Paterno morally obliged to answer questions on Sandusky
Joe Paterno needs to say more about what he knew regarding Jerry Sandusky and when he knew it.
After reading the Pennsylvania grand jury’s presentation, the first thought is not that Jerry Sandusky needs to go to prison if the allegations are true – it’s that he should be tied to the bumper of a Chevy and pushed off a cliff. I say that not as a father of two but as any human being with a shred of decency, morality and a soul.
“Victim 2” (of eight listed in the document) was estimated to be 10 when he was seen in the locker room showers at Penn State being subjected to sexual intercourse by Sandusky, then 58, in 2002.
“Victim 4” was 12 or 13 in 1996 or 1997 when he was “repeatedly subjected to Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse and Indecent Assault at the hands of Sandusky.”
“Victim 5” was 8 or 10 and attended as many as 15 football games with Sandusky who said he felt uncomfortable about constantly being approached by Sandusky in the showers, and one time pushed Sandusky’s hand away after being touched inappropriately.
“Victim 6” relayed similar accusations to his mother. After hearing this, she confronted Sandusky, after which he responded, “I understand. I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won’t get it from you. I wish I were dead.”
And others share that sentiment.
But the matter of debate now is culpability. That is where the inferno regarding Joe Paterno comes in, and I’m not ready to make that leap yet.
Pennsylvania attorney general Linda Kelly addresses the media Monday on the allegations of sex abuse crimes against Sandusky.
Two Penn State officials who are charged with covering up allegations against the team’s former defensive coordinator are already out. Athletic director Tim Curley asked to be placed on administrative leave and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business, is crawling back into retirement. If what has been alleged in the grand jury’s “finding of fact and recommendations” are true – that a graduate assistant made the allegations regarding “Victim 2” and Curley and Schultz didn’t even report it to university police – they should be tied to the same Chevy as Sandusky.
There is the question of what university president Graham Spanier knew. Spanier denies that the “Victim 2” incident in 2002 was reported to him as “an incident that was sexual in nature” and that Curley termed the conduct as “horsing around.” He also said he wasn’t aware of a 1998 investigation into incidents involving Sandusky and children in the football showers.
The debate on Paterno isn’t legal but moral. Charges have not been brought against him. He immediately reported allegations of the 2002 incident to Curley and Schultz after he was informed by the graduate assistant. (It’s worth noting that Sandusky had retired after the 1999 season but held “emeritus” status on campus, affording him perks that included an office in the Lasch athletics building and unlimited access to football facilities.)
Should Paterno have done more? No question. He should have followed up with school officials on the graduate assistant’s claims. He should have checked on any investigation with law enforcement. But did he fail to do so because Sandusky was a long-time friend, or did he simply mess up?
Many have already called for Paterno’s resignation. I want to hear more from the man first. Actually, I want to hear anything from him.
The statement Paterno released Sunday isn’t nearly enough, even if it touched on the correct themes. An excerpt: “ The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling.”
Paterno long has been held up in college athletics as the standard for doing things the correct way. Nobody ever has questioned his moral compass. But when the charges against Sandusky were released, many figured the compass had turned 180 degrees.
Suddenly, it’s as if he’s the personification of evil. That’s a little too much too quick.
There are questions Paterno must answer – and preferably before the Nittany Lions play on Saturday against Nebraska. He needs to stand in a room and not hide behind an emailed statement carefully crafted by an attorney. He needs to expound on what he knew and when he knew it. He needs to give details. He needs to show regret and remorse for not doing more. He needs to be convincing.
Jerry Sandusky may be a monster. But monsters have enablers.
The stated mission at Penn State is “Success With Honor.” This is a time when Paterno needs to assure everybody he met not so much his legal obligations as his moral ones.
Would he have dropped the matter so quickly if the alleged victim was somebody he knew — his child, his grandchild, the son of a close friend? Then, would he have done more?
Even if the Pennsylvania attorney general does not bring charges against Paterno, this has the potential to tarnish his legacy. It’s not about football or win totals. It’s about what’s right. He owes an explanation to the public. He certainly owes it to the victims.
By Jeff Schultz
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481 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
9:08 pm
Wait don’t forget the JROTC too.
