Paterno’s statement’s not enough, Penn State dropped ball
Joe Paterno is retiring, but he will be allowed to coach the rest of the season. (AP photo)
Joe Paterno will coach at least three more football games.
This is not going to be pretty.
Paterno confirmed this morning that he will retire at the end of the season. This follows ugly sexual abuse claims against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the belief by many that school officials, including Paterno, may have been complicit in covering up the matter and/or could have done more to push for an investigation.
Paterno released a statement in which he conceded, “With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”
They were the proper words. But they should have been spoken, not released via email, before anybody at Penn State even considered allowing him back on the sideline.
I can’t imagine any university, company or entity handling a situation worse than how Penn State has handled the past few days.
Paterno’s complete statement:
“I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.
“I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.
“That’s why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.
“My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.”
I wrote the other day about how sickening this whole saga is, that potentially something so despicable could go on for so long. Paterno had met his legal obligations in the Sandusky matter but questions about whether he had met his moral obligations lingered.
I also wrote that before I jumped on the growing “Paterno Must Go” bandwagon, I wanted to hear what he had to say — live, in a room, behind a microphone, with people. Granted, Paterno was being crushed by public opinion and it seemed implausible that he could not have known — 0r done –more. But to me it all seemed a little too much too fast, given Paterno’s stature and reputation before this story broke.
I believed that Paterno needed to get behind a microphone, answer every question, show remorse and make us believe that there was no intent on his part to cover up such alleged heinous crimes for a long-time friend.
Because anybody who enabled Sandusky also belongs behind bars.
But Penn State already has made its decision. That’s a mistake. It’s as if the university is allowing Paterno one final power play in State College.
It’s going to be ugly in “Happy Valley” at Saturday’s final home game against Nebraska.
It’s going to be ugly and scary when Paterno and Penn State go on the road for the final two games to Ohio State and Wisconsin.
If Paterno coaches in a bowl game, the atmosphere certainly is not going to seem like a season celebration, which is what bowl games were intended to be.
Penn State dropped the ball. And when everybody looks at Paterno on the sideline Saturday, the first thought most will have won’t be, “There’s a great football coach.”
By Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
590 comments Add your comment
Grand Jury
November 9th, 2011
5:54 pm
don’t need a Penn State investigation now, it should have been done many years ago. The Grand Jury has done what they should have done years ago.
Muffican Jam
November 9th, 2011
6:03 pm
How JoePa takes the field Saturday is beyond me. How Sandusky breathed fresh air on this side of a prison wall for all these years is beyond me. How a kid suits up feeling good about putting on the uni and taking the field to represent PSU is beyond me. I would hope some of the current players would grow a pair and boycott playing. They already see what the program thinks of them as humans. ESPN, the bottom feeders will be right there to televise the pedophile enablers and PSU will continue to make money. If the NCAA has a consious they will give the program the death penalty. That whole coaching staff knew!! They all need to go too. Coaches don’t come and go at PSU. There is no Paterno coaching tree out there. Once you’re there you’re there for a while. McQuery knew the ramifications of outting Sandusky in the PSU world, his spot in the PSU circles would be tarnished. HE SACRIFICED A KIDS WELFARE FOR HIS OWN GAIN!! That’s why he didn’t come forward, stupid coward. Give the athletes a chance to transfer to a school of their choice without having to sit out for going to another D1 program. ANy coach on the staff is banned for life from coaching. All administrators involved serve real jail time. I wish this thing had a happy ending but there is none, there’s more to follow.
DP
November 9th, 2011
6:12 pm
Let the university do its investigation? Did you not read the grand jury report? The Penn State police department investigated Sandusky in 1998, which likely caused his forced retirement but otherwise the report was buried. Then in 2002 Penn State allegedly investigated after McQueary reported what he saw in the locker room. Incredibly, that resulted in the higher ups at Penn State telling Sandusky not to bring young boys on campus any longer. If you want to keep molesting, do it elsewhere. And then Sandusky kept coaching young boys in Penn State summer camps and availing himself of their athletic facilities all the way up to last week. This even though he had been under investigation since 2008 and plenty of Penn State coaches and administrators knew about it because they’d testified before the grand jury.
