Why Joe Paterno can’t be allowed to coach another game
Here's Penn State president Graham Spanier, shown with his boss Joe Paterno. (AP photo)
Penn State felt the need to cancel Joe Paterno’s news conference Tuesday, but allowed him to conduct practice later that afternoon. On Saturday the Nittany Lions will play host to Nebraska. Paterno cannot be allowed to lead Penn State onto the field.
In all likelihood, the Nebraska game would have been the 84-year-old’s last home date as coach if Jerry Sandusky had remained a footnote in Penn State’s athletic annals, but whatever Paterno wanted is immaterial now. At issue is if a proud university wants to be remembered as a school that was handed a last chance to do something and finally did it, or as an institution that again chose to do next to nothing.
The New York Times reports that, in May 1999, Paterno told Sandusky he wouldn’t become Penn State’s head coach when the incumbent, meaning Paterno, retired. Could it have been mere coincidence that, in 1998, Penn State had investigated Sandusky for showering with an underage male? No charges were filed, but Sandusky announced in the summer of 1999 that he would retire as defensive coordinator — at the not-exactly-advanced age of 55.
Did Penn State know back then that such a man couldn’t continue to represent it and nudge him aside? If so, why didn’t it inform the proper authorities? If so, why did it continue to allow Sandusky to hold emeritus privileges on campus and to use team facilities? This is no trifling issue: It was, according to the grand jury’s presentment, in a Penn State locker room that Sandusky was allegedly seen having sex with a 10-year-old — in 2002.
This was the act allegedly witnessed by Mike McQueary, then a grad assistant and now Penn State’s recruiting coordinator. McQueary told Paterno what he’d seen, and Paterno told his superiors, and then nothing much happened for a very long time. He was barred from bringing children on campus, but he maintained an office and reports indicate he was in the team’s weight room as late as last week. According to his lawyer, Sandusky has known he was being investigated for three years before the indictment was handed down.
Think about that. Penn State has sought to act as if this all has been a bolt from the blue, but in 1998 the school should have had cause, if not exactly to know, then surely to wonder. And here we must also wonder if Paterno, faced with a choice between what was right and what was best for his legacy, didn’t take the path of least resistance.
For all the lack of ostentation in Paterno’s image — the ugly glasses and the khaki pants and the football cleats — this is a man who cares very much about how he’ll be remembered. He once famously said he planned to keep coaching because he didn’t want to leave the sport to the likes of rogue operators Jackie Sherrill and Barry Switzer, but the Penn State Story is infinitely more distressing than any $100 handshakes with recruits. Lots of schools cheat in the attempt to get players. The program that has portrayed itself as above it all might well have concealed a predator.
When first the charges against Sandusky surfaced — and here we stipulate that he’s innocent until proved guilty — the reaction was, “How could he have kept such a life hidden?” After further review, it defies credulity that he could have. Someone had to know something. Someone had to wonder why a grown man was showering with boys and traveling to bowl games with adolescents who weren’t his sons.
In 1977 Sandusky founded a charity called The Second Mile, named after a verse from the Gospel according to Mathew, to provide aid and comfort to troubled boys. In the second paragraph of the grand-jury presentment is this chilling sentence: “It was within The Second Mile program that Sandusky found his victims.”
As a player and a coach, Jerry Sandusky had been part of Penn State from 1963 through 1999. Someone had to know something, and surely the 1998 shower incident was enough to generate suspicion even among those who didn’t want to know. Joe Paterno has been at Penn State since 1950. If he knew nothing, it was only because he wanted to know nothing.
But that’s the thing about being a head coach: You’re paid to know everything. Joe Paterno had come to be a case study in ethics in modern athletics, and he’ll retire with the most victories of any FBS (formerly Division I-A) coach ever. But Paterno also emphasized that there’s more to his job than winning, and that’s why he needs to coach no more. If he knew, he needs to go. If he didn’t know, he should have.
By Mark Bradley
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404 comments Add your comment
Dawg48
November 9th, 2011
11:15 am
Gt joe
Penn state told Sandusky that he could no longer bring kids on campus.
So Penn state basically said “if your going to rape little boys your not going to do it here”
And your telling me that joe pa had no idea what was going on?
Dude you are a sick individual!
