UGA football coaches remember Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno is carried off the field on the shoulders of his players after his 1983 Penn State team defted No. 1 Georgia 27-23 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1983. (AP photo)
ATHENS – The University of Georgia has a connection to Joe Paterno and Penn State. Vince Dooley’s undefeated 1982 SEC championship team played Paterno’s Nittany Lions in the the 1983 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
As any Dogs’ fan from those days can tell you, the Bulldogs lost 27-23. It was a great game in which the Todd Blackledge-led Nittany Lions came in as the consensus No. 2 team and Georgia No. 1. The Bulldogs were led, of course, by Heisman Trophy recipient Herschel Walker, who finished with 103 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. However, he was out-shined that day by another pretty good running back. Curt Warner had 177 yards and two TDs on 18 carries.
Penn State led throughout the first half, but the Bulldogs came roaring back in the second and closed it to 20-17 in third quarter. But Blackledge hit Greg Garrity with 47-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter and that proved to be the difference in the game.
It remains the only time Penn State and Georgia have played in football.
Dooley issued a statement about Paterno upon learning of his death late Sunday night.
“Barbara and I are saddened by the sudden and untimely loss of our long time dear friend Joe Paterno,” Dooley said. “His wife Sue was a special friend and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Joe was a great role model and represented all that was good about college football. It was tragic that such a person had to endure the heartbreaks of his last months on Earth. God Bless Joe and Sue.”
Georgia coach Mark Richt also got to know the Paternos as a member of the Nike coaches’ fraternity.
“Katharyn and I got to know Coach Paterno and Sue at a Nike coaches retreat,” Richt said in a statement. “We were the new kids on the block at that time, but the Paternos were very gracious in welcoming us into the head coaching fraternity. His record stands alone and his immense contributions to Penn State and the game of college football make him one of the greatest coaches of all time.”
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84 comments Add your comment
Steven
January 23rd, 2012
9:04 am
first
Steven
January 23rd, 2012
9:08 am
All the good the man did was tainted by his inaction in 2002-2011. I bet if it had been one of his grandchildren in the shower he would’ve acted differently….
Double g
January 23rd, 2012
9:12 am
Give his legacy a few years to simmer. I believe history will be kinder to Paterno once the emotions of the recent occurances have been settled. Paterno didn’t go far enough in keeping Sandusky away from children (he’s been accused), and that’s true. But Joe Pa’s years of good will eventually shine through.
n ga dawg
January 23rd, 2012
9:13 am
Steven,
Well said. Completely true.
SugarHillDawg
January 23rd, 2012
9:13 am
I wonder how many kids he could’ve saved if he’d have followed up on what he knew?
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
9:21 am
Wow. I didn’t expect this. Well said everyone. I’m sure this blog will turn ugly soon but I have some hope in humanity with these first few comments.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
January 23rd, 2012
9:30 am
Never cared for his post game interviews…just seemed not friendly to the reporters..always had that unhappy frown. He should have done a follow up years ago…but he ran PSU and didn’t have to.
John
January 23rd, 2012
9:39 am
It’s about time for the regular rug rat minded venters to finish their pablum and join in the blog. They will get their jollies by bashing this man who they know nothing about. They are sad and ignorant ranters.
1eyedJack
January 23rd, 2012
9:40 am
God knows the truth.
ole dawg
January 23rd, 2012
9:47 am
Come on people… let the man have a funeral before you start bashing him and trying to have your 10 seconds of fame on a blog. He reported a second hand incident to his AD and the PSU President. Campus Police (the only policy in Happy Valley) were notified. Hindsight is always 20/20. Nobody is happy about Sandusky’s alleged actions. Spend a little time bashing his superiors until his family has his funeral. Have a little class..
DIT
January 23rd, 2012
9:51 am
He without sin, cast the first stone!
DIT
January 23rd, 2012
9:53 am
I don’t agree with the way Joe Pa reacted to what was going on, but that is now between himself and God. Who are we to judge! I guess, for some, it’s easy when your veiwing it from the cheap seats.
MiamiDawg
January 23rd, 2012
9:55 am
No doubts about his skills as a football coach. The doubt come in regarding his inaction where it really counted.
