Joe Paterno is gone, but our struggle with his legacy endures
Statues come in bronze. People are more complicated. (AP photo)
In death as in life, timing matters. Had Joe Paterno died Jan. 22, 2011, he’d have been hailed as the one coach who’d negotiated the murky waters of contemporary college football and left, both his sport and this world, with dignity shining. Every obituary would have included, no further down than the second paragraph, the line: “He did it the right way.”
But Joe Paterno died Jan. 22, 2012, and today every first paragraph is duty-bound to mention of his forced departure from Penn State 2 1/2 months before his death, a departure triggered not because some recruit was given a new car but because a longtime assistant coach was indicted for child sex abuse.
Joe Paterno took two national championships, won more games at the major-college level than any other football coach and never saw his program penalized by the NCAA. Had he died at age 84, as opposed to 85, we would have mourned his passing while celebrating a life lived about as well as is humanly possible. Today the response is more muted and infinitely more jumbled.
We cannot reduce the non-action that cost Paterno his job and a chunk of his legacy to asterisk material; at the same time, we cannot in good conscience say that one mistake, even one of massive dimensions, should outweigh the good done in a life of 85 years.
In the 2 1/2 months between Jerry Sandusky’s indictment and his employer’s death, we’ve had the chance to review our feelings toward Paterno. Was he enabler or scapegoat? Was he a villain for not speaking up louder and sooner, or was he a victim for being shunted aside in the wake of a media storm unprecedented in American sports? Was he a good guy who’d done a bad thing, or was the thing he did — or, in this case, didn’t do — so bad that all claims to goodness were forfeit?
We’ve had 2 1/2 months to reconsider, and we might need 2 1/2 decades to reach any consensus. The allegations against Sandusky triggered such a visceral response that it was possible to hear an ESPN commentator insist that Paterno should be locked away in a jail cell next to his former assistant. For the crime, we can only presume, of not doing the right thing. But if not doing the right thing every moment of every waking hour constituted a felony, none of us would be free today.
The belief here is that Paterno erred because he came to care more about his legacy than about people. The man who’d made “Success With Honor” his credo was handed a loaded choice: Do I speak up, knowing full well that speaking up will stain a program I’ve spent more than a half-century nurturing, or do I keep quiet and hope the storm passes?
Indeed, Sandusky did resign as defensive coordinator in 1999, a year after Penn State investigated him for showering with a minor. (I will never believe thatSandusky wasn’t pushed aside.) But he never quite went away, and it was a 2002 incident — witnessed by then-grad assistant Mike McQuery, who reported what he saw to the head coach — that brought the Paterno and his proud program low.
Maybe if Paterno hadn’t been hailed as a paragon of virtue — if he’d been a football coach of more dubious portfolio — our shock and disappointment wouldn’t have been so pronounced. We expected more of him, but how many among us would have done differently had the loaded choice been ours? (Oh, we can say we would’ve, but virtue is easy to proclaim when it’s not yours on the hook.)
And now Paterno is gone, leaving us more confused than ever. Had he died a year ago, the charges against Sandusky would have still come to light, but they wouldn’t have been placed so squarely on Paterno’s shoulders. He wouldn’t have been fired with two regular-season games remaining in his 46th season as head coach, wouldn’t have precipitated such a debate within us all. Had he died a year ago, the obits would have been easy to write. They just wouldn’t have been complete.
A year ago we’d have canonized this man as St. Joseph of State College, Pa. A year ago we’d have said he did it the right way and left it at that. Today we must rewrite that line to reflect the complexity that enfolded this life the same way complexity enfolds all human life. Today we must say of Joe Paterno: “He did it the right way — except for the one time he didn’t.”
By Mark Bradley
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307 comments Add your comment
7576DAWG
January 23rd, 2012
12:13 pm
I will admit there are not many but some thing’s can never be forgiven I don’t care how much good came afterward’s. Sorry Joe.
Against Child Rape
January 23rd, 2012
12:20 pm
You gotta laugh at the guys proclaiming folks who stand against child sexual torture as “High and almighty” or “Self Righteous”. Pathetic behavior by some humans, or sad excuse for humans.
What is “High and almighty” about not supporting the enabling of child rape? Answer that one for us.
I don’t have to be some perfect human being in order to “Judge” a guy who covered up child sexual torture and rape. I just have to be a normal human being.
You are right though, 99% of us will never be like JoePa. We’ll never have friends who sodomize children in our locker rooms and then work behind the scenes to make sure it is all covered up and goes away quietly so as not to tarnish our fake kingdom.
