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
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590 comments Add your comment
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
I know no one is going to comment because it makes your outrage seem a little silly but according to an attorney today, Paterno took this to the people who were head of the university police.
Ultimately it comes down to your belief of what the GA told Paterno. It looks like the DA believes Paterno but doesn’t 2 other people. What that tells me is they believe Joe Pa is telling the truth.
I am dumbfounded that most people choose to point the finger at a person who has received hearsay information and seem to almost be apologetic to the person who directly witness the alleged crime and never went directly to authorities.
GG2k2k2k
November 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
FIRE HIM IMMEDIATELY! This happened under his watch – he knew about it and let the perpetrator continue. What would all these “don’t crucify the guy” Paterno cultists say if it was their 10 year old son who was sodomized? And Joe knew about it and did the minimum? Total cover up and everybody needs to go. And NOT of JOES TERMS!
mum
November 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
I guess if it’t not a member of your family, it’s a defensible? The man should have been banned from the school and if everyone knew of his actions, he should not have been allowed back on the campus for any reason. There’s a reason why pedophiles are supposed to be registered. This is beyond disgusting. Nobody seemed to care because these were “at risk” kids and for all intents and purposes, not worth protecting. I truly hope none of you defending this man are parents.
Matt
November 9th, 2011
12:53 pm
Techman- was McQueary’s life in danger???? Would your life be in danger if you stepped in and did something in this situation??????
We are not talking about an innocent bystander witnessing a mugging in an alley. Joe Pa is in a high position of authority, it happened on campus by another trusted indidual, and was witnessed by another staff member. You don’t tell campus police and then throw your hands up and say “well, I wipe my hands of this”.
As a bystander in an alley you probably would never know if that criminal was caught or not. A little harder for police to find a random individual in a city. This was an assitant coach in a locker room, positively identified by another staff member and reported to the HC of a major university. Your comparison about putting your life on the line for a random street crime could not be further from being the same thing.
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
12:53 pm
What’s Important – you make a great point about 4 lines from the end – there are facts none of us know about. Why don’t we wait until those facts are presented before casting someone as the devil reincarnate?
Matt
November 9th, 2011
12:58 pm
Techman- kudos to JoePa for going to someone about it but you don’t just walk away. They would not have kept the GA on staff if it turned out not to be true. You don’t keep people on staff anywhere in any profession who make false accusations of that magnitude.
Of course the DA is not pressing charges on Paterno, he didn’t do anything illegal. Noone is trying to say he did. Being a coward is not illegal. McQueary is just as responisble as the rest of them, if not more.
Go Trojans!
November 9th, 2011
12:58 pm
For those of you who are defending JoePa, I would use this one simple test:
If it was your son in the shower with Sandusky is anything less than going to the proper legal authorities enough of a response? I say no. I’m sure I would have told my internal boss (maybe even before I went to the police) but I’m going to the police. Period. If you say you wouldn’t then you need to reevaluate yourself.
Hindsight is for determining a career path or decision. Hindsight is thinking you should put in a blitz package against a certain school’s QB. A solid moral compass will lead you immediately to the proper path in cases involving children.
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
12:58 pm
Matt – I could’ve sworn you asked me a hypothetical to which I responded. Now you’re telling me the hypo isn’t close to being the same thing.
In all seriousness, I can’t say for sure whether Mc’s life was in danger or not. It could’ve well been. If the allegations are true, I would imagine a person in Sandusky’s position could have the potential of doing harm to Mc. I’m still not sure what you’re getting at with those questions there, no matter how many question marks you add to it.
I think Paterno fulfilled moral and legal responsibilities. You don’t. I’ll probably have to let it go at that.
Jim Osterman
November 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
Paterno always wanted to go out on his terms. By his actions in this matter it looks like her accomplished that goal. His inaction, his terms.
1969 Graduate
November 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
Everyone associated with this matter – everyone from the graduate assistant to the university president – should resign, or be fired immediately.
Criminal, and civil trials will follow, of course. I hope the victims end up with everybody’s house, boat, airplane, retirement account, and shoes.
Scumbags!
Some of them should be horse whipped before jail. They will be killed by inmates in prison.