The only reason any of this is coming to light is Sandusky was at it again in a high school district and they immediately banned him from the district and reported him to the authorities, as Penn State should have done. The investigation of Sandusky by the Pennsylvania authorities led them back to Penn State. This matter is out of Penn State’s hands. If they’d had their way all of these crimes would have never come to light.
Donaldo
November 9th, 2011
6:15 pm
Well said Beach Dawg, we are a society of laws and we don’t convict people in the media. Some of us forget this from time to time. While I find the entire thing disgusting, I also am a Christian, who was taught to obey the rule of law and to embrace forgiveness and to show mercy. This is a time when we all collectively need to remember the fundamental values of our society which are under attack.
Upstate NY
November 9th, 2011
6:20 pm
What school other than a greedy one would allow a 80 plus year old to coach when it is obvious the man is slipping. As in life things change—-Paterno had his time-time to go. Paterno is victim here by setting up for a greedy a** alumni who wants to ride off his name and fame for revenue. If this Sandusky situation would of never been uncovered—do you honestly think Joe Paterno would even be thinking about losing his job at PSU? No but he** no! Sandusky will get his trust me………….
Thanks alumni for setting up a guy you should of retired a decade ago. Now you send a man out who had great teams over 3-4 decades with an asterik*. I hope that the next Coach you get (Urban Meyer) you will treat with much more respect.
Should be interesting to see how the PSU alums adjust to Urban’s recruits and his style…he’s alot different than Joe Pa! Maybe now PSU you all can retire those Junior High Uniforms I wore 37 years ago.
Blue
November 9th, 2011
6:40 pm
you idiots who say “you don’t have all the facts” and “I’m going to reserve my judgment until I have all the facts” could do some research and GET the facts. The Grand Jury indictment, all 23 pages, is on-line and you can get a WHOLE bunch of “facts” that you seem to lazy to go and get for yourselves. Or are you going to wait for the media to spoon feed you? Grow up and start finding out for yourselves before you start accusing others of ‘not having the facts’.
doggoneit
November 9th, 2011
6:41 pm
The media have turned into cowards after the Rush Limbaugh incident. This is not reporting the news this is called saving your a$$ Jeff. What did JP know word for word Jeff? Please answer the question… If the only answer is that JP knew something ” inappropriate happened ” then thats not enough to hang someone.
brad
November 9th, 2011
6:41 pm
Donaldo, I’m willing to show Sandusky, McCreary, Paterno et. al. the same mercy that was shown the children.
brad
November 9th, 2011
6:43 pm
Tell that to the children, Doggoneit.
Jared
November 9th, 2011
6:44 pm
This is like the movie “Doubt.” no one really cares about who’s guilty or even about the victims. Everyone just wants someone to blame for something. Who cares if he’s guilty or not. Suddenly, enabling or “not doing enough” is the worst crime imaginable, who cares about the actually perpetrator.
Beast from the East
November 9th, 2011
6:53 pm
The whole thing is sickening. I would want every single person with any knowledge of these allegations to be fired immediately. There is no excuse for the failure to notify authorities. None.
Beast from the East
November 9th, 2011
6:58 pm
doggoneit,
A 60 year old man in the shower with a 10 year old requires no other details. Any person on the face of this earth that did not call 911 after having been notified doesn’t deserve to breath the same air as the rest of us.
doggoneit
November 9th, 2011
7:03 pm
brad Idiot What was told to JP. I’m waiting for an answer! Beast. Kid said he reported an incident occured you freak. he didnt say in detail to pa what the incident was!
North ave. faithful
November 9th, 2011
7:05 pm
Come on people, Joe knew, JOE KNEW!!!!!
