Penn State deserves death penalty for Sandusky cover-up
Joe Paterno and other Penn State officials enabled the actions of Jerry Sandusky. (AP photo)
(Updated: 12:45 p.m.)
If we make a big deal about a college football program playing dumb when a recruit takes free shoes or tattoos, or his family lives in a house rent free, how can we look the other way when evidence screams that one of the nation’s most powerful universities enabled a pedophile?
How can we sit through something so sick and vile as the testimony in the Jerry Sandusky trial and conclude that this was a one-source scandal worthy of only one individual or entity suffering consequences?
Penn State should not be allowed to play another football game. It put sport, image and fundraising above everything else. That is what every cheater in college athletics does, and because of that it deserves the NCAA’s “death penalty.”
Southern Methodist University, one of the nation’s top academic schools, saw its football program given the death penalty in 1987 because it put athletic success above what so obviously was considered morally acceptable. Isn’t it now clear that Penn State did the exact same thing?
In fact, what the powers Penn State did was worse. Their actions involved not materialistic goods but defenseless victims who will suffer for the rest of their lives.
According to a 267-page report by former FBI director Louis Freeh, the four most powerful men overseeing the university and the football program – president Graham Spanier (since fired), athletic director Tim Curley (on “administrative leave,” under indictment for perjury), vice president Gary Schultz (suddenly retired, also under indictment) and the late coach, Joe Paterno (fired in what would be two months before his death) — knew far more about Sandusky’s sick perversions and abuse than they let on. They knew it far longer than they let on.
And here’s the punctuation, your honor: They “concealed critical facts,” according to Freeh.
There’s a term for that: cover-up.
“Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State,” Freeh stated.
We don’t need to know anything else.
When this story first broke, Paterno said, “This is not a football scandal and should not be treated as one.”
Many agreed. Many still do, including some misguided alumni and football All-Americans and probably surely those numbskull students who marched on campus, embraced Paterno’s statue on campus and protested his firing without any regard for the victims.
The problem is concluding that because Sandusky’s reprehensible acts did not lead to a competitive advantage, the football program shouldn’t pay. But the cover-up changes that. What the powers at Penn State did was beyond anything any college athletic program has ever done, beyond free clothes or free rent and academic fraud.
To hell with a free Camaro. We’re talking about sweeping allegations of a child sex offender under the rug in order to protect a school’s image, fundraising and recruiting. There is no more extreme example of a lack of institutional control.
Penn State deserves to be hit hard. That may seem unfair to the student-athletes, officials and fans who knew nothing of Sandusky’s acts or the cover-up. But that’s the case with all NCAA sanctions.
This investigation was commissioned by Penn State at a cost of $500,000 per month. So much for Freeh having some anti-Penn State agenda. The report numbers 267 pages, resulting from 430 interviews and 3.5 million emails and documents. Freeh’s staff included former prosecutors, FBI agents, police officers, attorneys and a Navy SEAL.
Freeh said he found “more red flags than you could count, over a long period of time.” He said the leaders at Penn State had a “callous and shocking disregard for child victims.”
He said an “inference could be drawn” that the school was trying to protect the football program, noting, “bad publicity affects a panorama of different events, including the brand of Penn State, the reputation of coaches [and] the ability to do fundraising.”
He said Paterno was not being singled out, but at one point declared: “The facts are the facts. He was an integral part of the act to conceal.”
Emails reveal Paterno was clearly following the school’s internal investigation into allegations of a 1998 assault of a young boy by Sandusky in the Penn State locker room showers, something Paterno publicly denied. The same school leaders “proposed a plan of action” after learning of a 2001 incident reported by an assistant coach, but then decided against informing authorities.
“The most powerful leaders at Penn State … repeatedly concealed critical facts,” Freeh concluded.
The “Tone at the Top” of the school, he said, dissuaded school janitors from coming forward after witnessing incidents: “The janitors were afraid of being fired for reporting a powerful football coach.”
Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in prison. He could’ve been stopped sooner. But Paterno and the powers at Penn State were too concerned about the ramifications, off and on the field. That makes it a football scandal, as well.
By Jeff Schultz
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810 comments Add your comment
rational person
July 12th, 2012
11:52 am
@blazer You are completely incorrect.
rivercard
July 12th, 2012
11:53 am
My position is duly noted. I think any and all criminal charges should be pursued. you get that?
Has zero/nada to do with DP argument.
Steve
July 12th, 2012
11:54 am
Can we at least rename the football team to the Penn State Pedophiles?