The CMR backers would say we’ll take a good man over a great coach. I think in regards to jopa, that would really have held true.
Judge Judy
January 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
If we are going to blame Joe for what Sandusky did, shouldn’t we blame Al Gore for Bill Clinton?
Top Row Dog
January 23rd, 2012
10:14 am
The only man to win all 5 of the major bowls
4 Orange Bowls
6 Fiesta Bowls
2 Cotton Bowls
1 Rose Bowl
1 very painful Sugar Bowl
24 Bowl wins more than Georgia Tech as a school.
More than all the NCAA schools except seven.
dawgster7
January 23rd, 2012
10:17 am
Sorry, but you can NEVER defend your actions when any defenseless child is being harmed and you didn’t do EVERYTHING possible in your powers to stop it. A great coach, but I will never be able to overlook this incident.
dawgster7
January 23rd, 2012
10:26 am
“If we are going to blame Joe for what Sandusky did, shouldn’t we blame Al Gore for Bill Clinton?”
We are not blaming Joe Paterno for what Sandusky did, we are blaming Joe Paterno for what he DIDN’T do by calling the police and following up on the rape of defenseless boys. As mentioned earlier, i bet Joe would have done more if it was one of his grandchildren.
ATL Fan
January 23rd, 2012
10:33 am
I hated Penn State and Joe Paterno after the Sugar Bowl loss. Devastating loss. But at least I could (love to) hate a great coach and great program. The recent developments took away much of the respect I had for Mr. Paterno.
Frank Lane
January 23rd, 2012
10:39 am
I think that the grandkid post is right on. When faced with a decision over what is right or wrong, seeing in the light of one’s own is a good discipline. E>G>, I have to fire someone today. How would I handle if it were my grandson?
I suspect strongly that he would have reacted differently had it been his grandchild.
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
10:44 am
Great coach? Yes. He was selfish for sticking around as long as he did. Great man? I would have said yes until all this blew up. Who are we to judge? Well, the prisons are full of people because we pay people, and elected people to,arrest and sentence for us. Am I a hypocrite and a sinner? Absolutely and thankfully I believe in God’s mercy and for the price his Son paid for my sins. The point is this, and you guys can belittle all you want to, but if Joe Paterno knew his friend was killing children, or punching childen in the face, you too would be appalled. Somehow this systematic molestation is minimized. That said, the same God who judged David (the adulterer), Moses (the murderer), Noah (the drunk) will judge Paterno and myself. I’m saying he made a terrible decision, took the easy way out, and more kids suffered. Unfortunately, for those who love him, this will be a part of his legacy. If you want to feel sorry for someone feel sorry for Kelvin Williams or Billy Cundiff today. Those guys did their best and are getting killed today.
For the record, I don’t believe that anyone in the Paterno family will be reading my comments today so I don’t believe “the let the man get buried” argument holds water. I do think that the odds are much greater that someone who has been affected by sexual abuse might read the insensitive remarks written on here and will be mortified. I mentor kids who have fell victim to these monstrous acts so I have a little idea of damage left behind.
BW
January 23rd, 2012
10:53 am
It has been said before, the man died of a broken heart! Even though Paterno was fired, he would have retired at the end of this season. If you will remember, Bear Bryant died soon after his retirement from FB as well.
Steven
January 23rd, 2012
10:55 am
Wow, Dawglasville….
I can’t imagine it being said any better. 100% correct on all points.
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
11:06 am
The question asked was how are we going to remember Joe Paterno? The answer, since I was asked, is I’ll remember him as a good guy and coach who loved his University and players dearly. He was a man who chose to ignore (whether it was loyalty to his friend or fear of a tarnished image)claims of a heinous act that impacted lives forever. That is how I will remember him. You guys can remember him however you want to.
JB
January 23rd, 2012
11:09 am
Shows you the power and loyalty of the coaching profession. It’s really why Bobo is still the OC at UGA. Most head coach’s sacrifice OC’s and DC’s often when goals aren’t met. Paterno got rid of this guy….sort of…..He was allowed to hang around the program and run clinics…..With young boys. How would you feel about Joe if it was your son? Forgiveness comes from one place.