Mr Charlie
November 7th, 2011
9:08 pm
5150, and if you do allow your child to spend a lot of time alone with adults, you ask a lot of questions, and if showering and wrestling comes up, that is a red flag….also, smoking weed is slightly different than child molestation.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:08 pm
Paterno doesnt have any obligation to answer questions to the media. They have drummed up a lynch mob mentality w/ their irresponsible reporting. I dont know what JoPa knew or didnt know, but what I do know is that these parents knew their kids had been molested back in the 90’s and somehow criminal charges are just now being brought. To me it seems like some hush money was paid, and now someone is getting buyer’s remorse.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
9:09 pm
bugsquacher……………unlike RICHT’s answers to the POT questions?
phil
November 7th, 2011
9:10 pm
Fire FG…
BulldogGirl
November 7th, 2011
9:10 pm
5150 UOAD – Really? You want to compare what happened to 9 and 10 year old boys to college age kids and underage drinking? I have a 20 yr old son and 19 yr old daughter in college. If they decide to go out and illegally drink then they are responsible for their decisions. Are those 9 and 10 year old boys responsible for what happened to them? Is that what you are saying by your ridiculous comparison? If so – you need to seek help.
Mr Charlie
November 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
5150, spending nights with a scoutmaster ALONE (ie, no other kids there) is something a parent should not do.
redweather
November 7th, 2011
9:11 pm
This timeline in the Sandusky case may help some of you separate fact from fiction–always a good idea in situations like this.
http://www.wfmz.com/Timeline-Sandusky-abuse-case/-/121798/4691376/-/as4iti/-/index.html
phil
November 7th, 2011
9:13 pm
Look, if this guy was actually SEEN with two functioning eyeballs doing what is being said he did in that shower, he would have been turned over immediately to the cops….
Let’s give this thing a chance to play itself out before we totally crap on joe pa….honestly.
Nick
November 7th, 2011
9:14 pm
@5150 UAOD
First of all these incidents are different than all the ones you have cited because they involve CHILDREN. That is different that underage drinking and pot smoking. It’s not about what school, it’s about the incident. As a UGA graduate, if this had happened in Athens I would say that the coach, AD, university president all should be fired. But, I can guarantee that it wouldn’t because we have a man of character leading our football program.
BTW you can’t legally call the cops on a positive drug screen because of this little law called HIPPA. So if UGA had called the cops on the kids who tested positive they would be violating the law, as were the people who leaked that the players tested positive in the first place.
phil
November 7th, 2011
9:14 pm
Release michael vick…
oldfart
November 7th, 2011
9:14 pm
It has been quite evident that Paterno should have let it go a long time ago anyway. I’ve seen this in athletics and board rooms all of my life and this is coming from a true oldfart. When you reach the stage that you are not keeping in touch with your surroundings because you are frequently more worried about making it to the bathroom in time it’s time to hang ‘em up. I always had a great deal of admiration for his program and what he professed in his kids educations, etc. but he has hung on past his prime and then some.
As for Sandusky, lets not drag General Motors into this they have their own problems. Though I’m not too religious I will have to agree with the Prince of Peace and rule out any turning of the cheek in these cases: “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Mr Charlie
November 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
As a parent, if a non-relative adult takes an unusual interest in your child, that is a red flag. You can mentor without spending the night. And if you do allow your child to spend a lot of time alone with an adult like that, you should as a LOT of questions. No way a 10 year old could hid something like that if you interrogated them.
dcb
November 7th, 2011
9:15 pm
Here we go again – and no matter what shade of gray it turns out to be, with the media on his case as exemplified by Schultz’s piece here, Paterno is toast. Perfect example of damning with faint praise Schultz. Well done. I’ll bet if you keep after it long enough you might even win some sort of a national press award.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:16 pm
The fact that you think you can guarantee something about someone you dont know undercuts any credibility you might think you have.
GADawg59
November 7th, 2011
9:16 pm
redweather, I just read your link. What kind of man would watch a child being abused without stepping in? I think most of us would have beat the hell out of Mr Sandusky if saw what he allegedly did. This makes me sick to my stomach.
BulldogGirl
November 7th, 2011
9:17 pm
5150 UOAD – Really?? You want to compare underage drinking to sexual molestation of boys as young as 9 and 10? I don’t understand your hatred of UGA and I certainly don’t understand your attempt at the comparison. I have two college age kids – 20 yr old son and 18 year old daughter. If they are illegally drinking then they are responsible for their actions not the liquor distributor in Athens. Who’s responsible for what happened to the young boys at Penn State? Is it their fault? You are a sad little man.