St Simons - we're on Island time
July 12th, 2012
11:55 am
rational person, if you’ve ever been to Happy valley, or worked with PSU
alums, you know that Paterno WAS the institution.
The End
Anybody that knows me
July 12th, 2012
11:56 am
knows that I hated Bill Curry and Joe Paterno. Now, Bill Curry as a color analyst was a different story. Intellectual, articulate, concise.
Penn State deserves everything that happens regarding this mess which most likely will be a drop in the 60 million dollar revenues.
Again, again, again, Paterno had not be significantly relevant since 94 (even though that team was questionable (final ranking 1)). The facts. Before 88, Paterno finished in the top 5 eleven times, after 88, 3 but yet the school kept him on. We are Pedophile State.
The death penalty won’t happen but here’s what will happen. Penn State will play for the NC in 7 years or less (see FL after Spurrier left, see Green Bay after the overrated Farve left, and like 100 other examples). You saw it here.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
11:56 am
@st simons- The end of what? What does that have to do with NCAA policies?
The Real JC
July 12th, 2012
11:57 am
I’m with Steve. Fair AND balanced!
Anybody that knows me
July 12th, 2012
11:57 am
final ranking not equal to number 1
blazerdawg
July 12th, 2012
11:58 am
Rape in PSU locker room, committed by PSU coach, witnessed by PSU coach – who informed other PSU coach and administration, PSU administration covers-up allegation, PSU later hires/promotes coached that witnessed one of many incidents, all victims recruited by monster trading on the PSU name – in plain view of PSU administration that was aware of past allegations, which have been proven in court to be true.
Nope, no lack of institutional control at PSU.
Fan
July 12th, 2012
12:00 pm
Convict all guilty parties. Lock them up, throw away the key. The PSU Fans, innocent students and athletes should not have to pay the price that 5 or 10 spineless leaders failed to do for 14 years. Make brutal examples out of them. 200 years of prison or execution.
If this was GT or UGA what would we say?
jw
July 12th, 2012
12:00 pm
SMU got the death penalty and PSU doesn’t deserve it – not a rational person way of thinking.
Who knows – the NCAA has their arms up so many backsides they probably can’t do much about it anyway.
From a compliance standpoint, tells you how useless the NCAA has become – Mark Richt and Paul Johnson can get in more trouble for sending text messages to recruits than the athletes that have tested positive for drugs and arrested for serious crimes. Both campuses have multiple incidents of that happening. The NCAA is little more than a bump in the road that no one fears. Their policy bite has no teeth anymore.
The NCAA is probably hoping that it will just all magically go away.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
@blazerdawg- which NCAA rule did any of that break? Is there some new NCAA regulation governing child molestation that I am unaware of?
oldfart
July 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
@rational person- From the NCAA Constitution:
2.1.2 Scope of Responsibility. [*] The institution’s responsibility for the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics program includes responsibility for the actions of its staff members and for the actions of any other individual or organization engaged in activities promoting the athletics interests of the institution.
gt4ever
July 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
What a complete JOKE PSU… Anybody that rationalizes anything other than the Death penalty is delusional at best….
BobDawg
July 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
BOB…. JOE WAS UNDER 75 WHEN THIS FIRST HIT IN ‘98…. THE REAL COVERUP HIT IN 2001 WHEN MCQUEARY SAW THE SHOWER RAPE…. PATERNO STOPPED ALL FROM GOING TO THE POLICE AS HE KNEW IT WOULD BRING HIM DOWN THEN….
90
July 12th, 2012
12:02 pm
Anyone that thinks this coverup happens if it were a chemistry teacher committing these crimes in his classrooom? Absolutely not. This has EVERYTHING to dol with Penn St. football. EVERYTHING. Penn St. football was used to recruit, groom and molest young boys. Penn St. football then willfully covered up these acts for 14 YEARS while more young men were victimized!
Do you really think this wasn’t done to gain a competitive edge in football? What happens when your defensive coordinator is charged with sexually abusing young boys? Young male recruits stop coming to play football for your university.
To say this isn’t football related is just sticking your head in the sand.
Also, look at 2nd mile for the money trail. THese people were morally bankrupt. If they would cover for a pedophile, they would darn sure pay some players, and use a charity to do it.
Marcellus Wallace
July 12th, 2012
12:03 pm
Yes, Penn State should receive the death penalty, and Paterno’s wins should be stripped from him in the record books. If Paterno had spoken with a Southern accent, that certainly would happen. In fact, many in the media looked the other way regarding things that happened at Penn State, even before this came to light.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:05 pm
@old fart- Nice try but the paragraph before that defines the scope of that responsibility
It is the responsibility of each member institution, through the chancellor or president, to “control its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Association.” – NCAA Constitution 2.1.1.