There is no hypocricy there, my friend. If ever someone rapes and tortures my kid or your kid and I’m told about it……….. I’m sure as hell not sweeping it under the rug. That’s just not what normal humans do.
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
12:24 pm
@ Against Child Rape – First, you’re not my friend and second, you’re blinded by supercharged, emotional rage.
Struggle?
January 23rd, 2012
12:24 pm
I don’t struggle with this man’s legacy. He put football above the safety of children. He copped out by “telling my boss” – after a two day wait!
Paterno worked with Sandusky for 44 years or so. The last 13 years were after the first investigation and reported incident. There’s no way JoePa didn’t know about this. He turned his head. I’m sure Satan is having a good laugh with him right now
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
12:29 pm
What are you rabid morons going to say next? I can hear it now… “Yeah, Old Joe was right there holding on to the boys so Sandusky could have his way with them!”…
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:36 pm
Dawginlex: Calling someone names because you disagree with them…just like Jesus would have done.
Skeezix
January 23rd, 2012
12:39 pm
It is tragic how the media handled this story. In terms of how it related to Mr. Paterno, those in the media behaved as badly with the Sandusky story as they did with the Duke Lacrosse team and the Atlanta Olympic bomber. Too many reporters today jump to conclusions way ahead of when the facts/truth comes out. You who have been educated in journalism schools should be ashamed because you know better. You have allowed yourselves to become part of the tabloid crowd. Just think of all the lousy characters we have in pro sports today (who in some cases have committed real crimes) that you guys give a pass to everyday. Oh, but when it came to Joe Paterno–most reporters (including some of you at the ajc) all joined the lynch mob and didn’t stopped until you destroyed him. But what did he do? What was his crime?
As I said in a post yesterday, may Coach Paterno rest in peace in God’s embrace.
pb
January 23rd, 2012
12:41 pm
Vicious attacks here on Paterno as if he committed the crime himself. Maybe he did deserve to get fired, but Penn State trustees did so out of pressure and wanted to get rid of the problem. Probably did hasten his death; he probably died a very sad man. Just all round a tragedy for all involved- the boys molested, Penn State image, the players on team now, and Joe Paterno. Feel sorry for all except Sandusky.
Dick in Smyrna
January 23rd, 2012
12:43 pm
Paterno did nothing when faced with evil. He walked away, turned his head, and his eyes, when learning of children being sexually abused. Here is a man who didn’t hesitate to tell the university president and the athletic director to go to hell when they suggested he think about retirement, yet didn’t have the courage to do the right thing when faced with criminal activity. He was an aider and abetter. What a pathetic individual.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:43 pm
Typical Human Behavior: Moron, no one blames Paterno MORE than Sandusky. The difference is there is universal agreement that Sandusky is a monster, so there is nothing to debate or discuss.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:48 pm
Facts:
1) In 1998, there is a report of Sandusky showering with little boys.
2) Sandusky is forced out of his position because of it, but no police intervention
3) Sandusky is still allowed to use facilities
4) In 2002, redheaded coward reports to Paterno that he saw (at the very least) Sandusky showering with a child AGAIN.
5) Paterno tells “his superior” (even though he runs the city) and nothing happens except Sandusky is no longer allowed to bring children on campus
6) Paterno’s reaction is either “Oh, that Jerry! What a card!” or “okay, boys, time for the old cover up” or “this stuff is on you AD, I’m out.”
7) For the next ten years, Joe Paterno never once goes, “huh, I wonder if anyone ever determined whether my colleague and confidant actually rapes children, I wonder if it is happening to another child right now. Maybe this guy, the most powerful person in the State, should make a call or two and see what happened.”
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:49 pm
Dick in Smyrna : Well said
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:51 pm
Skeezix: I’m sure Joe Paterno is in Heaven, coaching youth football in the Catholic section with all the priests who confessed their sins before death. What fun Heaven must be!
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
12:54 pm
@ Dick in Smyrna – you’re comment @ 12:43pm is full of false statements.
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
12:55 pm
Law Dawg is not an attorney yet.
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2012
12:55 pm
Lawdawg and Jarrell
Playing judge and jury like God.
Thank God we all aren’t relying on you two to decide who gets into Heaven.
I’m not condoning what the man did and I’m sure not condoning what Sandusky did. If my kid was one of the victims, it would be a non event/topic because Sandusky would be permanently unavailable for comment. Paterno too.
My point is the man did wrong and continuing to bash him, especially now that he is dead, serves no purpose except to start a bunch of arguments.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
It serves the purpose of making me feel better. Heaven is a fairy tale for children.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
1:00 pm
Typical Human Behavior said “LawDawg is not an attorney yet.”