Joey
January 23rd, 2012
11:14 am
R.I.P JoePa. I wont judge you. What was said between you and the authorities above you will never be known….. I personally feel, you were scared into silence. God Speed.
WDE
January 23rd, 2012
11:20 am
@Dawglasville well said, it is so utter disturbing that a man so highly thought of for so many years and rightfully so , could allow so much damage to be done by simply not ensuring that the right thing was being done.
Alphare
January 23rd, 2012
11:22 am
Joe relayed the 2nd hand info to his superior while he was buried in his day-to-day operation. I cannot blame him for his inaction at all.
Rest in peace, Joe.
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
11:25 am
Steven – Thanks. I’m kinda passionate about this. I’ve been inspired by a lot of blogs today including yours. I can’t imagine how deeply rooted and branched this tree of evil is that Sandusky planted. It has found it’s way into so many lives, the Paterno family included.
13-1
January 23rd, 2012
11:29 am
SENIOR STARTERS ON THE DEFENSE 2012 :
*1.CB 19 Sanders Commings | 6-2, 217, Sr., 3V – suspended for Mizzou & Buffalo at least
2.DE 93 Abry Jones | 6-3, 309, Sr., 3V
3.NT 6 John Jenkins | 6-3, 351, Sr., 1V
4.LB 83 Cornelius Washington | 6-4, 269, Sr., 3V
5.LB 35 Mike Gilliard | 6-2, 220, Sr., 3V
6.CB 1 Branden Smith | 5-11, 176, Sr., 3V started 7 games 2011
7.S 36 Shawn Williams | 6-1, 220, Sr., 3V
8.S 18 Bacarri Rambo | 6-0, 218, Sr., 3V
9.LB 45 Christian Robinson | 6-2, 233, Sr., 3V started 4 games 2011
10.29 Jarvis Jones | 6-3, 241, Jr., 1V should have gone Pro already
11.9 Alec Ogletree | 6-3, 236, Jr., 2V has not played much at all
**DE 56 Garrison Smith | 6-3, 294, Jr., 2V started 2 games and could leave after 2012 as well. If Garrison Smith does not leave after 2012, then he will be the ONLY Defensive Starter who will return for 2013.**
We lose 11 senior starters after 2012 on Defense alone. This is most assuredly not a young team for The Georgia Bulldogs’ football team 2012. By direct contrast, YOUNG cannot be used in describing this situation – COMPLETE AND UTTER GUTTING OF THE DEFENSE AFTER 2012, and NO COMMITMENTS for the SECONDARY AT ALL WHATSOEVER OF ANYONE IN THE ENTIRE NATION. Amazing.
Jarvis Jones is the most celebrated linebacker, ever, in Georgia Bulldogs’ history, and has won the most Post-Season Awards All-Time for us at linebacker.
Alec Ogletree is clearly our best defender of the forward pass and Erk Russell would have had him playing Rover, not at our stacked linebacker position. 8 games last 2010 season and this 2011 season just ended, Alec Ogletree did not play in. The 1st five games last 2010 season, he was barely given any playing time. Alec Ogletree has 1 year, in my opinion, for us to watch him. With Jarvis Jones coming back 2012, when his sprain neck with still be a question after this up-coming season, Alec Ogletree with be recognized as the
O-J
O-J Defense of UGA. These are two (2) Consensus All-America players. Both also leave after this up-coming 2012 season. There is no way we keep either player after this season.
But, you heard it here first :
O-J DEFENSE Ogletree-Jones Defense for UGA 2012.
Sophomore Mike Thornton CANNOT be moved to Fullback, by this analysis.
Georgia will DOMINATE THE NFL DRAFT AFTER 2012 ON DEFENSE.
There could be as many as 12 Drafted from our Defense after 2012. 11 for sure.
That is my analysis of it, 3 weeks into the Off-Season.