Note the critical component of “compliance with the rules and regulations of the Association.”
rivercard
July 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
A man who once led the NCAA’s committee on infractions says the college sports governing body should not bring severe sanctions on Penn State related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Gene A. Marsh, who served on the NCAA Division I infractions committee from 1999 through 2008, and chaired the committee from 2004 to 2006, said he believes there are two reasons the NCAA should essentially stay out of the Penn State situation.
– The charges of which Sandusky was convicted, although horrific, likely do not fall under the purview of the NCAA, which typically reserves its attention for allegations of academic fraud or efforts to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
Once Penn State goes through the criminal and civil proceedings associated with the case, there would be little to be gained from the NCAA adding another layer of punishment.
Anybody that knows me
July 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
Eddie Robinson is kicking his coffin right now. All the NCAA needs to do is find something to remove 2 victories from Paterno.
How can they let this record, which will never be broken, stand over football.
TRS
July 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
ABSOLUTELY! The PSU football program should be shuttered immediately. This was a coverup that involved the university and specifically the football program. The cover up occurred to protect the football program. If this is not lack of institutional control I am not sure what is? Shut it down completely for 5 years…let current players transfer to another school without wait time or penalties.
Please continue to demand the death penalty…we need more in the media and public to put pressure on the NCAA.
rivercard
July 12th, 2012
12:08 pm
I might add that in my opinion the right thing for PSU to do is shut down the program on their own accord.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:09 pm
@trs, it isnt a lack of institutional control as defined by the NCAA.
Snake Eyes
July 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
Let’s go back to our history of the death penalty and college athletics. The death penalty was imposed on SMU because supporters of the program were paying players and paying for players to come and play for their team. Contributions were made by private citizens to the football program to get players of high quality to come to little SMU and they were caught doing it. That’s why SMU got the death penalty.
What happened at Penn State, as heinous and evil as it is, was not done under the auspices of making the football program better. There’s no inherent improvement of the football program behind this. Sure, Joe Paterno is at the center of this, but how does enabling a pedophile improve a football program’s performance? He was a football coach; granted, a football coach wielding a lot of power at this institution, but a football coach nonetheless. What happened to these children is as evil as it can get, but trying to rationalize that the entire football program is at fault for the actions of one man and the inactions of a few is something I don’t understand. To say that Penn State shouldn’t earn another dollar and should be shut down because of the criminal acts of one and the malfeasance of a few as a reason an institution and it’s football program should suffer for their decisions is not something I agree with (and in this forum it is my choice to respectfully disagree).
Paterno, along with the then president of the University, the athletic director, and others, covered this up and allowed it to continue without lifting a hand otherwise. For that they ALL should rot in a jail cell and let someone do to them what was done to those kids. As a father I feel for all of the persons victimized by this, but you don’t see institutions like the Catholic church being imposed with a death sentence or being forced to close its doors due to the malfeasance of its priests, or any other institutions who get caught up in something so despicable like this closing its doors because of public outcry behind its action or lack of action to address it. So why should Penn State, yes an educational institution not a religious one, be forced to close its doors surrounding its football program when this doesn’t have anything to do with the football program? It involves a former assistant coach and the head football coach, as well as administrators at that institution that acted criminally to protect the reputation of the institution as a whole. All men with titles that can be dealt with summarily. Punish the entire institution for the actions of a few? I can’t agree with that.
The NCAA can’t get involved unless it proves that the football program somehow benefitted from this. How is there a benefit in any of this? If there were athletes involved with the molestations and it was covered up then yes, kill the program. But we’re talking about a former assistant coach whose actions were covered up by administrators. In this, we must govern our passions about it. Make no mistake, I am still of the mindset that all of this was wrong, and am increasingly disturbed that nothing was done to stop it, but the people who were at the center of this are gone. No longer affiliated with the university. Those that have come after this shouldn’t be held responsible for what took place during this time. Penn State will somehow come under fire via civil suits; the criminal suits will be levied against those still alive that are involved (while it does appear that civil and criminal suits could possibly be levied against the estate of Joe Paterno, which includes his family) so those responsible will be held accountable for what’s happened. Believe that. But nothing’s gonna happen to that football program.
BobDawg
July 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
….. the Lawsuits themselves may bring the program and University down all by itself…
gcs
July 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
Does anyone else think the timing of these cover-ups coinciding with Paterno coaching milestones is very telling?