Georgia Girl
November 7th, 2011
9:18 pm
5150 UOAD…. I think it has already been proven that JoePa fulfilled the LEGAL obligation in this case. What about the moral obligation? This sick F**k was taking children to the showers on campus all the way up to 2008. Read the grand jury report:
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
JoePa is the HEAD COACH. I just don’t believe he knew nothing or at least had a suspicion…
Nope…not buying it at all…
phil
November 7th, 2011
9:18 pm
The media gives few any kind of chance….lynch mob…never mind if they might deserve the benefit of the doubt, even if only briefly.
excuse me, excuse me,
November 7th, 2011
9:19 pm
unlike Herman Cain’s answers to the roaming hands question?
Ginger Bennett
November 7th, 2011
9:21 pm
Lost respect for Paterno…he should have seen that Sandusky was stopped after the Penn State administration did not stop it.
They all were dumb…they should have know that someone would eventually talk.
Paterno was more interested in dueling Coach Bobby Bowdon for wins rather than stopping a monster.
Lost respect for Paterno–unless he explains otherwise…Jeff you are right to give Paterno an opportunity to explain.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:23 pm
How was he suppsed to see that Sandusky was stopped? Why didnt the parents of the other victims press charges way back when?
George Stein
November 7th, 2011
9:26 pm
It’s an interesting question, GADawg59. I’m not actually sure what I would have done under these circumstances. I mean, the guy you see “horsing around” was the DC for your boss and your dream is to be a college coach. I’d love to think that I’d have kicked his a– but I’m not sure that’d be honest.
Guarded attack
November 7th, 2011
9:28 pm
Interesting career choice made by the Penn State Grad assistant.
Fabricate a story about a shower, a 10 year old boy and the Sandman.
If I am Paterno and I hear those 3 words (shower,boy,Sandman) in any form or fashion, I run to my administrators, and dig deep! I push all memories of National Titles, All- Americans, legacy.. etc and I DO THE RIGHT THING !!
IT HAPPENED, WAS BURIED, PATERNO KNEW! IT’S CRIMINAL
George Stein
November 7th, 2011
9:29 pm
Paterno didn’t know until 2002, Ginger. Sandusky retired in 1999, which means that all Paterno could really do was cut him off from the program and report the incident.
I understand Paterno not wanting to believe the allegations were true. He worked with Sandusky for, what, 20 years?
Let’s not put too much on Paterno here. The monster is Sandusky (assuming the allegations are true).
Craig Smith
November 7th, 2011
9:29 pm
this is beyond disturbing….so Joe Pa complied at the minimal amount required by law but NEVER followed up to see if anything had been done? if the police were involved? IF ANYTHING HAD BEEN DONE?????
Alphare
November 7th, 2011
9:29 pm
Assistant reported to Joe Paterno, Paterno reported to AD, AD reported VP, VP reported President.
Wait, why didn’t the president to the governor? governor report to Vice President of US, and VP of US report to the Mr. Obama? and Mr. Obama to the UN, and UN report Mars?
Just never call police. Never. Otherwise the guy might be exposed.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:30 pm
Seriously? People do vindictive things all the time.Also what the grad assistant saw is not illegal. Suspicious, but not illegal.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:31 pm
Where does it say that in the story?
Alphare
November 7th, 2011
9:32 pm
The assistant was too young to know he should call police.
Joe Paterno was too old to know he should call police.
That’s how Dandusky got away for years.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:33 pm
You guys do know that it doesnt take an admission by the University for this guy to have been investigated by the police back in ‘02 right? If parents knew, how come we are just hearing about it now?
Red Stick
November 7th, 2011
9:33 pm
Jeff,
Great article!
We all banter on here and trade barbs mostly in good fun because we all love our schools whether it’s UGA, GT, Tenn, SC, Fl, Auburn, LSU, Bama or Clemson. This is simply sick and everyone from the President to Paterno is accountable.
If this had been JoePa’s grandson you better believe he would have followed up.
As far as I’m concerned, throw all of them off a bridge.
And some posters have the gall to talk about the SEC.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
DamonEvansredux
November 7th, 2011
9:36 pm
My red panties incident doesn’t look so bad now, does it?