OFFENSE :
On Offense after 2012, we lose 5 seniors 2012 all of whom have started as well, including walk-on snapper Ty Frix – one of many walk-ons awarded with multiple season scholarships who none of them played offense or defense, yet. Basically, the whole cruddy special teams. JoePa got the shaft when he told Penn State about it and they did nothing. Yes, he should have, then.
joe t
January 23rd, 2012
11:37 am
Hey top row dog
you seem to be good with numbers, so how many children were abused at those bowl games?
Typical human behavior
January 23rd, 2012
11:58 am
Whenever this topic comes up you see the “High and Mighty” folks come out of the woodwork, proclaiming and judging others misdeeds. You’ve been painted a picture by the media and that’s a fact. Not one of you was present at the time of the incident. Most of you blame Joe more than Sandusky because of the notoriety of the name “Joe Paterno”. It’s easy for you. The guy was a class act and someone that 99% of you will never be – that’s why it’s so easy for you to cast your stones. You all are so morally competent and want everyone to know that you would NEVER make a mis-step such as the one Joe is being accused of. The lot of you are hypocrites and you aren’t even worthy of licking the dirt from the man’s shoes.
Jacket99
January 23rd, 2012
12:19 pm
Penn State’s administration let Joe Paterno down when he reported the incident to them and they broke his heart with the way they treated him in the end. Our institutions are no longer led by men of courage. They are led by nancies who are looking to cover their rear ends in any given situation.
Tom
January 23rd, 2012
12:19 pm
Never cared for the guy,
bitter dawgs fan
January 23rd, 2012
12:21 pm
@13-1——-you talk to much——like a women————-shut up and close your trailer door
Monica
January 23rd, 2012
12:41 pm
I LIKED BILL CLINTON!!! I have the dress to prove it.
Monica
January 23rd, 2012
12:45 pm
And Bill Clinton will tell you, ” I LOOK SO MUCH CUTER WITH SOMETHING IN MY MOUTH!!!”
TampaDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:47 pm
Dawglasville with the best post in a long time.
Ga.Tech #1
January 23rd, 2012
12:48 pm
Typical Human Behavior—I agree with you 100%; couldn’t have said it better. Folks that harden their opinions before all the facts are known are dangerous. Heck, we haven’t even had Sandusky’s trial yet.
Rationale
January 23rd, 2012
12:51 pm
I despise it when the AJC blocks posts that deal with things they do not want posted. I just posted some information that people like “Typical Human Behavior” needs to know and they removed it. Where is the 1st Amendment on these posts?
TampaDawg
January 23rd, 2012
12:55 pm
@Typical human behavior — Not saying that there isn’t at least a little bit of your post that I agree with, but really dude? Not worthy of licking the dirt off his shoes? Speak for yourself. I just found it ironic that a rant like that comes from someone who in the same rant used terms like “high and mighty” and “hypocrites” and “judging others deeds”.
JoePa#1
January 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
Hey I wonder how many lives Bill Clinton could have saved if he would have caught and hung Bin Laden when he had the chance? Joe was wrongly convicted of something someone else was doing….sad
A person SMART enough to know......
January 23rd, 2012
1:16 pm
Makes it easier to forget Comming Arrest I guess.
Dawgbreath
January 23rd, 2012
1:21 pm
RIP
A person SMART enough to know......
January 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
I love the comments. I make a joke or 2 When Larry passed and I get chewed up and spit out. You people jump on Joe Pa and slap each other on the back for kicking a man upon his death. UGa fans if it ain’t a dwag is don’t matter.
I KNOW plenty of you have seen things done that were wrong and did nothing to stop it too.
UGA Golfer
January 23rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Unfortunately the worst game plan of Vince Dooley’s coaching career. He would not make adjustments to Sandusky’s defensive scheme to stop Walker that day. Walker catching passes out of the backfield just behind the linebackers would have produced several scores. Instead, he just kept pounding him off tackle. Georgia was by far the better team that day (Penn State lost 41-21 to Alabama earlier that year). Also at the top of the list of worst decisions was Dooley’s decision after the 1968 season to opt for the Sugar Bowl instead of the Orange Bowl and a matchup for the national championship.
