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
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
9:58 pm
Catlady — My wife is a teacher so I know exactly what you speak of.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
9:59 pm
This is sickening. In today’s society I am not surprised.
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 7th, 2011
10:00 pm
Anyone found guilty of molesting a child should be castrated and imprisoned in solitary for life plus 100 years.
N-FLCat
November 7th, 2011
10:00 pm
Excuse me, but what difference does any further statement from Paterno make when the media is practically script-writing, even telling Paterno to say exactly what the media wants to hear?
If you spend a hour, thirty minutes, twenty minutes or even ten writing out the specific actions for Paterno follow, you think you’ve captured your thoughts, but in reality any reader is smart enough to know what you’ve written is a disgusting alibi.
Let’s not pretend this isn’t about sports. Football is a sport. Penn State plays college football. Football coaches coach a sport. The rapes happened in a football locker room. Joe Paterno’s locker room, and the best the entire Penn State staff, including Joe Paterno, could do was to tell Sandusky to ‘take that stuff off-campus’?
Anybody remember what shame is according to the NCAA? Pocket money? Free pizzas? Free shoes? Any of that jog the memory?
People up there are crying out for authorities outside to take over. Readers need to google Ray Gricar to see why.
The NCAA must punish Penn State and Joe Paterno like they’ve never punished anything else before.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:03 pm
You may punish Coach Paterno and others that knew, but you don’t punish the players that had no control over this. Undoubtedly they knew nothing of what was going on.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:03 pm
5150 — I am not in any way excusing Bill Clinton’s antics with an intern. But that is an awful analogy, comparing that with a pedophile. It’s not even close.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:05 pm
It took nerve to do this in the lockeroom. He is sick and thought he was above the law if this is true.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
10:07 pm
@ Hit a Single-stop saying things like “undoubtedly,” you don’t know what the football players knew or didnt know. If Joe Paterno was not already implicated, you would say the same thing about him.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:08 pm
Moral Character? — Thanks.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:10 pm
Fast Eddie, I am just saying you don’t punish the football players without proof they knew of it. Someone stated you punish Penn State. You punish only the ones involved. Do you know who all knew of what was going on?
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
10:11 pm
“5150 — I am not in any way excusing Bill Clinton’s antics with an intern. But that is an awful analogy, comparing that with a pedophile. It’s not even close.”
Hmmm. Not close, but not completely off the radar. The power imbalance between the leader of the free world and an unpaid, college-age worker is so great, it raises questions about consent. One thing they both have in common: creepy, lecherous behavior.
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
10:13 pm
And although it got the most attention, the Lewinski scandal was the least of the allegations made against Clinton. Bubba is one disturbed individual.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:13 pm
Sorry JEFF, but not that far off.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:15 pm
War Dang Dawg — I don’t recall even a hint in any stories about no-consent from Monica Lewinsky. In fact, as I recall, she joked about it with a friend that she was ‘Intern in charge of (fill in the blank).” Again, I’m not excusing his behavior. But it’s a poor analogy.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:15 pm
Happy to say I’ve only had to delete a few comments so far.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:16 pm
Just another black eye for college football. The good Lord is tyring to tell us we need to clean up the whole outfit. We have lowered standards, rules, expectations of character and integrity all for just trying to get to the National Championship game.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:17 pm
POWER over a Young person for SEX? Just because it was with the opposite sex is not that different. BOTH used their POWER and position to influence the younger person to do things that were morally wrong. Did your forget Bill Clinton was married?
Paterno morally obliged to answer questions on Sandusky
November 7th, 2011
10:19 pm
[...] Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:20 pm
I don’t think anybody twisted Monica’s arm. She loved it. These kids didn’t. They don’t even compare.
DMF
November 7th, 2011
10:20 pm
Atypical for 5150 to argue with fencepost…..constant rabble rouser who has nothing better to do. Personally I think they should line this guy up and shoot him if found guilty.
DMF
November 7th, 2011
10:21 pm
Hit a Single hit it on head……Lewinsky wished for it to happen apparently…..don’t think any of the kids in this case were hoping for said outcome.
Eddie Long
November 7th, 2011
10:23 pm
Good thing you arent in charge DMF.
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
10:24 pm
Jeff, I’m not claiming that she was forced to do anything. What I’m saying is that there was such an extreme power imbalance, it wasn’t a fair contest. And it that sense it bears resemblance to pedophilia. She may have been joking back then when she was unknown, but I doubt she’s joking now. She’s basically become a slang euphemism, while Clinton’s esteem has never been higher in some quarters. But like I said, if you want to compare Clinton to a sex offender, there’s better examples than the Lewinsky affair.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:26 pm
Hit A Single — “Just another black eye for college football. The good Lord is tyring to tell us we need to clean up the whole outfit. We have lowered standards, rules, expectations of character and integrity all for just trying to get to the National Championship game.”