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:36 pm
I love how the emotionally driven rednecks here, think the issue is so cut and dry. Nobody here has anywhere near enough info here to pass judgment. And yes JoePa cares more about his grandson than some random kid. Shocker!
GA Praline
November 7th, 2011
9:38 pm
I can’t even begin to think of how many boys were victims of this beast. I wonder how many who were already “at risk” took there own lives and will never be able to tell their stories, so wrong. Below is where he found his victims, how could his wife have not known.
“The Second Mile’s mission is to help “young people to achieve their potential as individuals and community members by providing opportunities for them to develop positive life skills and self-esteem.”
Sandusky and his wife, Dottie, have six adopted children and have received awards for their philanthropic deeds including 1993 NAACP Human Rights Award, the 1995 YMCA Service-To-Youth Award and the 1996 SGMA Heroes Award for the Second Mile.
“After we had taken in some foster children we saw the opportunities that some kids just hadn’t had,” Dottie Sandusky told Sports Illustrated in 1982. “But we’d gotten to the point where we couldn’t take in any more, so Jerry started thinking about starting a group home.”
In the official presentment released by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury, the grand jury states Sandusky “found his victims” through The Second Mile.”
Alphare
November 7th, 2011
9:38 pm
Jeff, you wrote:
Should Paterno have done more? No question. He should have followed up with school officials on the graduate assistant’s claims.
I am afraid you are wrong there my friend. Isn’t everybody required to report if you know a crime?
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:42 pm
Paul in NH — Thanks. It’ll be interesting to see what Paterno says at his Tuesday news conference.
moral character?
November 7th, 2011
9:42 pm
Say its not so Joe…….but Joe must go..he knew and didn’t follow up. He resigns are be fired.
This has nothing to do with Coach Richt.. UGA are other schools.
Has nothing to do with Herman Cain. In his defense if it was true why the hell did they wait till now to say anything. They were grown men and women…not kids, so was Wild Bill in the White house.
You break the law, pay the piper…Joe must go…better be glad it wasn’t my kid.
moral character?
November 7th, 2011
9:43 pm
Great job Jeff!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
9:43 pm
Mr. Charlie……..sorry I attended Military Boarding High School and Military College.
Frank
November 7th, 2011
9:44 pm
The whole crew has to go and be prosecuted there is know way that ” Peterno ” didnt know something fishy was going on. Where there is smoke there is fire. Someones son , friend or grandson (s) it appears were raped and people chose to look the other way. Heads must roll big time this is the worse type of crime. These guys will get there due punishment in prison. They do not take this type of thing kindly in the walls of prisons.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:45 pm
Jed — In answer to your question, the photo was taken in 1999.
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
9:46 pm
What I don’t understand is why Paterno and/or McQueary didn’t immediately contact the police after the 2002 incident. And why didn’t McQueary make any attempt to rescue the young victim in the shower? The enablers and cover-up artists are almost as reprehensible as the offenders in my opinion. Heads should roll here. This goes way beyond recruiting violations and the other stuff we usually associate with college football shenanigans.
Hetch Hetchy
November 7th, 2011
9:46 pm
It’s pretty damn obvious. Any report of child abuse goes directly to the police. As a university employee, Paterno is doubly bound.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
9:48 pm
Sandusky is innocent.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:48 pm
El Bravo — I don’t think anybody can doubt what it “looks like.” And we agree Paterno had a moral responsibility. We’re on the same page there. I just want to hear more from the man first.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:52 pm
Bammer — Yes, he had all of those foster children and he was heavily involved in that program. But, if he is guilthave a y, I’m sure a psychologist would have a lot to say about that — maybe something about subconsciously dealing with his guilt.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:53 pm
Thanks, Sopwith Camel.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
9:53 pm
A boss(uga fan) of mine was a girls softball coach. Everybody LOVED him. Nothing was said for 10-11 years. When the Girls got big then the whisper started. “Why would a MAN want to be around Young girls.” The CLAIMS cost him his job, wife/family, and respect. When all was said and done. He never did anything wrong. Somehow that didn’t matter.
Last I checked! MORAL obligations are dependent on your MORALS. The US left MORALS at the boat dock long ago. Please don’t talk Morals NOW. If we wanted MORALS in college football, then ALL teams would live by BYU standards.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:53 pm
El Bravo — Yep, I saw those police commissioner quotes from earlier today.