Chris
November 9th, 2011
7:05 pm
@Blue, I read the report, as did most of the guys you’re talking about, and we’ve constantly been quoting from that report. Once again, get the facts before you speak. Just like a lot of the others, the angry tone of your posting already implies there’s no point in debating with you because you’ve ignorantly made up your mind (but I’m going to post this anyway to raise your blood pressure just a bit more).
doggoneit
November 9th, 2011
7:05 pm
You hold JP accountable for an “Incident he knew nothing about” Fools all of you!
doggoneit
November 9th, 2011
7:06 pm
North, quit assuming. it makes an ass out of you and me
SeaShark
November 9th, 2011
7:12 pm
Penn State University’s Board of Trustees should not allow Nittany Lions head football coach Joe Paterno to merely resign and retire. The board should forcefully fire Paterno, sending a message that the personal safety of university students, staff and campus visitors is the school’s first priority. The board should also announce that the university’s security, crime prevention, and crime reporting protocols will be revised, with new procedures in place designed to enhance safety and ensure immediate communication with campus and city police when crimes are witnessed by any school employee.
Penn State in 1998 should have fired Jerry Sandusky and permanently banned him and his Second Mile foundation from university property after campus police investigated and confirmed at least two credible complaints against Sandusky, alleging that he was engaging in predatory inappropriate physical contact with minor children in the school’s shower rooms. Two detectives, with the consent of the mother of one of the victims, eavesdropped on two conversations the mother had with Sandusky in which he admitted, according to the Associated Press, showering with and touching her son and other boys, and admitted that his conduct was wrong. The county attorney should have filed criminal charges against Sandusky but refused to do so. However, Penn State’s president and athletic director still had the necessary “just cause” to fire him—and their failure to do so needlessly exposed countless other underage boys to Sandusky’s depraved criminal conduct for another ten years.
Mike McQueary in 2002, then a graduate assistant Penn State football coach and now the Nittany Lions’ wide receivers coach, claims he saw Sandusky performing anal sex on a 10-year old boy in the team locker room shower area and immediately left the building INSTEAD OF rushing into the room and rescuing the defenseless child. McQueary’s cowardice is outrageous, inexcusable and unforgivable, and the fact that he reported the assault to Joe Paterno the next day does not pardon him for his failure to help a child in desperate need of protection. Paterno passed the information on to Penn State AD Tim Curley, but he should have also told Curley that the two of them were going at once to the university president’s office and the three of them would immediately disclose the allegations to the city’s police department.
Penn State’s board of trustees should terminate the employment of any university administrators or coaches—including President Graham Spanier—who are proven by the court system or the school’s disciplinary procedures to have failed their legal duty or professional obligation to report Sandusky’s alleged crimes against children promptly and directly to local law enforcement officials. The Penn State employees who failed these children should not be allowed to merely resign or retire; they should be fired.
I am astonished and infuriated that some of these Penn State people over a period of 14 years (1994-2008) apparently did not feel any persuasive humanitarian impulse to alert police to the complaints and allegations of child sex abuse against Jerry Sandusky. I hope they are tormented with guilt and never experience a good night’s sleep again.
North ave. faithful
November 9th, 2011
7:13 pm
Beast i think their just trying to get everyone riled up. No one could be that naive.
The Nature Boy
November 9th, 2011
7:16 pm
@ Beast….yep I’m with you…I fire the guy for taking a shower next to a 10yr old boy even if I don’t see any touching….as you stated, no other details are necessary….this whole thing is nuts…I’m astounded that Paterno will be on the sidelines this Sat.
Beast from the East
November 9th, 2011
7:21 pm
doggoneit,
Once again. 60 year old man in the shower with a 10 year old boy. If that does not illicite an immediate response from you, then you’re either a clueless fool or a total scumbag. Either way, I won’t discuss anything any further with either.