The graduate assistant saw what was happening in the shower, left the building, and went to talk with his father, who advised him to call the head coach and meet with him the next day?
What about the young boy in the shower? He saw him being raped, and left the building. Left the building! Left the building?
The head coach reported it to his boss, but what about the young boy? Was he still being raped in the shower?
This is not an innocent until judged guilty by a court matter. Read the published statements of fact, the statements of those involved concerning their own actions and lack of appropriate response on behalf of a child who was being raped.
What possible information could come out to justify not stopping child rape?
Address your letters of support to Joe Paterno as follows:
Joe Paterno
Hell
Whats Important
November 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
TechMan – The grand jury report stated it found the testimony of the GA believable. They never stated in the ga
St Simons - we're on Island time
November 9th, 2011
1:00 pm
this is all about trying to save Mike McQueary, who is their recruiting
person and really, the active “coach” of the team. JoePa is just walkin
back and forth to the booth the last few years.
and you can’t save him. He walked away from a crime against
a child. None of them should walk on state property again,
starting yesterday.
One thing I & my fellow alumni CAN do something about. None of the
five of them should ever walk on the Sanford Stadium property. You & I
can start making that happen with our telephones right dam now..
College Football Expert
November 9th, 2011
1:01 pm
TechMan: I am judging Paterno based upon his own testimony under oath and his actions this past decade. How is that not enough facts? This isn’t hearsay. This isn’t facts I know nothing about. What Paterno has admitted is enough for any reasonable person to be sickened. The facts we don’t know about but look damning anyway just make it much much worse. For you to support him is appalling.
Matt
November 9th, 2011
1:02 pm
Techman- so far here is what we know. MQueary witnessess pure evil in action, goes to bosses, bosses go to bosses who go to university police. Nothing happens and they return to work for the next 10 years.
Joe Pa told university police what he had heard. Great. But you don’t keep things like this quiet when that many people are involved. Of course Paterno is innocent, he didn’t do anything illegal!!
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:03 pm
I didn’t say anything about false accusations. Sandusky was no longer on the staff at that point and any work he was doing with the children appears to be through Second Mile, not Penn State. I have no idea how much Sandusky was actually at the campus or near the football team. Do we even know how much contact Paterno had w/ Sandusky following his retirement?
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:07 pm
College Football Expert – I also read Joe Pa’s testimony. What neither you or I know is what his actions have been over the last 10 years. You have what you think you know but that’s about it. As I have stated, let’s allow the trial to run it’s course and let more facts come out instead of allowing the mob mentality to ruled.
Good to know patience is appalling to you.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 9th, 2011
1:07 pm
TechMan, please stop commenting. You say the grad could have been hurt by trying to stop the rape of a child. I can’t believe that is what you meant.
Me
November 9th, 2011
1:07 pm
Really Jeff..if somebody who worked for you told you that he saw somebody else who used to work for you commit a crime, you would call the police? I have asked dozens of people at different companies (I am a consultant) that question over the past few days and every single one of them stated that they would tell their superior. What would the police do if you called with that story? Did you read the Grand Jury investigation? Get off of your holier than thou pulpit!
Whats Important
November 9th, 2011
1:09 pm
Techman – Hit the submit button too quickly, wanted to check part of the grand jury report to make sure I had my facts straight. The grand jury report stated that the grand jury found the GA “extremely credible.” They did not comment in any way as to the credibility of Joe Paterno’s testimony. Joe Paterno also testified that the GA advised him that Sandusky “was fondling or something of a sexual nature with a young boy”. As to why Paterno has not been charged, prosecutors evaluate thet totality of their case. Here you have an 84 year old man, who, as you have so aptly displayed, will simply not believe that their beloved JoePa could do something wrong. Hard case to try, 84 years old, with appeals would never see a day of jail time. They have chosen to concentrate on the others. Not at all uncommon in this type of case.
ormewood
November 9th, 2011
1:10 pm
TechMan,
Sandusky was in the PSU weight room LAST WEEK! After months of grand jury testimony he was still allowed in the building!