Burn, I guess?
victoria
January 23rd, 2012
1:00 pm
I am really torn about this entire situation. I recently lost my Mother, and I feel so sorry for the Paterno family. He was, after all, a father, husband and grandfather. I can’t help thinking that he died of a broken heart. I also feel like the trustees have probably wanted JoePa to retire for years and this was the easiest thing to do – lay the blame on him and kick him out the door. Otherwise, the fans would have been in an uproar. They were having a great season, like it or not. I’m sure he was so frustrated that he didn’t have the opportunity to clear his name. And now, sadly, he will never have the opportunity. Ultimately, the place he loved most may have been what killed him. I hope you rest in peace, Mr. Paterno.
Call it like it is
January 23rd, 2012
1:00 pm
“I didn’t know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was, So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.” “I should have done more.”
Those are Paterno’s words not mine. You can spin it anyway you want, Paterno, the AD, the President all knew what was on their campus for years and they all did nothing about it. Again Joe’s words “I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE!” Yes Joe, yes you should have.
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
1:01 pm
It’s obvious that LawDog is running on supercharged, emotional rage.
To state that Joe Paterno was the most powerful person in the state is laughable. If you’re ambition is to be a trial lawyer, I think you’re moving in the right direction. Because we all know that trial lawyers LOVE to tell stories – they don’t need to be factual, just convincing.
Doc
January 23rd, 2012
1:05 pm
Died of a broken heart alright… broken by the shame of everyone finding out what he did, hiding and enabling a monster who rapes little boys. Of caring only about himself and his “legacy”. Well, here’s your legacy JoePa. Hope it was worth it.
Butch
January 23rd, 2012
1:08 pm
Faced with evil, criminal conduct …. did nothing.
Told the university pres and AD to go to hell when they suggested he might think about retirement but didn’t have the integrity to do the right thing …. then a weak, ‘I wish I had done more’.
Legend? Pathetic!
GodisanAtheist
January 23rd, 2012
1:09 pm
The thing is we make heroes out of those who can hit a ball and catch a pass, and, mostly by association, out of the people who coach them. He had a very, very long and successful career doing something he loved, for which he was very well compensated. But that doesn’t make him a hero.
A hero is a person who steps up, often at great personal risk, to do the right thing, to help others who can’t help themselves. Joe Pa failed miserably in that regard. In fact, he was a coward.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Typical Human Behavior: I wasn’t raped. I have no emotion about this other than I hope the criticism does not go away just because he had the decency to die.
As far as your comments about whether I am or am not a lawyer: You’re an idiot.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
1:11 pm
Doc: Well said.
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2012
1:14 pm
Lawdawg
So that’s it. You are an atheist.
That explains a lot.
If you believe there is no Hell, when you die, you better be right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical Human Behavior
January 23rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Burn? LawDog? Bwahahaha!
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2012
1:25 pm
Lawdawg
since you aspire to be a lawyer and claim to have read a lot, try this one
Evidence that Demands a Verdict
by Josh McDowell
He hated Christianity and documented his attempt to discredit everything about the Bible, God etc. Planned on making millions selling his book. Ended up becoming a Christian because all the stuff he was going to prove as lies, he found no falsehoods in them.
poor joe
January 23rd, 2012
1:52 pm
poor joe had a broken heart; dozens of kids got a sore a$$ from joe’s buddy. Joe continued to routinely see his buddy for years after he knew what was going on and acted like nothing was wrong. That would make me sick. His tin star is forever tarnished to everyone that took time to read and understand the facts available, others are clearly in denial.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
2:04 pm
I’m not an atheist by any stretch, I just understand “metaphor” and “things written by primitive people 2000 years ago.”
I don’t “aspire” to be a lawyer, I am a practicing lawyer.
Gee, DawginLex is yet another judgmental Christian. Shocking. Also, if your point is that everything in the Bible can be proven true, then you better go buy me a freaking talking snake, because that sounds like an awesome pet.
LawDawg
January 23rd, 2012
2:07 pm
If you think because I do not ask forgiveness, I am going to hell, but Paterno and Hitler are in Heaven because they did, regardless of the fact that no child has had his rectal integrity lost because of me and no Jew has died because of me, that hardly seems like morality to me. But whatever, trying to show evangelicals how stupid their view of Christianity is is nothing I have any interest in today.
Dawg Tired
January 23rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Bottom line: Ever since the events of Genesis 3:1-6 there has been a mess in this world and not one single person is free of guilt. As Jesus said, “Let him without sin cast the frist stone.”
