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
Hit A Single
November 7th, 2011
11:04 pm
Well it is late and I must get my rest. My 21 year old developed brain can’t stay awake with you 26 year old developed brains. At least that is what SCIENCE says. Right 5150!
xyz
November 7th, 2011
11:05 pm
It is so easy to throw stones, isn’t it? Joe has exhibited nothing but high standards and he did what he needed to do. He is not quilty of anything but being a remarkable person and a blessing to Penn State. It is always funny how you just want to find someone to blame. Look at Jerry, and if he is found quilty then he should pay the price for his crimes in which I hope he does. Joe Paterno is a moral man and would never not do the right thing, as he did when he was told he went to his bosses. Let him alone
Kyle
November 7th, 2011
11:06 pm
who takes a shower at a college football game?
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
11:06 pm
HIT……………the fact that the LAWS of this country are being broken everyday and in every way is happening should not come as a surprise. Why do people here DEFEND some LAW breaking but are applaud by others?
Lack of RESPECT and OBEISANCE to the Laws of this country is the JOKE. Many on here have tried to justify breaking some laws, but now want the MAX for some Law Breakers.
ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL.
Stop making excuses for some and holding others to higher standards.
I want ALL to face the Moral OUTRAGE and LEGAL Wrath that is EQUAL. Some here have justified and enabled others as it Benefits YOUR NEEDS.
I want the coach to face the proper punishment for his crimes. If he is found guilty then he has to face his penalty.
I am asking you fans that have OVERLOOKED some indiscretions to RE-evaluate and expect equal punishment for a crime when a person is FOUND guilty.
Richt was Political on the punishment and dawg fans loved it. UGA fans want FAIRLEY to pay with his life for hitting MURRAY. You can’t have it both ways. The LINE is the LINE. Don’t hold your loved ones to different standards than you hold your enemy.
Buffalo Bill
November 7th, 2011
11:07 pm
Joe Pa did nothing wrong. Snitches get stiches and Joe Pa aint no snitch.
MzCaliAttorney
November 7th, 2011
11:08 pm
This makes a lot of sense if Paterno, et al were involved in the same type of activity. How can you be friends with a pedophile for decades?? Why would you give your good retired friend an office, unlimited access to the football facilities to entice and molest young boys? No, something is not right here at all, birds of a feather flock together…i’d bet money that Paterno was molesting little boys too…
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
11:13 pm
Thanks JEFF SCHULTZ for the leeway you allowed me. I didn’t cuss. I have read the fans making excuses for all types of player misgivings, but now want to bring out the Swinging Rope when it is not one of their own. thanks again JEFF.
Waiting on your newer version of what THANKSGIVING is for.
North ave. faithful
November 7th, 2011
11:14 pm
5150,go to bed. your starting to rant like the unibomber.
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
11:17 pm
MzCaliAttorney…………….jack azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..
A group of 4 women ar friends and 1 is a Garden Hoe so all of them are Garden Hoes too. ! married man cheats so his 4 married buddies all cheat too?
4 running backs get HIGH so the WHOLE football team gets HIGH.
Absolute is great when it is Vodka not when referring to people.
athdog
November 7th, 2011
11:22 pm
The coaches/administrators who knew about this, if there are any that did, should go to jail, period. If it’s the president of the university or if it’s Joe Pa, they are complicit if they knew and did nothing to stop it. The coach who actually did the deeds, if he is found guilty, should be strapped to the Chevy and pushed off of the cliff, but only after he’s set afire and been shot in the groin with buckshot. Nothing could be more vile than what he allegedly did. If this happened to the staff here in Athens, or at any other school in the world, my reaction would be the same, and I am sure that any father would feel the same.
MzCaliAttorney
November 7th, 2011
11:22 pm
@5150…excuse me NEANDERTHAL what decent women associates with whores?? What decent man associates, befriends pedophiles?? This isn’t rocket science;)
andrew
November 7th, 2011
11:23 pm
How is it that Schultz gives the benefit of the doubt to Richt with the drug testing scandal but does not give the benefit of the doubt to Paterno? I actually think that neither should be given the benefit of the doubt…
athdog
November 7th, 2011
11:24 pm
CaliAttorney, your thought process is scary. I doubt if you are an attorney, and if so, I hope you specialize in real estate.
CaptainLefty
November 7th, 2011
11:25 pm
I used to teach junior tennis when I was a teenager back in the mid-80s and our coach’s first rule was do nothing than in any way looks even remotely improper so “rough-housing” and “horsing around” was out… as an instructor/coach/leader you never put yourself in that situation and you report those who do… looks like Joe Pa failed this very basic rule and his career flames out in a very bad way.