<<< Good comments. And to add to that, people seem more concerned about a college football playoff than cleaning up college football period.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:27 pm
Jeff Schultz…………Less than 150 years ago men(23+) having brides(12+) was considered normal. In Ancient Greece and Rome young males were a delachaise to be enjoyed like Wine and Food. Cocaine and pot were legal in the US before the 1930’s. Morals and Values change. Laws & their enforcement change over time as well. HUMAN NATURE does not change no matter what man’s Law says.
Jeff Schultz
November 7th, 2011
10:29 pm
5150 — Gender has nothing to do with it. It’s about age. Most of these boys were 9 to 12. Monica Lewinsky was 22 or 23.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:31 pm
RAPE…………..ALL RAPE is based on POWER. Jeff you are a LIBERAL. you should know this from the psy evals.
sports
November 7th, 2011
10:33 pm
that monster should be put away and those kids should go after Penn St. legally, big time. what a dirty predator.
PO5150
November 7th, 2011
10:33 pm
Wow, leave it to5150 to compare a few college age kids smoking pot to an adult man molesting children.
I would call you a an idiot or a moron, but I do not want to insult people who are simply idiots or morons by comparing them to you.
DMF
November 7th, 2011
10:34 pm
Don’t be so sure there Eddie…..The Chinese sure managed to clean up their heroin problem….simple solution was if you were caught with heroin you were executed. You knew where you stood so you make a mistake you pay for it with your life.
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
10:35 pm
Sandusky and his enablers should have to share a jail cell together.
DMF
November 7th, 2011
10:36 pm
Apparently 5150 has identified the fencepost to which he will present his case………..
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:37 pm
The HUMAN Brain is not FULLY developed until about 26 years old. That is based on the fact that the human brain did not have ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT due to injury or drugs(alcohol). These early influences tend to retard the brains development in all/most connotative functions. Monica experienced Arrested Development and Power Rape with little doubt.
bev
November 7th, 2011
10:37 pm
Anyone who does not report child abuse immediately should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!!! End of story!!!
Abnerish
November 7th, 2011
10:37 pm
This is an amazing, awful, gut-wrenching story. I cannot believe that Joe Paterno’s long and storied career is going to end because of something like this. Truly awful. I cannot believe JoePa would turn a blind eye to this. This is not something you turn over to your superiors and then forget about. Did he not understand what was described to him? Did he not believe the accusation? If they tried to cover this up to protect PSU’s reputation, then they are the stupidest people in the world.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:39 pm
5150 – My brain was fully developed at 21. That is why the legal drinking age is 21.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:42 pm
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
10:35 pm
Sandusky and his enablers should have to share a jail cell together.
So RICHT enabling the pot smokers should be over looked? Damon Evans was caught the 1st and ONLY time he did what he did? Why are his ENABLERS………LEEBURN & ADAMS……..not in the same situation too? LEEBURN is MARRIED but LIVES with Suzzanne Yoculan. Where is your MORAL OUTRAGE on this ISSUE?
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:43 pm
HIT a Single you need to LEARN MORE. That 21 yr old brain is not what SCIENCE thinks.
Paul in NH
November 7th, 2011
10:43 pm
I guess people’s brains develop earlier in the UK – the legal drinking age there is 18.
bev
November 7th, 2011
10:44 pm
Burn in hell Sandusky!!
DMF
November 7th, 2011
10:45 pm
Wasting your time, boys……………let him debate himself.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:47 pm
DMF come back with your USUAL deflection of responsibility like you do with College football players making mistakes.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:48 pm
Well a 50 to 60 year old man knew what he was doing. Undoubtledly part of his brain wasn’t developed. He took advantage of kids and he should pay if found guilty. 5150 keeps bringing up adults involved in scandals. Well these are kids. A 26 year old brain should know the difference.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:49 pm
RANKING SINS…………….I guess we have a Blog of Dante’s.
Tuned In
November 7th, 2011
10:51 pm
Look at what Bev said above.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:52 pm
HIT……….you know I was responding to if MONICA knew what she was doing in the power rape situation. I was not talking about the Man vs Boys in the arrest……………never mind. It was not that difficult to follow.
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:53 pm
Well 5150 remember my brain is just 21 not 26. Bottom line is that the story here is sad and going on all over this country.
North ave. faithful
November 7th, 2011
10:54 pm
Good lord 5150,are you really trying to compare this in some way to a trans am and a few 19 or 20 year olds away from home smoking a little weed,you my fellow tech fan are an IDIOT!!!
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
10:54 pm
What ever happened to the UGA fans saying “HE WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE?”
HAHAHAHA HIPPO CRATS HIPPO CRATS HIPPO CRATS…………….
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
10:56 pm
5150 – What does this have to do with UGA fans? I don’t believe they were at Penn St. Your brain sure isn’t developed.