Borrowing from Jay Bilas, but when you hear 60-year old man, shower, 10-year old boy, what else do you need to know or have clarified?
Old Dawg Fan
November 9th, 2011
1:10 pm
This entire “issue” is here because the GA, Paterno, the AD and others wanted to protect the “god of football” at Penn State-by “god” I mean the game itself. Paterno didn’t go to the authorities himself to protect “football at Penn State”. Poor judgement on their behalf. Paterno’s saying he could have done more-proves this point. He knew it, he helped conceal or cover it up. It is a terrible tragedy and anyone who had a hand in covering this up should go to jail. Even an 84 year old man!
Get ready for the “civil suites” I hope they break Penn State!!!!
gt4ever
November 9th, 2011
1:10 pm
TechMan,,,
Sir you are either too thick to read and interpret, or your an attorney who somehow can find rational in this coaches actions…. I really hope you are not in some sort of leadership position, because your thought process is FLAWED!
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:11 pm
What I said (or meant to say) was that Sandusky could’ve hurt the GA. I did not say he would’ve been hurt by stopping the rape of a child. I’m not sure if we’re playing semantics here or not.
Dawg
November 9th, 2011
1:11 pm
He needs to go now. What possible good can come from his staying for the rest of the year.
Hankie Aron
November 9th, 2011
1:11 pm
Schultzie
Makes sense now that JoePa wasn’t so much in the celebratory mood at the press conference after his 409th victory. He was kind of contrite and sort of made light of the accomplishment. We now know why, he knew the storm was coming.
The Hankie
A person SMART enough to know......
November 9th, 2011
1:12 pm
After UGA football players tested positive for drugs what did the coaches do?
Did Richt go to the police with the players to get them busted?
Did Richt Force the players to give up their suppliers and go to the police have have the drug dealers busted?
What is Richt’s job here? What is his MORAL obligation? How many other children are being turned on to drugs because Richt didn’t get the DRUG DEALERS busted?
GT Joe and the boys
November 9th, 2011
1:12 pm
Every day in the UGA blog bashing Georgia. Today the majority of people on this blog are against JoePa, so you are for him. I suppose you feel Hitler had a few good ideas, he just took it a little to far.
dawg tired
November 9th, 2011
1:12 pm
“With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I would have done more.”
I’ll bet those poor children do too, Joe.
Don't care much for college football ...
November 9th, 2011
1:14 pm
Me – I understand where you are coming from. However, among the dozens you questioned, did you ask Coach K? Dean Smith? Vince Dooley? The average “Joe” in the office – I see your point – letting a superior know is a correct step. But Joe Pa is not your average Joe. He needed to do more because he is who he is.
R Jackson
November 9th, 2011
1:14 pm
Looks like somebody also dropped the soap.
Matt
November 9th, 2011
1:15 pm
Techman- I didn’t ask you jack. You came up with the hypothetical. There is a big difference when you put your life on the line. This is not a robbery at gunpoint. Not even close. I would hope that you would expect Paterno to do more than mereley report the “rumors” and walk away. If the rumors were not true then why keep McQueary on staff for the next 10 years? Why not continue to follow up?
We brought it to Campus Police’s attention, they couldn’t find anything, so we went back to work??
kirkinga
November 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
No way he could keep his job. I can’t imagine many parents wanting to let anyone from Penn State into their house after reading the presentment.It was tough to read and made my skin crawl.
What I find most disturbing in these comments is the lack of compassion for the children. I know when I was 10-11 or so, the last thing I wanted was to take a shower with some middle-aged guy and “horse around”. What is wrong with you people? Do we have less compassion because the victims were boys instead of girls?
Joe Paterno’s celebrity status and privilege is on display for all to see. I can imagine anyone would feel this protective of some teacher, administrator, or coach in Middle or High School.