Muffican Jam
November 7th, 2011
11:27 pm
after all the years in coaching, this is how it ends for JoePa. this is not a good look for JoePa and PSU. the school now will be forced to do the right thing and dismiss all involved. this is sad on soo many levels. obviously someone had this under their hat until he got the wins record. where else is this going on? you hear about this in junior hockey but this is a first for football. I’m stunned right now.
athdog
November 7th, 2011
11:29 pm
Andrew, read the article again. JS gives Paterno the benefit of the doubt on more than one occasion, as any right thinking person would. It’s called American jurisprudence. You’re innocent until proven otherwise.
And please, don’t equate which day a bunch of kids got caught smoking dope with sodomizing a young boy. They are not even remotely equal.
athdog
November 7th, 2011
11:30 pm
Muffican Jam,
Ditto
xyz
November 7th, 2011
11:34 pm
Really, Joe as stated is not guilty!! He is not charged with anything and therefore you all are barking up the wrong tree. Why don’t you look in the mirrow and see what you see. Point your finger at the quilty when charged. Everyone has had someone in their life that we were shocked to find out something because we thought we knew them better. Joe is no different, he is not lying or hiding anything. He tells it like it is and doesn’t hold back anything.
Jim Tressel
November 7th, 2011
11:52 pm
Free tattoos aren’t looking so bad now, are they?
5150 UOAD
November 7th, 2011
11:53 pm
athdog…………..Physical Molestation is somehow worse than the Moral and Mental Molestation Hollywood is doing?
“The mental foundation is more easily broken with morally ambiguous puzzles than through physical violence”.
That is straight from the PSYOPS handbook.
It seems there is still some moral outrage for the physical, but the morally ambiguous is gaining more acceptance. ie. TMZ, accepted political corruption, cheating on graduation/grade advancement tests, and the change in socially accepted norms.
Listening to BIRD. Glenlivet “69″ single malt with 3 cubes makes it all better.
War Dang Dawg
November 7th, 2011
11:58 pm
“So RICHT enabling the pot smokers should be over looked?”
5150 – Wow, where the hell did that come from. We’re talking about a grown man raping little boys, repeatedly, and no one at PSU so much as called the police…and you’re ranting about a few dopeheads who got suspended. Seriously?
I get you hate the Dogs, but the topic is sexual abuse. Maybe the sports partisanship can be put aside on this thread.
And what the hell does my comment about Sandusky and his enablers getting locked up together have to do with anything that’s going on at the UGA? Do you disagree with my comment, or are you just offended that I didn’t lump Richt in with the Penn State officials who apparently covered up the rape of children?
I realized Richt is Tech’s personal tormentor, but jeez, this isn’t about results on the football field. Get a grip.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:00 am
atldog…………..I was not calling you out. I was adding info to your statement. i was not fighting against you.
Michael
November 8th, 2011
12:09 am
This is what is upsetting: a crime was committed, and nobody called the police. Someone witnessed a man raping a boy in the shower and did nothing more than report it to his boss, who did nothing more than report it to his boss, etc. No one called the police. Not even the man who is the public face of the university. He went from leader of men to ineffectual middle manager and just passed the buck to his superior. I don’t care how many games your teams have won in your name, Joe “Pa,” you failed your most important test.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:10 am
WAR DANG DAWG read the 11:06 I am lumping ALL LAW BREAKING together. I did that because if you relax on some it is easier to continue relaxing on others. Read 11:53 how the US PSYOPS breaks down cultural values without Torture. It is not written that way in many of the books you will get to read. That is a US War Policy partially implemented in Iraq by Gen. Petraeus.
War Dang Dawg
November 8th, 2011
12:13 am
5150, get some help.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:19 am
Micheal sounds like what the Wall Streeters do all the time. Sounds like backroom Politics being done to the American Tax Payer. Sounds like what the Non-taxpaying Americans and illegals are doing to the country. WHY are you mad it happened to a LIL boy? It is happening to that lil boy and girl but they don’t even know the person that is RAPING then because they will not realize the pain for about 5-15 years.
Don’t be OUTRAGED at one crime, but be OUTRAGED about the fact that CORRUPTION/CRIME is so common few people really care. You can’t be MAD at one crime and OK with another crime.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:23 am
WDD………..You get some HELP. Stop overlooking some crime and the SCREAM about others. You do remember “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”? You being mad now is half hearted when you yawned at the crimes before.
