and the AD Tim Curley were evidently running a "clean" athletics department according to NCAA guidelines. The NCAA doesn't have rules concerning child molestation. This is a matter of law not for a paper tiger governing body.

Graham Spanier, the university president, Tim Curley, the athletic director, will likely go to prison for perjury and obstruction of justice and possibly other charges. It's possible Gary Shultz, university vice president, may be imprisoned under similar charges. Paterno would be in the same situation if he weren't dead, but the legacy he fought so hard to protect is crushed.

Unfortunately, for the boys and men we know Sanduskey abused and all the ones that we don't know about, those punishments — even if PSU's athletic dept is closed down or penalized — really don't help them. At least, they know in the end, he didn't get away with it. But I don't know how much consolation that is.

[MIB41]

Excellent post Madmarva. Excellent. I think you underscore the importance of the events in 1998 and how Paterno's actions clearly pointed to his knowledge of the crime. Even more, after the investigation, it showed that he too lied to the Grand Jury. He clearly understood the gravity of the situation. He knew a child had been violated and he chose to protect his friend rather than the child. And when he thought the cover up had worked he used that situation as a vice to keep his job and his supposed legacy on life support. But it raises even more questions about why he chose to take that risk. Because once you get past the shock of a supposed friend committing such a God Awful crime, how could you sleep at night knowing an innocent child is being hurt because your not doing anything? How could a man of "character" get past that and not take action? Better still. How could he go to such great lengths to cover it up and allow the predator to remain on the campus? That does not sound like a man of principle who just happen to make one bad call in character judgement and overlook the gravity of the bigger picture. Paterno was someone who clearly had something to lose if Sandusky got busted. And he went to great links to keep the public perception of Sandusky intact to protect his own hide. So if the prosecutors for the Penn State school officials are smart, they will press them hard to find out why they and the coach helped initiate this cover up. And if there were other crimes being perpetrated either on campus or within the football program that led to this reason to keep Sandusky protected. I'm a big believer that when a person is exposed to be a fraud in one aspect of his life, that usually means he is equally as fraudulent in other areas as well. I personally think the revelations are far from over in this case.

[madmarva]

This is purely speculation on my part, but I think Paterno may have convinced himself at first that all of this was likely a misunderstanding and he just rationalized and compartmentalized the situation. I also think he believed he was doing what was "best for the program." And, defacto what was best for him because he was in sense, the program or certainly was synonymous with the program. When the allegations came up again, I think he just turned his back and had the AD handle it and washed his hands. Paterno had the power and from what I've read enjoyed using it, but at this one point when he could have really made a difference, he passed the buck. It's sad.

With a man like Paterno, who had the job and power and identity for so long, he can loses sight of the fact that what's good for the program/him isn't always right, lawful, truthful or moral. I don't think he was attempting to be nefarious or evil. I think he was being expedient and attempting to salvage reputations, which seemed more important to him at the time than the victims, whom he didn't know or clearly care much about. He was out of touch with normal humans. His world was the program and anyone outside of it wasn't as important as anyone in it, even the victims. It sounds crazy as I write it, but I've seen the same attitude all them time in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12, which I covered. It's like they live in a fantasy world, and so many on the outside are willing to aide abet them because they want so badly to be on the inside.

I'm not trying to justify any of this, just explain my thoughts and opinions on it and also wrap my head around it.

I covered an athletic director/football coach, who in my state, exercised very much the same power as Paterno, and while I respect the man greatly and what he did both for the university's athletic program and the university, some of his decisions as he aged became shortsighted and just too simple to be good and right. Luckily, he knew when it was time to retire. His hand was forced, but he didn't fight it. He didn't go out kicking and screaming or try to cover anything up. There was nothing criminal, and he kept his dignity and the respect of most in the state as well as his legacy.

In reading about this story for the last nine months, I've often tried to put myself in the shoes in the various people involved. I just hope if I ever encounter something like this or something even to a lesser extent that I would have the moral courage to think of the victims and the crime and not myself or people or things I love and do the right thing.

[huedell]

I apologize in advance if this is in bad taste for our community standard... and am fine w/the post getting deleted
if too inappropriate, but THIS was a twitter from Albert Brooks today:

They will leave the Joe Paterno statue up but they're going to have him look the other way.