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
and now we compare a man who is responsible for the deaths of 6,000,000 Jewish people and about 2,000,000 others to this situation. The comparison is made to a situation that we simply don’t know the facts to yet. Hyperbole much?
yeller bug
November 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
Techman has pointed out the key fact: What did the Grad Asst tell Paterno. Look most Head coaches don’t go to work each day contemplating that their DC or former DC is a pedophile. Although an incident occurred in 98, thus the 2002 incident should have been a big red flag. However, Paterno is a legend—I think the grad asst did not provide the gory details to Paterno. It’s not something you can go tell a coach that you revere although you should never fear speaking the truth especially something as horrific as this. I think the GA said that he saw something that looked suspicious involvong Sadusky and a kid. I cannot imagine that he had told everything that he saw and JoePA just passed the info along. If so, Joe needs to go to jail as part of the coverup. A good journalist would do the hard work to find out this key info. Unfortunately, most take a few facts and then spew their emotion-filled opinion. Let the facts come out before we judge.
A person SMART enough to know = ridiculous
November 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
Are you seriously comparing a few guys smoking pot to a child rapist? If you are SMART enough to know, I hope people consider me a dumb bastartd.
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
Matt – I must’ve responded to someone else’s question.
A person SMART enough to know = genious
November 9th, 2011
1:19 pm
Comparing a few guys smoking pot to a child rapist. Wow, have to be a Tech fan.
ChrisInDuluth
November 9th, 2011
1:19 pm
Jeff, Paterno issued a statement on his own with no university backing that he would retire at the end of the season. The board of trustees has not yet met so the university has not yet said if it would allow him to finish. He could still be gone as early as today.
gt4ever
November 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
Matt,
Techman must be drinking…. How do you explain his logic or lack of logic…. It’s mind boggling to me how anybody, that has read the reports, not expect anybody involved in this mess to be held responsible…. They should all do time! Period! The fact that the University is allowing this man to continue for one more second is UNBELIEVABLE! Pathetic and SAD….
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
I hope my statements don’t imply that I don’t have compassion towards those children. I feel sick to my stomach about it and I hope I never have to deal with an issue like this as a parent. It’s a terrible situation. It still doesn’t excuse media and others rushing to judgment before all information comes out.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
So why not retire now? Why wait until the season is over? This will continue to dog him every week.
I wish
November 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
GT Joe and TechMan would change their names….
Matt
November 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
Small difference here; smoking pot v.s. raping a child
Richt was notified of the situation, went to the proper authorities, punisment was handled, all within 1 week. Case closed
Paterno brought accusations by a witness (who is a staff member), went to the Campus police, nothing happened. Everyone continues to work at Penn St. 10 years later situation comes to light.
How is this anywhere close to being the same thing?
Techman the tool
November 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
What I said (or meant to say) was that Sandusky could’ve hurt the GA. I did not say he would’ve been hurt by stopping the rape of a child. I’m not sure if we’re playing semantics here or not.
Really? So the GA can’t grab a broom stick or run and get help. At the very least if you were there you could have stabbed him with a protractor. Time for you to run along and let the grownups talk
1969 Graduate
November 9th, 2011
1:22 pm
When something important is happening…Silence is a lie!
Plenty of people, by their own statements, knew what was going on.
This isn’t NCAA violations. It’s not a college athlete selling their bowl bling, or a cushy summer job for a jock, or a recruiting mishap, or horseplay in the shower.
It is not mere hearsay concerning a “former employee” committing a crime. It is not an action calling for meetings, lawyers, and figuring out how to cover everybody’s “good name.”
Child rape was witnessed. Nothing was done to stop it.
TechMan
November 9th, 2011
1:22 pm
Where did I compare this situation to smoking pot? Hopefully you’re referring to someone else.
I wish too
November 9th, 2011
1:23 pm
I wish GT Joe was banished from all UGA blogs forever. He can have free reign to spew his nonsense here. If I was a tech alum I would implore you to choose another team
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 9th, 2011
1:24 pm
Schultz….Please fix this. The headline to the story on the home page reads:
Paterno retires amid sex scandal
This is not a sex scandal. It’s child molestation.
dawgfan
November 9th, 2011
1:24 pm
Nobody sheds a tear when football coaches lose their job for not winning enough football games but some are up in arms because Joe Pa is getting axed for nor reporting child abuse to the authorities.
What a sick world.
GT for never
November 9th, 2011
1:25 pm
I believe that was the guy:A person SMART enough to know. He is obviously a tech fan as well