Dr. Morpheus
November 9th, 2011
7:22 pm
I’ve spent the past 30 years studying the effects of trauma and providing psychological care to people who were abused as children. When a trusted authority figure violates vulnerable children, the damage to mind and body can last a lifetime. The failure to take aggressive action to determine what Sandusky was doing, stop him from doing it, and provide all necessary support to those who were victimized by him cannot be dismissed or excused, despite the fact that Coach Paterno has also done much good in his other ways. The powerless depend on those who use power for good to protect them from those who use it for evil.
5150 UOAD
November 9th, 2011
7:23 pm
Joe Paterno he be Hung about the neck until dead on the 50 yard line just prior to the Kick Off of this weekends last home game. All you people on this blog are invited to come spit on Joe’s grave if that will make you feel better.
The Nature Boy
November 9th, 2011
7:27 pm
@ 5150…I’d settle for him stepping down….I don’t spit on graves..he’s a stubborn old man..he hasn’t “coached” in years….he’s selfish..and his son is as big as bread truck…they are all trash….
doggoneit
November 9th, 2011
7:31 pm
Beast from the East idiot! what exactly was said to JP? Thats Right , You don’t know! 5150 thats why your not a judge! Dr. Morpheus bla bla blah! who cares this article is about misinformation.
Put a bullet in the child molestationers head. We all agree to that!. If someone told me an incident occured in the shower. I would say report it to the AD. notice I did not ask about the particulars of the incident.
indigo
November 9th, 2011
7:31 pm
Like Bobby Bowden, Paterno stayed too long.
Still, here he did not do a coverup. He brought it to the proper person. I’m sure he had hard time believing it from this man who worked for him for so long, whose family was probably close to Joe’s. So he put it out of mind and perhaps assumed, as, of course he wanted to believe, that the investigation did not prove the deed. He himself did not see the act, so there always was room for doubt. People will believe what they want to believe. Not his finest hour, but, for all the outstanding good he has done, he should be allowed to leve gracefully.
On the other hand, strange that Sandusky retired at 55 at the height of his success. Was there a reason?
The Nature Boy
November 9th, 2011
7:41 pm
@ indigo..Bobby might turn his head at free shoes…but not a sexual predator….I know that….Bobby would have called the law….
Roger
November 9th, 2011
7:42 pm
Allowing Joe Paterno to coach though the end of the season and a mistake and disgrace, and it’ shows a huge lack of respect and concern for the victims. Joe Paterno is an enabler and doesn’t care about anything outside of his players and the university. See quote from Paterno:
“I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.
This happened over a long period of time because everyone involved was looking out for the welfare of the University instead of the welfare of defenseless young boys. I guess Paterno only cares about the young men entrusted to his care and everybody else’s children can go to hell. He doesn’t give a rats ass about anyone outside of that university. I hope he burns in HELL!!!! And I hope the fans at the two remaining away games give him hell too! He needs to step aside NOW out of respect for the young boys who were victimized by Joe’s friend!
SLAPAjacket
November 9th, 2011
7:48 pm
North Ave has faithful?
@Chief Knock
November 9th, 2011
8:03 pm
If it would shame JP more to be fired today and not be the record holder of coaching the most games, then I’m for firing him today. The then grad assistant probably has spent many sleepless nights already (maybe JP too) but his non action when he saw a rape in progress is just too much to let pass and hopefully Penn State will let him go also. Too bad he has not been asked why he did not intervene.
MarineDog
November 9th, 2011
8:12 pm
There has been many instances where misbehavior and even crimes in some cases have been ignored by coaches and administrators alike. I never imagined that I would see something of this magnitude. How something like this could happen at any university and to go on for such a long period of time is beyond explanation. There’s no way that he should be allowed to finish this season; nor should the president of this university. This has to be the most serious charge that I have ever heard of involving employees at a university.
Saban is overrated.