GTBob
November 8th, 2011
12:42 am
The more I read about this case, the worse it gets. I don’t see how anybody at Penn State keeps their job after this. Supposedly in 2007 Sandusky brought a young boy to a closed Penn State practice. That is 5 years after the victim 2 incident. So JoePa, and the graduate assistant turned coach were there conducting practice with Sandusky and a young boy watching. Also, apparently in 2009 Sandusky held an overnight camp for boys 4-9 at a satellite Penn State location. This story is going to get crazy as the week goes along.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:43 am
Just Guessing I would bet 85% of you posting think you are Jews, Christians, or Muslims and you are going to Heaven. You don’t get in Heaven on works alone. You have to accept Yahweh/Christ/ Allah as you God/Lord and Savior/True GOD. I would bet Joe Pa did that long ago. I would also bet in the 50+ years of coaching Joe Pa Sewed many seeds. He sowed more seeds than ALL of you posting combined. If you read the Old Testament, New Testament, or Qur’an, then you know most of you will never NEVER see the Savior, Golden Streets, or 72 Virgins.
Hold God’s Laws in your Heart, but live and abide by man’s laws that are not in conflict with GOD’S. Aka “Give unto Cesar”.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
12:46 am
GTBob I hope it is wrong. I also hope those on here that have given passes to others doing illegal activities will change their tune on ALL crimes.
7576DAWG
November 8th, 2011
12:53 am
Paterno will be forced to retire and the AD is gone. The house is about to be cleared. This charge is very serious business and is terrible for a great coach to go out because of this.
Muffican Jam
November 8th, 2011
12:56 am
man you guys have to take a time out on the CMR bashing because this situation is on a whole ‘nutha level. this is not about a few kids getting zooted between classes. for many growing up in the keystone state as I did getting a degree from PSU is one of the points of pride in ones life. not to be corny guys but there are literally 100s of thousands of alumni and friends of the school that held PSU and all it encompasses in a very high regard. they are now and rightfully so demanding answers to some very tough questions.
AFDawg
November 8th, 2011
12:56 am
Vance Duly at 4:56 has it right. The first thing you do if you ever witness something like that is you rush in and beat the molestor into a bloody pulp — then you call the police and ambulance and let them cart the monster away. How can that Grad Assistant and Paterno live with themselves knowing deep down they gave this freak a pass? Talk about cowardice.
BooBoo
November 8th, 2011
1:03 am
Fire the Pope!
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
1:08 am
AFDawg I guess the same way UGA fans let Damon Evans do his job while he was chasing white women. Like they let LEEBURN and Yucolan Live in sin too. WHY don’t you MORAL CHRISTIANS SCREAM OUTRAGE over the sins UGA members do that are on GOD’S TOP 10 LIST?
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
1:11 am
the LAW IS THE LAW…………………..
“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God…
ONE: ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’
TWO: ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.’
THREE: ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.’
FOUR: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’
FIVE: ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
SIX: ‘You shall not murder.’
SEVEN: ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
EIGHT: ‘You shall not steal.’
NINE: ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.’
TEN: ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.’
The 10 Commandments – Christ’s Summation in the New Testament
About 1,400 years later, the 10 Commandments were summed up in the New Testament at Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the religious “experts” of the day:
Tuned In
November 8th, 2011
1:12 am
LOOK AT DC ABOVE.
HE IS RIGHT ! ! !
THE WHOLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT —ESPECIALLY JOE PATERNO—SHOULD BE FIRED.
DON’T GIVE ME ANY OF THAT ” WELL OLD JOE HAS BEEN SUCH A GOOOD AMBASADOR”
AND ALL THAT EXCREMENT. FIRE THAT AZZHOLE
AND NONE OF THIS RESIGN EXCREMENT. FIRE HIM.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
1:15 am
Is there a College football team/College/Fan that doesn’t violate #2. Idolatry?
Rick
November 8th, 2011
1:24 am
I am not a bandwagon guy. Ths guy need to never work around children. But why did this take 10 years to surface?
I say after 10 years, prosecution should be a problem. Maybe not in this case, but 10 years…
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
1:26 am
TUNED IN…………………………..so PENN ST broke #10 Commandment and they all should go.
……………………………………………UGA is breaking # 7 and #2 so they should all GO too.
God laid equal value on these sins. Joe Pa is no better than Richt. They both have IDOLS around the Stadium. They both have members that COVET something of others. Be that a lil boy or a married man/woman.
as the DAWGS LOVE TO SAY/////////////////////////////Let he without SIN cast the first STONE. A Lot of Glass house Football programs looking at others.