” WE ARE STATE PENN”
gdawginkalamazoo
November 9th, 2011
11:15 am
GT Joe, yes but were his keys taken away? We now know that the AD and the admin. are liars. I am not convicting JoePa of anything. According to law he did nothing illegal and probably won’t be charge with anything, which is okay by me. However, I believe the morality question is his problem. Did he do enough to follow-up? It is a matter of opinion which everyone is entitled to. Mine is I don’t think he did enough to make sure that Sandusky was booted off campus. Unfortunately in society today morals just don’t exist for some people.
The hot seat....
November 9th, 2011
11:16 am
Ken
November 9th, 2011
11:14 am
Preach, brother, preach!!! I’m with you.
catlady
November 9th, 2011
11:17 am
By allowing the abuse to continue, he was facilitating a felony and pandering. What else would you call it? If I even SUSPECT a child is being mistreated or neglected and don’t report, I lose my job, my license, and face civil and criminal charges.
BTW, as the grad assistant was still employed (in a cushy job) maybe that job was to buy his silence?
The hot seat....
November 9th, 2011
11:20 am
To you “JoePa” apologists, here’s a scenario”
A teacher witnesses your 10-year old child being raped by another teacher.
The witnessing teacher notifies the principal (JoePa).
The principal notifies the School Board and does nothing else.
Are you satisfied with that?
gdawginkalamazoo
November 9th, 2011
11:21 am
I don’t think the football program needs the death penalty. The players there are not complicit in what was going on. I can’t help but feel for the fans and the players and the Penn State family that are facing this situation.
Dawg48
November 9th, 2011
11:24 am
@ the hot seat
Then the school board says to the teacher ” you not going to rape kids while your at the school” do that on your own time!
Supes
November 9th, 2011
11:24 am
Mark Bradley,
normally I disagree with what you have to say…but you sir are right on this one. He needs to go away now…it’s sad but he made his own “bed”…let him “sleep in it”. Go away in shame…and let his team go on so people can talk about football. As long as he’s on the sidelines everyone will be thinking sexual predator enabler! For 10 years he stood idly by….I’m sorry but he must go away.
Wake up
November 9th, 2011
11:26 am
PSU2003, you’re an idiot. The fact that you played for JoePa makes you less credible. Read the report Einstein. There is way too much smoke here to think there isn’t a big fire underneath. I saw your boy Matt Millen fake cry on TV yesterday and say the same thing- wait til the facts come out.. Well, we’re waiting… The facts haven’t come out since 1998, what makes you think they are going to come out now and exonerate all of the bumbling idiots involved in this. Including your beloved JoePa. You can’t hide stupid.
catlady
November 9th, 2011
11:31 am
And once you report suspicions of abuse, YOU follow up on it and raise h3ll if nothing seems to be getting done about it! Not just let the subject of the allegations to continue to hang out with the guys!
DawginLex
November 9th, 2011
11:35 am
100% agree with you Mark
to say Paterno didn’t know is about like saying Cam didn’t know his daddy was shopping him
They both knew and Paterno’s is a heck of a lot worse
He should have already coached his last game
Dion
November 9th, 2011
11:36 am
It is sickening… How do you (adult male grad assistant) see a “sexual act” in a shower with a kid/asst coach and take it to your higher up, your higher up (the head coach) then takes it to his higher up and no one thinks to rescue the kid and it continues for years with other innocent children? Retiring at the end of the season, my behind; today is your last day!
itpdude
November 9th, 2011
11:36 am
The lynch-mob mentality is distressing.
jvillebil
November 9th, 2011
11:37 am
This reminds me of the little Chinese boy that got hit by the truck and ran over a few weeks ago in the street. Many people saw it and just walked on by. Are they guilty of anything. No. Morally yes. United States is on a big moral downfall. A bunch of little boys get raped, and who knows what and we’re debating the legal aspects of who really knew what 9 years later. My dad was a sergant in WWII. If this happend to one of his sons, he’d spend the rest of his life in prison, because we’d be minus one sexual deviant and about 4 people that tried to cover it up. I wish Occuply America or whoever they are would protest in front the of the stadium Saturday. If JoePa gets a standing ovation from the Penn State fans instead of booing then, I hope Nebraska beats them down about 40-0. If I was a senior player I’d sit out in protest unless Joe is a no-show.
icedawg
November 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Maybe this is time for society to look at itself as well. Permissiveness and promiscuity, adultery and fornication amongst others tolerated and normalized by the culture. This is one sick world. It no longer knows how to blush at its own shame.
rlinaug
November 9th, 2011
11:46 am
Paterno knew the whole truth the moment the grad assistant told him what he’d witnessed. And if Paterno didn’t believe the grad assistant, the revered coach should have fired the GA for starting a malicious rumor. Instead, Mike McQueary, the grad assistant in question, is Paterno’s receivers coach. Paterno either believed what McQueary said or knew it all along—either way, he turned a blind eye to what was going on. If he had thought McQueary was telling a lie, or if Paterno simply felt McQueary was exaggerating, he would have fired McQueary and brought in any one of a number of dime-dozen grad assistants. Instead, McQueary has been made a full member of Paterno’s staff.