It said that Paterno knew about allegations against Sandusky in 1998 just as he was approaching his 300th career win.
Again in 2001, he was approaching Bear Bryant’s career victories mark of 323 when Paterno also appeared to thwart a 2001 PSU investigation.
I used to be a fan of Joe Pa until the early 2000s when it seemed he had lost his touch and PSU suffered for it because he stubbornly refused to retire. I thought then that he should’ve stepped aside but did not for the selfish reason of the career wins records. Now, I am certain my instincts were good and just.
.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:11 pm
I would really like to hear Jeff Schultz’s justification for this in a context that actually examines whether or not the NCAA has the jurisdiction to do something like this (which it doesnt) because no NCAA regulations were violated (which they weren’t)
Jaded Dawgs Fan
July 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
I tend to agree with a few others that the people who weren’t associated with the crimes shouldn’t be punished. I understand that sometimes collateral damage is sometimes necessary for the greater good, but I think you can appropriately punish the people who deserve to be punished without hurting others.
The NCAA should not give over to a mob mentality. People are justifiably angry, but cooler heads need to prevail. Let those who allowed this tragedy to happen get their just deserts. But don’t make innocent bystanders suffer.
Spiker
July 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
Some state universities only seem to exist to support the football team (looking at you SEC). Education brings up the rear in a parade of near-tribal chauvinism. Penn State was held up as the exception; a school that graduated literate players and expected civilized conduct. Now that conceit is in shambles and Penn State in disgrace.
This is an opportunity for the university to redeem itself and demonstrate that it has its priorities right. Yes, the football monster should die. Sadly, I suspect that it’s immortal.
BobDawg
July 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
Matt Millen is on ESPN right now and still covering up for Paterno….Can we send Millen to jail now also???
getalife
July 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
I agree.
They should get the maximum penalties.
Peggy Roche(Use Huge Football Fan)
July 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
As a victim myself, no penalty even comes close to being appropriate. However, as child abuse (and in this case to the extreme) is a felony, anyone involved in covering up this crime is legally as guilty as the abuser. More Penn State officials need to be in jail! I am surprised that there is even a discussion of the Death Penaly for the Football Program. It should have been an automatic response initiated by Penn State itself. I am sorry about the current players, but many of them played while the abuse was going on. Perhaps the NCAA will allow them to transfer to another school without having to sit out a year. But the Death Penalty is being given to the school, not the players. It is difficult to imagine a more valid reason than sexual abuse to issue a school the Death Penalty. Come on! Even with current testimony, it is obvious that knowledge of the abuse was widespread within the entire sports program. It is appalling that anyone would think that the school should go unscathed for knowingly allowing a sick individual to continue to abuse the youth entrusted in their care.
Old Dawg
July 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
The civil suits against Penn State, the media coverage, books, TV mini-series and other stories will wreck the reputation and financial security of the school for decades. Hell, anyone who lived during the Kent State shootings considers it when the school is mentioned. Same thing with Virginia Tech and other schools where violence has occurred.
Right now I’m vacillating whether the school deserves the death penalty or not. The university certainly needs to be punished, including the athletic department/football program. If a death penalty is warranted, shouldn’t the NCAA rethink its policies and administer more severe punishments for programs like Ohio State and Southern Cal?
The NCAA obviously needs to be reorganized, with a clearer policies and procedures for institutions that step out of line. I can’t remember anything happening like this in the past and I sure as hell hope it doesn’t happen again in the future. To ensure that, the NCAA and university presidents need to develop an action plan that lets the whole world know that any school that hides from the law is a running sewer and will always be punished, no exceptions allowed!
Terry
July 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
Someone’s earlier post implied that covering for a pedophile and allowing him to continue to utilize his affiliation with the University’s football program as a benefit to attract victims and continue his pedophile activities at University facilities and out of town football games is not related to NCAA violations. If the reason you are not reporting a pedophile’s activities is to protect the football program’s reputation, then yes this is providing an unfair advantage to the football team. Would Penn State have been able to recruit and retain quality football players, coaches, and fans if it was known that their most senior University and most senior football officials had allowed a suspected pedophile to continue to affiliate with the football program, even after his retirement, and not to report his activities with children to authorities? I am arguing that maintaining the reputation of a University and especially their football program by protecting a pedophile rather than protecting his disadvantaged previous/future victims does provide an unfair advantage to the football program. Allowing a college football player some free perks does not compare to being complicit in ruining a helpless child’s life to protect the reputation of the University and their football program.
