I think this Penn State thing...

[j2k4]

...deserves it's own thread.

I'm starting this now, but I'd need a lot of time to post my thoughts accurately and fully.

Suffice it to say, for now, that this scandal is to Penn State as the terrorist-piloted planes were to the World Trade Center.

Penn State has been (figuratively, at any rate) erased.

Shoes are dropping all over the place; there doesn't seem to be an end to it all...

[j2k4]

For starters, I think a shit-ton of blame belongs at the feet of Paterno, who, after 65 years at Penn State - most of that as head coach - had the whip-hand on all matters athletic.

He must have had a very special relationship indeed with Sandusky, in order to grant or condition continued and ongoing access (plus pay!) to Penn State's facilities, auspices and respect.

It cannot be denied that he knew the flavor of Sandusky's offenses, yet he ultimately did nothing to end his activities, settling instead for curtailing Sandusky's career potential.

It is a very short leap from there to speculating about what Paterno may have feared from exposing his friend Sandusky - did Sandusky have the goods on Paterno? Did Paterno dismiss the moral/custodial aspects of his position in this instance because he had become corrupted by the power he wielded?

In other words, did he do what he did merely because he could?

[j2k4]

I'm also quite stymied at the inanity of the support shown Paterno by the student body and fans.

Hell, I was a fan, as far as that goes...not anymore.

[green-lantern]

The one guy needs his nuts removed and everybody that knew about it needs some sort of punishment. Not just being fired but maybe ass raped?

[AdamVR4]

They're just a bunch of cowards, but...

If Joe Paterno past the information along to his superior and saw that an investigation took place, all the while Sandusky was telling him "this is BS man, you know me..." ... I'm not sure we could have expected him to do much else. If his superiors told Joe that no butt rape had been committed, what's he supposed to do? Go to the press? The police? With nothing but hearsay?

This is a lot like Herman Cain... The court of public opinion is brutal. I'm waiting for more information to surface.

[j2k4]

If Joe Paterno past the information along to his superior and saw that an investigation took place, all the while Sandusky was telling him "this is BS man, you know me..." ... I'm not sure we could have expected him to do much else. If his superiors told Joe that no butt rape had been committed, what's he supposed to do? Go to the press? The police? With nothing but hearsay?

But Adam - the events of '98-99 were sufficient for Paterno to tell Sandusky that his future vis a vis Penn State football was at an end, right?

This was viewed at that point as pretty earth-shaking, at least behind the closed doors of Penn State, because it ended Sandusky's career...so the penalty includes a severance package, a hefty pension, office-space and continued and unfettered access to all college facilities?

Paterno was THE BIG CHEESE at Penn State, ipso facto, this was all his call.

W T F ???

[TonyM]

Paterno was THE BIG CHEESE at Penn State, ipso facto, this was all his call.

Maybe to students, alumni, and the press he was. But matter of factly he was 3rd tier at best: Paterno -> AD -> President. You could go one step further to the board as well.

I'm tired of hearing about Paterno this and Paterno that. I'm no Penn State fan but it appears he did take action when he first heard of this going on. We'll likely never know what happened behind closed doors between the AD, President, etc. so why speculate that Paterno did nothing? Perhaps he followed orders per the outcome of whatever investigation was launched? We don't know and I'd really wish everyone would quit falling lockstep behind whatever garbage ABC news and ESPN drum up and force feed us. I've already had one CFB Saturday ruined with Penn State crap every 10 minutes, enough is enough.

[UTRacerX9]

I've already had one CFB Saturday ruined with Penn State crap every 10 minutes, enough is enough.

Because at the end of the day, that trumps any sexual or psychological abuse suffered by the kids, right?

I kid, I kid.

[TonyM]

Because at the end of the day, that trumps any sexual or psychological abuse suffered by the kids, right?

I kid, I kid.

Not at all, but ESPN showing 8 minute replays of Jay Paterno leaving the house and the "We Are - Penn State" chant every 15 minutes all day Saturday isn't doing the victims any justice either. The media blast of Joe Paterno by ABC and ESPN isn't doing anybody any justice. Again, it'd be nice if we could let the legal investigation and procedure run it's course without being tainted by the media.

But that's probably too much to ask.

[j2k4]

Maybe to students, alumni, and the press he was. But matter of factly he was 3rd tier at best: Paterno -> AD -> President. You could go one step further to the board as well.

I'm tired of hearing about Paterno this and Paterno that. I'm no Penn State fan but it appears he did take action when he first heard of this going on. We'll likely never know what happened behind closed doors between the AD, President, etc. so why speculate that Paterno did nothing? Perhaps he followed orders per the outcome of whatever investigation was launched? We don't know and I'd really wish everyone would quit falling lockstep behind whatever garbage ABC news and ESPN drum up and force feed us. I've already had one CFB Saturday ruined with Penn State crap every 10 minutes, enough is enough.

Speaking, then, specifically to the pecking order at Penn State:

Do you think that the board could possibly have concurred with the decision to allow Sandusky to hang around, collect a pension, AND have full access to university facilities after the initial findings and penalty, unless they were bending over?

Given JoePa's velcro-grip on the head coaching job, I don't think it's a big leap to conclude the decision to take Sandusky off the short list was his, as it is plain the board would have preferred JoePa himself leave when he was going through a distinctly less-than-legendary period a few years back.

I have to say, before this, I held Paterno in the highest esteem - I am a Pennsylvania native, after all - there was the pervasive notion that Penn State would always be Penn State...as clean and upstanding a Division one school as existed, anywhere.

That could not have been more wrong.