In GOD’S eye the Lil boy is no different than LEEBURN and YOCULAN.
Throw rocks DAWGS throw rocks and call the kettle black.
In GOD”S EYES they are both in the top 10.
Please make excuses why UGA and Richt are better than Penn St and Joe Pa.
5150 UOAD
November 8th, 2011
1:48 am
uzanne Paige Yoculan was the head coach of the women’s gymnastics program at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia from 1983 to 2009. During her tenure, she built the Georgia gymnastics program into a national powerhouse and is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of collegiate gymnastics.
Yoculan graduated from Penn State University in 1975 with a degree in therapeutic recreation with a dance emphasis.
School ties: Attended University of Georgia
Age: 66
Wealth: N/A
How made money: CEO of Georgia Crown Distributing Company, a wholesaler and importer of liquor, wine and beer.
How much donated: N/A
School song/cheer: “Glory”
Braggin’ Rights: After 14 years on the powerful state board of regents, the ex-Bulldog football player was just reappointed to another seven-year term. He displayed his clout when he lined up with embattled UGA president Michael Adams in a successful bid to oust popular athletic director and longtime coach Vince Dooley. … Donated $500,000 toward construction of the Butts-Mehre building, the posh athletic headquarters.
The Buzz: A member of the search committee that hired Adams in ‘97, Leebern got on Adams’ good side early when he chipped in to pay tuition for Adams’ son to attend Emory University. … Leeburn shares an Athens home with UGA gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan. Leeburn got Yoculan in hot water with the NCAA last year when he provided his private plane to fly Yoculan and six members of the UGA girls’ gymnastic team for a weekend romp in New York.
Don Leebern, Jr.: this is a longer post for another time, suffice it to say the Leeburn cash comes with baggage and embarassment: Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C. I have two comments: 1) the ESPN article correctly notes Leebern “attended” UGA. While I take some pride in the fact Leebern did not achieve a degree from my alma mater, I’m embarassed by his tenure on the Board of Regents as a non-college graduate. Why does he keep getting reappointed? Does it have anything to do with this? I could overlook a lot if Leebern’s opinion of Michael Adams were lower; and 2) Don Leebern is not the least likable person on the list (although his legal wife in Columbus might disagree).
THROW ROCKS DAWGS THROW ROCKS……………Child Molester or Adulterer? GOD has both in the TOP 10.
legionaire
November 8th, 2011
4:59 am
Paterno was duty bound to follow up with the administration and the local police. Why did he not contact the parents of the kid? What a dirty son of a bitch Sandusky is.
AU Liberal in ATL
November 8th, 2011
5:29 am
If things don’t work out at Penn St, maybe he could just run for president on the republican ticket.
Notso Fast
November 8th, 2011
6:13 am
Mr. Joe needs to tell the world that he is retireing. He got the record and that is what he wanted. He knows he should have done more now. Maybe at the time he thought he did enough. Very sad to end like this.
M
November 8th, 2011
6:37 am
Oh, yeah, the NCAA has it right!
No Movies for players on game day, but turn their backs on big universities that let their coaches abuse innocent children!
Kenny Powers
November 8th, 2011
6:37 am
I was a child abuse worker for 4 years in Pa. during the late 70’s and Paterno had to report this to the police. Not a school admin, not anyone else but the authorities. It’s cut and dry, no grey areas, it’s the law, it must be reported. We used to go after judges, doctors, nurses, school principals, lawyers, anyone, anywhere, and at anytime of the day or night.
If FSU could get rid of Bowden, then PSU should do the right thing and send JoePa on his way.
Dawg
November 8th, 2011
7:15 am
Where are all the Loud Mouth Coach Richt and UGA haters on this one
Bob
November 8th, 2011
7:16 am
I usually have another blog “name” on sports blogs but this is different… Lynne, a PSU alumnus said it well at 4:42 pm yesterday… I have nothing to add.
Bob
November 8th, 2011
7:19 am
I will start calling the blogger 5150 the “Toad” and I think it is a she with issues…Why don’t you leave this blog and go somewhere else… You are too emotional and need a strong man in your life
DMac
November 8th, 2011
7:22 am
I am not surprised. I have been telling my friends for years, “when Joe Pa retires, or passes away, there will be dayglo plaid skeletons that come break dancing out of the closets in Happy Valley.” Well I was wrong. It hasn’t taken that long. I suspect that this is not the end of the “peccadilloes” (a very nice word for this offense) we’ll see paraded before us.
THWG,
David