TRS
July 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
The NCAA absolutely has the power to shut the program down. “Lack of institutional control” is one of the main tenants of the NCAA rules when it comes to university athletic departments…and this surely applies to this situation.
DCDAWG
July 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
Show me in the rules where this is a NCAA violation and I would support the death penalty? Is there a catch-all clause?
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:18 pm
@trs- Lack of instituttional control refers to the systemic disregard of NCAA regulations. What NCAA regulation covers raping little boys? I havent seen it.
BobDawg
July 12th, 2012
12:18 pm
LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL… YOU THINK????
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:19 pm
No Bob, I don’t think.
Greg in Virginia
July 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
Joe Paterno turned out to be not the man that many people hoped (and wanted) him to be. What has happened at Penn State has played out many, many times before. Anytime you have a large powerful institution in a fairly small and isolated community (be it a factory, university, religious institution, etc.) there is a danger of this type of culture developing. The leadership often develops a warped and even perverse view of their role and the latitude with which they can run their lives with respect to others in the community. The Penn State officials were the worst sort of enablers. The institution which gave them their power, their money, and fed their egos became the altar at which they worshipped. From a practical standpoint, it became the god in their life. People who believe in ideology don’t let facts get in the way of what they believe, or what they choose to do. These little boys were ‘facts’ that just got in the way of the god of ‘Penn State football’. The institution (and their personal comfort) was worth more to these men then the well-being and protection of little boys who lived in Happy Valley. The entire culture at this institution has to be changed. This means different things to different people. For some, killing the football program is the answer; others will want to see large civil settlements; others will want additional criminal trials. Each of these may factor in to the necessary next steps. The hardest thing to change will be the collective lack of courage that exists there today. Dozens, if not hundreds of people, each held a piece of the puzzle in their hand over the past 20-30 years. There are doubtless many additional victims who have not come forward yet. All it should have taken was 1 single person of courage to get this situation properly addressed. Several of these people did show themselves over the years. In each case there was a knowing and collective effort to suppress and bury the truth.
99.99% of people who attend or work at Penn State are no doubt horrified and disgusted by what they continue to learn about their beloved institution. Let’s hope that enough of them can now find the courage, that they were missing earlier, to make things right in Happy Valley.
All that is necessary for evil to prosper is for good men do nothing….
RxDawg
July 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
“It may seem unfair to the student-athletes and university employees who knew nothing of Sandusky’s acts or the cover-up”
And that’s my problem with it. It’s entirely unfair to 99.999% of the PSU family. This would devestate a lot of people that had absolutely nothing to do with any of this. I’m not so sure I can support that kind of lynching.
Craig Miller
July 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
As an SMU alum, I wholeheartedly agree. But I would have wholeheartedly agreed anyway. Shut it down. If not for this, then for what?
Justice
July 12th, 2012
12:21 pm
Joe Paterno is answering to a much Higher Authority for his lack of action.
SSIgator
July 12th, 2012
12:22 pm
You can see in the picture what JoePa is doing with his right hand, but you can’t see what Sandusky is doing with his own left hand. Any guesses?
rational person
July 12th, 2012
12:23 pm
@getalife- The maximum penalty in this case would be nothing, as no ncaa regulations were violated.
Tear Down the Statue
July 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
is it me; or does it look like Sandusky’s left hand is….? but seriously folks; this is a criminal/legal matter and it is SO FAR BEYOND the “bubble” of NCAA/BCS jurisdiction it isn’t even funny. and for all the lockerroom lawyers; the “lack of institutional control” clause of the NCAA bylaws has to do with the operation of athletic programs. as I said; the action/lack of action on the part of Paterno, Curley, Spanier, et al violated Pennsylvania (and possibly federal) law. like the NCAA itself; any sanctions related to the football program will be trite and meaningless.
Mrs Lovejoy
July 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
Won’t somebody think of the children?
Big Dog 98
July 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
Yes, Penn State deserves the death penality; however, for the sake of ole Joe “Cover-Up” Paterno … the punishment will be very mild.
hornblowermg
July 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
i agree. the penn state officials should be given their choice of either losing their freedom or losing their football program. that should give everyone an idea of where their lofty opinion of their personal loyalty lies. and what happened to those boys goes much further than alluding to stone-throwing; it is something that crushes them daily. shame on you, sacamano.
Anybody that knows me
July 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
Timing, did someone say Timing! Paterno interviewed 10 months earlier with the grand jury. This S did not come to light till 1 week after he set the record. EVERYBODY was complicit.
Oh at the civil lawsuits it is facing now. Wow, can you say 50 to 100 million and a ton of bad PR.Enter your comments here