That Paterno stands up today and says he is devastated and grieves for the children… He’s had nearly 10 years to deal with his grief. And for him to lead a cheer for his supporters in his own yard last night… Disgusting. He should be terminated. Today.
I tell you who’s devastated. All the boys who’ve been raped by Sandusky while no one lifted a finger to stop him.
–
The Sad Truth
November 9th, 2011
11:48 am
Unfortunately, attempts such as this to cover up criminal behavior is not limited to college football. It happens every day in families, companies, elementary, middle and secondary schools and every level of government. Whenever the stakes are “high”, morality sadly loses its footing. It is superficial and misses the point to simply look at this as a symptom of college football. It is also too easy blame the “unchecked power” of its coaches. The moral failure is that of the individual for it is always individual actions, or lack thereof, that cause and frequently cover up these unspeakable crimes. There is really no such thing as “institutional oversight.” Institutions do not think, feel or act, people do. Reporters and pundits are quick to blame college football in order to separate themselves from the real issue. The need to succeed and the resulting fear of failure in our society causes way too many of us to adopt situational morality. Penn State is not to blame. All those people, including Paterno, McQueary, the AD, even the janitors who feared for their jobs – the people who were unable to place those children above their own success or security are to blame. Doing what is required can be institutionalized. Doing what is right is a moral and ethical act that speaks to an individuals integrity. If the Board doesn’t clean house immediately they will have failed the litmus test as well.
War Dang Dawg
November 9th, 2011
11:49 am
Paterno’s expressed shock at the allegations doesn’t pass the smell test. Sandusky’s ‘98 and ‘99 defenses were pretty stout, yet he was ushered out of his position following the ‘99 Alamo Bowl, a shutout win. He was only 55 years old. It seems likely that he was asked to quietly leave for reasons unrelated to coaching.
When McQueary told Paterno about the incident in ‘02, Paterno may have felt stuck. How do you call the police and risk having it revealed that you’ve known about Sandusky’s tendencies for at least 3 years? Talk about a tarnished legacy. But that would have been the right thing to do. Paterno punted the problem upstairs, and ultimately put his own reputation above the health and safety of children.
He should have been fired yesterday. Penn State is sending a terrible message by letting Paterno retire at the end of the season, on his own terms, which he was rumored to be contemplating anyway before all of this came out. PSU officials need to man up and do the right thing.
Brock
November 9th, 2011
11:50 am
Sandusky- from Penn State to the State Pen
Ken
November 9th, 2011
11:51 am
There is a historical moral metaphor for what Joe Paterno did (er did not do), if you want to keep defending him. His name was Pontius Pilate. He washed his hands of the whole thing….very admirable huh?
Or for those who want another reference, let’s go with Pope Leo during the Nazi occupation of Europe.
Evil persists when good men stand by and do nothing…..and I submit that those men aren’t really good.
jvillebil
November 9th, 2011
11:52 am
Amen Truth. But when morality raises it’s head, the media is there to beat it down unless, they can sell the story and make money.
Red Stick
November 9th, 2011
11:53 am
Paterno should not be allowed to coach another game.
don
November 9th, 2011
11:57 am
Joe Paterno deserves better. You and most of your posters are little more than a lynch mob. It may good to wait for a few facts and l lot less raw emotion. None of you know what Paterno was told and none of you know what he told the AD. he did his job. To have “gone public” with what to him was strict heresay would have been wrong. And, for you “pseudo lawyers”, all Paterno had was heresay when he contacted the AD. In fact, all any of you have at this time is heresay. Let’s get some facts before we execute one of the few true icons of sport. Paterno deserves better.
War Dang Dawg
November 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
PSU2003, McQueary would probably run through a brick wall for Paterno. If Paterno told him to call the police, do you think there’s any chance that McQueary would have disobeyed him? McQueary failed that kid for sure, but he was young, confused, probably revered Sandusky up to that point, and was seeking guidance from Paterno. He didn’t get it.
Paterno has info that a man sodomized a child on the PSU campus, and basically does nothing to ensure that the police are notified. There’s just no way to excuse that.