[MegoMark71]

Tom and Madmarva, those were some incredibly well written post. I couldn't agree with you both more. My wife's sister's husband is a Penn St graduate. We are all having dinner tonight as it's his wife's birthday. We have talked several times back and forth. Charlie and myself met at a radio station we both worked at and then introduced him to my wife's sister. He was a communication major at Penn St and actually interviewed Paterno and other coaches several times during his years there. On more than one occasion he spoke of Paterno having a God complex. But he also said, some of it was the fans and supporters putting him on the proverbial pedestal. In talking with Charlie just this morning he is hurting, not for the football program but for the school he loves. There are several innocent victims. I look forward to talking with him more tonight. Also yesterday i don't know if you guys saw the jay Paterno interview. I wanted to flat out deck him during several parts of the interview. He would have been better in just not saying a word. He came off arrogant and as conceited as his dad was. To still sit there and say his dad didn't know was pathetic. He mentioned all the good his dad did. But he fails to realize, most like myself don't give a flip about what he did. What he didn't do outweighs anything he ever did. And once he realizes his dad was JUST A COACH, that's it, a coach. He was nothing more. He never walked on water like some would like you to believe. As someone who has gone through the same thing i am not sure if there was anything short of being murdered, that could have affected my life as much as much as what i went through. These kids that monster affected, never had the life they could have. And Joe Paterno let it happen. Hell he even said when he first found out, he wanted to wait the weekend cause he didn't want to ruin anyone's weekend, so he wanted to sit on it for a few days. I can't even imagine anyone finding out what he did and then doing that. Penn St football and that monsters feelings were placed before the well being of an innocent child. He was allowed to leave and continue his acts for 14 years. And it was covered up. Joe Paterno got off easy. His son needs to shut his mouth and accept what has been revealed. Only then will these people be able to start the healing. Step one was making sure that Monster never see's the light of day again. Oh how i wish he could have been found guilty 14 years earlier. He also is getting off much easier than he should have. I pray for the victims every day. I will not waste a prayer on Sandusky or anyone else who knew what he was. Just think about this. IN our prison system, there are men and women who have commited some incredible crimes. Child molesters are considered the scum of scum even by there piers. Worst than anything else. Oh how i wish they would put Sandusky in the general population, even for a day.

[MegoMark71]

And Huedell, i don't think it's in bad taste. It does show how stupid some people are still. There are several who still think he didn't do anything wrong. And like my brother in law said, it is these morons who painted a mortal man, a football coach, as a god. Myself, i would love to see that statue shoved straight up the backside of Sandusky.

[MIB41]

Here's a current story about having Paterno's statue taken down. Polls in town are understandably high for it's removal after the release of the investigation's findings. But surprisingly the college sent out security to guard the statue until that determination is made. But as the story so correctly put it... 'Protecting Paterno's statue only took a couple of hours.. It took much longer to protect the children.' Well said. Well said.

http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/should-the-joe-paterno-statue-come-down-lets-see-what-the-polls-say/

[MIB41]

Oh how i wish they would put Sandusky in the general population, even for a day.

Your wish will be granted my friend. By Sandusky himself!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57460464-504083/report-jerry-sandusky-wants-out-of-isolation-cell-says-i-am-going-to-go-nutty/

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/139493/jerry_sandusky_reportedly_serenaded_by

[MegoMark71]

Those were awesome to read. Exactly what i was saying. The worst of the worst criminals consider him to be public enemy #1.
And is he stupid enough to actually want to be taken out of isolation? Suicidal for sure, maybe he wants to be killed. Normally i would say, It doesn't matter what he wants, but i say put him in the general population. Maybe give the guards a 30 minute break for such hard work. They can update the surveillance system at the same time.
Thanks a bunch for those links.

[Random Axe]

The statue should remain just to see what kind of interesting vandalism occurs...

[jimsmegos]

My two cents: Dissolve the athletic department. While it may seem harsh the school as it sits DOES NOT deserve the financial benefits that come from the programs. I have always had an issue with the "power" of college sports officials and this type of punishment would set an example as well as slap down some overblown egos. While it is speculation to say that things such as this has happened at numerous other schools I believe it is safe to say that shocking abuses of authority are carried out at all of them.