November 9th, 2011
8:19 pm
Schultz, why are you responding to these idiots. Paterno has admitted that he knew something sexual in nature happened and he didn’t respond the way a man of his statue should have responded. He is not the man next door. He has a much bigger obligation.
Paterno, a great coach. Say what. Last relevance was 94. Last NC was 87 where Miami had 7 turnovers, 22 first downs to PSU’s 8, 400 something yards to PSU’s 160 and PSU won by 4.
They replay the game 2 out 3, 3 out 5, whatever, Miami wins 80%.
doc
November 9th, 2011
8:19 pm
such a simple thing to get your bosses to do the right thing isnt it?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/mental-health-worker-fired-child-porn_n_1084381.html?1320875003&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C111327
Saban is overrated.
November 9th, 2011
8:21 pm
Pedaphile
State
University
Saban is overrated.
November 9th, 2011
8:26 pm
Read an article where the students will rally around him. Stupid, young punks. 24 years since a NC. I bet they have another in less than 10. He has pissed away a many of NC opportunities for the school.
Watch. Hell, Auburn and GT have had a NC since he has.
Muffican Jam
November 9th, 2011
8:27 pm
Let’s say for arguments sake Joe knew nothing. In light of the information before the school and Board of Trustees right now, how in the world can they play a football game Saturday??? They’re just going to run out there like nothings wrong and for three hours pretend nothing happened?? McQuery is going to put on some head sets and coach a game. Just like that, huh? If Joe truly loved PSU as he says he does and truly loves the students, he would not play this Saturday and in fact cancel the rest of the season.
1969 Graduate
November 9th, 2011
8:43 pm
Unbelievable that anyone would defend any of these people. At best, their sins of omission allowed a rapist to continue raping children.
It seems worse and worse the more you learn, but, of course, it was a bad as it could be to begin with. It just seems worse because so many people let the rapist continue raping.
He was seen in the shower raping a child and the 28 year old man who saw it – a PSU graduate, a former professional football player, and a graduate student – left the building!
The head football coach, a living legend, was told about the rape in the shower, and he called his boss!
The rapist was let off the hook because he promised to be good, and not hang around the campus showers, and it was no big deal anyway, but wait…
Everybody knew the rapist continued hanging out with little boys, and on the campus to boot. Is there anyone fool enough to not know what was going on with these boys?
Other than being a child rapist, he’s a pretty decent fellow, right?
The PSU football program should be shut down, and the buildings burned.
Florida/PSU Fan
November 9th, 2011
8:53 pm
I do not doubt that Sandusky performed the disgusting acts that are being reported, but I have never seen a witch hunt like I have for Coach Joe Paterno. For the past two days, I see Paterno’s picture plastered on ESPN (like he was the accused individual). Granted, he may have not have been as proactive with his follow-up, but the real attention should go towards Sandusky and his perverse actions. Let a man who has done more good with his life and money than 99% of America retire in peace and focus on the real villain. I am disgusted with ESPN and their coverage. I have never seen the individuals surrounding a case prosecuted and convicted before the actual defendant comes to trial. Shame on ESPN and Dan Patrick for focusing on a participant (if you can call him that) so far removed from the actual monster that committed these crimes. I think this is everybody’s chance to pile on a program that was squeaky clean and successful for years. Just a point of fact, I am a dyed in the wool SEC fan, but I respect what Paterno stands for an am disgusted at the treatment he is getting for being acquainted with a “sex offender”. Focus your energy and wrath on Sandusky and let one of the great icons of our time live in peace.
curious
November 9th, 2011
8:58 pm
Why aren’t media pundits pouncing on the graduate assistant? That person witnessed a crime? That person should have dialed 911. That person should have rescued a rape victim. When will the media ask questions? Is that GA a coach now? How about demanding that person’s resignation?