SAL
November 9th, 2011
12:03 pm
Any chance CMR will go to Penn State???
wawel78
November 9th, 2011
12:04 pm
If the interview of an attorney on the radio this morning is correct, the people Paterno reported the issue to were actually the head of police of the campus. I will admit that I’m not an expert on law enforcement but aren’t university cops official policemen? If so, he actually did what you all are claiming he did not do. It is not the legal or moral responsibility to continually follow up on a crime. If the police need to speak with you, I’m sure they’ll let you know.
I have to laugh at the animosity towards PSU2003 and GT Joe because they disagree with most opinions and all they’re saying is to wait until the facts come out. Somehow that makes them horrible people. And yes, I have read the grand jury report.
I don’t know how people can’t understand this – in 1998, the DA did not press charges against Sandusky. What was Paterno suppose to do – some vigilante justice?
Ken
November 9th, 2011
12:05 pm
don are you serious? If you haven’t read the indictment, go read it. There are 23 pages of incredibly detailed depravity. Everything you can imagine, he did to 10 different kids. An assistant coach heard the sound of two bodies slapping together in a shower and came face to face with the 10 year old. There is no way that you could see that and NOT GIVE DETAILS. You can’t defend it. You just can’t. The coach should’ve beaten Sandusky within an inch of his life, rescued the kid and called the cops. Paterno should’ve involved the police. He didn’t. READ THE INDICTMENT before you come with that ‘we can’t judge’ line. Anyone with a brain can discern this one.
wawel78
November 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
Don – you just broke the board code. You cannot recommend to wait until facts come out. Why would someone do that? The right course of action is to get on a message board and condemn him without knowing all of the facts. You’re just being silly.
truthpaste
November 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
Is it a coincidence that he passes Eddie Robinson in wins before the wall came crumbling down? I don’t think so.
The hot seat....
November 9th, 2011
12:08 pm
What makes me want to puke is hearing some of the talking heads refering to Sandusky’s “illness”.
Illness??? For God’s sakes, these guys need to open their eyes.
gtfanfrom1951
November 9th, 2011
12:08 pm
He should be fired today!
jvillebil
November 9th, 2011
12:09 pm
I guess when your drunk buddy can’t stand, but insist he can drive home from the party, even though you told him not to, it clears you of any blame when he kills a mother of 3 coming home from her midnight work shift. Let me see, I guess you would say to yourself, “I could have taken his keys from him but then he might have gotten mad at me.” We’re all afraid to do the right thing because we might OFFEND someone! When I was a senior in high school 6 of us were in a car and the driver pulled out a baseball bat and smashed a mailbox. He gave it the the next guy and he did the same thing. I’m thinking, “this is crazy I really need to get out” but not wanting to look bad I kept my mouth shut. # 3 guys bashes a mailbox then #4. I’m last to go and really starting to panic inside, because I know it’s wrong, but don’t want to look like a wus in front of my buds. Finally they hand the bat the the #5 guy & he says, “Guys this is wrong not to mention crazy, pull over and let me out.” When they pulled over I jumped out with him and said, “Thank you Lord for sending me some help, because I wouldn’t have got out on my own.” They got caught later that night. I had a college baseball scholarship, but was willing to risk everything, because of stupidity and morals.
I hope all these guys get what they deserve.
fayncdawg
November 9th, 2011
12:15 pm
Is CMR Penn State’s first choice to clean up this mess???
GregKennesaw
November 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
everyone that knew and didn’t call the police should be fired, including Joe P.
Rufus1
November 9th, 2011
12:30 pm
If this was a 10 year old GIRL…..
Bystander
November 9th, 2011
12:31 pm
War Dang Dawg – I agree with you in most respects. However, McQueary was not “young” – he was 28. An adult. But still, Joe Pa should have told McQueary to take a seat that Saturday and Joe would call the police so McQueary could tell them what he saw. After all — “Success with Honor” is what Joe Pa was suppose to be about.
NANA
November 9th, 2011
12:32 pm
Should he coach again! NO WAY! Dirty dog!
Hillbilly D
November 9th, 2011
12:32 pm
In my opinion, Penn State needs to clean house, from the College President, or whatever his title is, all the way down the chain.
As for Sandusky, if he is convicted, put him in prison, in general population. Prisoners do their own policing.
dawg2
November 9th, 2011
12:33 pm
Joe must go asp~~Period!