Dawg Tired
January 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
None are so blind as he who will not see.
Lavar A
January 23rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Well, I guess Joe’s ignoring child rape with the angels now.
Mike
January 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
I think people need to realize responsibility. Paterno knew what was going on. He admitted as much since and several times expressed regret that he did not do more. Yes he has helped a lot of kids through the years, but now we know that his silence damaged several more in a far more severe way.
Blaming Mark and Jeff is another pitiful example of how this society has lost all sense of responsibility. How many of you would defend Paterno if it was your kids Sandusky got a hold of? Paterno did exactly what Mark said…he put the Penn St. name and institution first and paid the price. Ironically, if Paterno had come forward immediately and taken care of Sandusky, then that slogan of honor would have been reinforced far more than covering it up.
Dawg Tired
January 23rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Lavar – I have no idea of where Joe Paterno will sepnd eternity.
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2012
2:40 pm
I got news for you Lawdawg, sin is sin. There are no levels. Just sin.
For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
I never said Hitler was a Christian or forgiven but I do know it was available to him. All indications are he rejected it but no one knows.
Same with Bin Lasen
Same with Paterno
Same with you and me.
That’s why Christianity is not bigoted or narrow minded.
Anyone can get it. All you have to do is ask
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
You call me a judgemental Christian yet you sit on here and judge a dead man ALL DAY LONG
Hypocritical much?
Little
January 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
When Sandusky gets to Hell Paterno will be there to greet him.
AirDawg
January 23rd, 2012
3:14 pm
He could have stood up for the kids. If sad duck was his friend and colleague he could have confronted him man to man….. he looked the other way for a friend and penn state BOTTOM line.
Mike
January 23rd, 2012
3:49 pm
Guys this isn’t about judging Paterno. This isn’t about looking down our noses at him like he’s a terrible guy and will burn in hell. No he made a crucial mistake. The consequences of which are losing your job, staining any good done at said job while this stuff was going on, and possibly facing civil law suits.
He will stand before Christ like all of us and give accounting. Christ knows his heart and will judge him accordingly. Fortunately, you don’t go to Heaven or hell based on deeds, or we would all be in trouble (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16-17). Its a belief in Christ and repentance of sins. Only Christ, not any of us, is capable of judging this. This redemption is for all…including Jerry Sandusky and anyone else involved…the instant they repent and accept Christ as their savior.
poor joe
January 23rd, 2012
3:54 pm
God, I hope I don’t die in a car crash or have a fatal heart attack. I need time to repent and find Jesus to undo all the vices I currently enjoy.
dawg tired
January 23rd, 2012
4:24 pm
Great piece, Mark!
I would ease up on the “death by broken heart” angle. He was, after all, 85 years old and suffering from cancer and a recently broken pelvis. His passing was not surprising.
Danny Groner: Joe Paterno Remembered for Being "Human" | My Blog
January 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
[...] Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “A year ago we’d have pronounced he did it a right approach and left it during that. Today we contingency rewrite that line to simulate a complexity that enfolded this life a same approach complexity enfolds all human life. Today we contingency contend of Joe Paterno: ‘He did it a right approach — solely for a one time he didn’t.’” [...]
sk1f2n
January 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
Mark–you (or anyone else) don’t really know what Joe was thinking of the sorry news about Sandusky. Don’t try to tell us what it was.
what of it?
January 23rd, 2012
5:33 pm
Sweet fu@king christ. This isn’t about looking down our noses at Paterno. it’s about the media holding vigil for his death, and the total lack of accountability that a child molester could be allowed to walk freely for decades all in the name of Penn State football. This is nothing like Duke Lacrosse or the Atlanta Olympic Bombing. Those had to do with police covering up facts. this has to do with an organization covering for a child molester. The only reason this got out was the volume of victims and undeniable pattern of evidence.
phil
January 23rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Wow.
I know people in general are idiots and morons, but many on here have definitely reaffirmed my belief that nothing has changed in that regard.
So many of you seem to know it all. Such vile, harsh, unprovoked attacks on an old man.
I’m afraid many of you are far more despicable people than Coach Paterno could have ever thought of being.
I’m even beginning to think that most of you are Tech fans. It’s all that can explain such thinking and behavior.
phil
January 23rd, 2012
5:39 pm
What of it….
You need serious help.
Please get some. Now.
phil
January 23rd, 2012
5:42 pm
Little
January 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
When Sandusky gets to Hell Paterno will be there to greet him.
*****
This is the kind of mindless ignorance that those buffoons in Kansas spew. You know, the ones that protest at people’s funerals.
Please do the world a favor and NEVER apply for a job…