Add your comment
November 9th, 2011
9:01 pm
Enter your comments here
dmfox08
November 9th, 2011
9:04 pm
Did y’all know Mark Bradley never did anything wrong, nor has any skeletons in his closet? Joe Paterno has positively influenced more people than MB could ever imagine. Did he do wrong? Well, it’s situational and yes he probably did. Did he do something; yes, and more than just reporting it to his superiors if you look at the whole situation. Yes, Penn State dropped the ball and so does the AJC everytime they let MB state his opinion.
Tech Tony
November 9th, 2011
9:06 pm
I only read 2 pages of comments so if I’m stealing someone else’s thunder on this most horrific topic I apologize but here’s my two cents:
PSU banned Sandusky from bringing kids on campus. Is the message, “it’s ok, Jerry Sandusky, for you to do whatever it is you’ve been doing as long as it’s not on our grounds”? If that doesn’t chill your bones, nothing will.
Old Physics Teacher
November 9th, 2011
9:16 pm
Like Schultz says, I’d like Joe to talk to people rather than issue a statement. On the other hand, after reading people’s comments hear, I certainly can understand his reticence. Guys, this is a lynch mob here. All caps means you’re shouting. This isn’t a shouting mach where the loudest guy wins. This is now a legal proceedings. Yes, the police are on our side… yeah, right. Just like the FBI really just wanted to get the “facts” about Richard Jewell – just like the Denver cops were just asking questions of JonBenet Ramsey’s parents and not setting them up. In his situation, I wouldn’t talk to you guys either. You’ve already convicted him. All that’s missing is the guy who screams out, “I’ve got a rope! Let’s hang him!!!”
I can understand a “kid” coming to me and telling me a long-time friend was doing something questionable. I would do exactly what the law required me to do. Nothing more – nothing less. What if the kid was wrong, and I called the police and had a friend falsely arrested on the word of a “college kid – just barely out of his teens?” Would I be subject to a huge lawsuit – absolutely; would I have ruined the life of my friend – absolutely. I would want my superiors to do this. That’s what they get paid for – not me.
What does concern me is if I believed there “was” fire there, I sure wouldn’t let the guy get the head coaching job… which is exactly what Joe did. If he did “know” and let this continue on, he’s guilty of aiding and abetting a felony. If he was suspicious… the actions of refusing to let Sandusky be the head coach is a huge indicator of Joe’s guilt. He’d have to answer why he refused Sandusky’s application… and it better be darned good with plenty of evidence that Sandusky rejection had to do with lack of football skills rather than “questionable morals.”
Whats Important
November 9th, 2011
9:21 pm
dmfox08 – Don’t want to be the one to break it to you fella,but this is a Jeff Schultz blog. And please stop with the “he who is without sin” or “I guess you have never done anything wrong.” I have run a red light, that is wrong, does that put me on the same level as someone who condones a pedophile. Good grief, get some perspective.
phil
November 9th, 2011
9:22 pm
Thank goodness for a jury system and a constitution to protect us average joes from the likes of most of the lynch mob posters on these blogs…
phil
November 9th, 2011
9:23 pm
Clearly, red light runners are known pedophile condoners…
Whats Important
November 9th, 2011
9:26 pm
@Phil – don’t think I was talking to you Phil. Clearly you are a jerk.
5150 UOAD
November 9th, 2011
9:30 pm
@Whats Important you up for a road trip? I am fix’n to get a Church bus and I wanna load it with good LYNCH MOB people like you. We gonna go and Drag Joe Paterno behind the bus all over town.
dmfox08
November 9th, 2011
9:33 pm
@Whats important, thanks. My mistake, you are correct in my typo of being a MB or JS blog. I understand your reply and I’m not trying to condone a pedophile. I feel that JoePA shouldn’t be remembered for this, although he maybe at fault for wrongdoing. Also, remember, look at the whole situation, he did more than he has been credited for. Enough? Probably not. Have a good evening…
phil
November 9th, 2011
9:35 pm
What’s important – wrong, doof. I was just making a bad joke. Relax.