Ken
November 9th, 2011
12:34 pm
wawel, what facts is it you’re waiting for? Indictments don’t just get invented out of thin air. They cost a lot of money and DA’s don’t even bother with cases that don’t have a chance to stick, guilty or not. Paterno can’t say he didn’t know anymore than people in Iraq can say they didn’t know Saddam was gassing people, or that we can’t judge him because those dead bodies aren’t enough facts.
DA’s don’t just sit around and say ‘Hey we should invent a bunch of really serious charges agains the winningest football coach in history and get 20 different people who were kids 10 years ago to become duplicitous with this scheme’.
So where do you get off with this whole smug tongue in cheek thing like those of us who can read an indictment and draw a conclusion based on astronomical odds against someone being innocent of 171 different charges are somehow stupid and you’re the voice of wisdom and temperance? You should go apply for a job at the NCAA.
The hot seat....
November 9th, 2011
12:35 pm
Look for Urban Meyer to be back on the sideline next year.
boots
November 9th, 2011
1:03 pm
Today’s announcement was nothing other than Paterno trying to pre-empt any action from the Board of Trustees. It is not sufficient. We are talking about rape of children. Paterno still wants to “go out his way.” He does not deserve that choice any longer.
WDEINTHEATL
November 9th, 2011
1:08 pm
No way he should every coach again. Penn State is making a huge error in judgement to let him finish out the season, or else they feel they have nothing to lose from a PR perspective, with which I would disagree.
War Dang Dawg
November 9th, 2011
1:13 pm
“Joe Paterno deserves better.”
No, the 10-year old boy who was being sodomized in the shower deserved better. Paterno doesn’t “deserve” squat.
VC
November 9th, 2011
1:25 pm
I feel terrible for all the victims but I defend JoePa unless he saw this abuse and/or knew about it prior or after the graduate assistant told him what he witnessed. How many people are going to take the word of someone else and call the police for any type of crime? What if this graduate assistant had a vendetta against Sandusky and wanted him out? The AD and the other person had a moral and legal obligation to begin an investigation and Sandusky should have been put on leave immediately upon JoePa’s notification and stayed on leave until that investigation was finished. He shouldn’t have been on University property period! Everyone in the athletic department should have been questioned about anything they may have seen etc. JoePa has given his life to PSU and has always had the best interest of the young men he coached in mind. His record speaks for itself. It pains me to see a man of integrity be mauled in the press and by public opinion when many of us would have done the same as he did and left it to the administration to do their legal obligation. Today’s coaches at many of the better know institutions should be half the man and coach JoePa is today. I’m not a PSU alumni or fan but have always admired the career of JoePa.
Aggie4life
November 9th, 2011
1:26 pm
It is truely sickening what has transpired, but we continue to hear that Joe Paterno should have done something. What is that something? Coach Sandosky last coached at Penn State in 1999 and the allegations are from 2002. Once Paterno reported this to the adminstration, I’m not sure what else he could have done. There are a lot of people at fault for this scandal, but people can only associate Paterno because he is Penn State. What if the allegations were brought to the attention of the campus authorities. What would be said about Coach Paterno then once all of the facts are out. Like the old saying goes believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. I really believe that there is more to this story than we know.
CP
November 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Mr. Paterno should be removed from his coaching position immediately. Indications are he was made aware of the crime and it was not reported to police to arrest the guy. Penn State should change their nickname to the Nittany Liars.
WDEINTHEATL
November 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
@Aggie – Paterno sat on the board of the charity that Sandusky founded, to assist youth, which really sounds like it was his own personal hunting ground for 10 year old boys. Paterno knew the allegations and knew that Sandusky was personally involved with helping young boys. I don’t think Paterno is stupid, just willfully ignorant which places the burden on him to explain himself or step down immediately. Frankly the board of trustees at PSU should take the matter into their own hands and deal with it.
FLA DAWG
November 9th, 2011
2:21 pm
Brock @ 11:50,
The best thing written here.
Well done.
Gerhart76
November 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
Mcqueary told both the AD (Tim Curly) and Sr VP of Finance and Business (Gary Schultz) of the incident. Both assured him it would be handled. Both have been indicted on perjury and failing to report the shower incident to the authorities. Schultz conviently is responsible for the campus police who were not notified of the incident. This was all in 2002. It might have been hard for Mcqueary to overcome that type of stonewalling without risk of retaliation or disbelief. Its a shame he didn’t press the issue and he should bear some blame, but the bigger issue to me is all of his superiors, Joe P included.