Morgan Tucker
January 23rd, 2012
1:39 pm
My dad died way too early this week and there was still much left for him to enjoy in life, like grandkids and the convertible he was going to buy this past weekend…
A situation like this is not a time for people to post negative comments or be straight up nasty to the deceased. It’s about the family and what they’re going through, my thoughts and prayers are with the Paterno family with the passing of Joe Pa as they have lost a very big part of their lives. I can’t speak for what Joe Pa did or didn’t do, should or shouldn’t have done… but I understand what they’re going through. Anyone who has ever experienced this, knows what I am talking about.
Make every day, every situation, every second counts in life because you never know when it will be the last time… I didn’t. My last conversation with my dad was about this years Georgia recruiting class and my english bulldog (his granddog) Georgia… and that’s the way he would’ve wanted it.
Long story, short… Call those that mean the most to you today and make sure they know that you love them. I feel as though I’ve finished growing up now and my dad will be there with me for every success and failure I will endure from now until the time I see him again.
RIP: Tommy Tucker – Augusta, Ga (certified DGD)
11/03/1948 – 01/19/2012
RIP: Joe Pa
RxDawg
January 23rd, 2012
1:44 pm
As far as recent developments go… I refuse to believe it’s as black and white as some of you think. There is just no way Joe knew just how bad things were and still allowed Sandusky to hang around the program and it’s kids. I mean, think about if that got out about someone you work with. What do you think it’d be like passing that guy in the hall?
dawgdip
January 23rd, 2012
1:46 pm
Joe Paterno said this ” I wish I had done more.” In his heart he knew he should have put a stop to all of this. He was at the time arguably the second most powerful man in the entire state. By going public back in 1999 he could have blown the top off of this and Sandusky would be in prison and many boys would have been spared this horrible fate.
aw
January 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
I loved the fact that he always wore a tie on the sidelines. (he and Jim Tressel)
Hate the fact coaches don’t wear them today. Tuberville ruined it for Ole Miss. Thanks Tub
Prez Obozo
January 23rd, 2012
1:53 pm
A great role model???? I’ll bet the child victims are not feeling this way! Guess Dooly has to be politically correct.
truedawg
January 23rd, 2012
1:56 pm
Now what? do we remember the coach on the field or off? He did amazing things in the game and had great success. We down play all that was done in his career due to his not stepping forward to stop a dreadful act. Are we measuring ourselves as harshly? If you saw a man get mugged would you try to help? If you heard your neighbors fighting and the next day saw a wife with a black eye would you report it? Its hard to know what he knew or to the extent. But do we draw the line at molestation of boy? or is doing right have no end? Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong. After hearing the news of Joe Pa, I saw Mark Richt eating in a resturant in Athens..I didn’t bother the man, I just thought….I’m so Glad he’s our Coach!
Well Joe Pa died auffering from cancer, If you wanted a man to suffer in death for what he may or may have not done, you have it. Now let the man rest.
bulldog steve
January 23rd, 2012
2:04 pm
If anybody on here can honestly look in the mirror and say “In hindsight, I would do nothing different in my life” then they can have something to say about JoePa. The court of public opinion killed him and that cannot be denied. Nobody knows for sure what was said and to whom. Does anybody really think they have all the facts of what really went on behind the scenes and what was really told to him?
brad
January 23rd, 2012
2:07 pm
The man was Italian, born in Brooklyn in the 1920’s. Its in his DNA to never tell the authorites on a friend. You end up in a landfill for doing something like that in his culture…he just did what came natural and kept his mouth shut.
BobDawg
January 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
DOUBLE G. Agree with your comments… History will treat him better down the road… just not now and while the Sandusky trial is going on….
Newt Gingrich is a Rock Star
January 23rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Sad ending to what appears to have been an otherwise exemplary life. Just as JoePa received adulation for all the good he did, he received scorn for what he failed to do. That’s the way it is with any human being, and that’s probably the just result. In the end, all it shows is that the larger than life figures we deify are human after all.
TampaDawg
January 23rd, 2012
2:20 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
January 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
I love the comments. I make a joke or 2 When Larry passed and I get chewed up and spit out. You people jump on Joe Pa and slap each other on the back for kicking a man upon his death. UGa fans if it ain’t a dwag is don’t matter.
I KNOW plenty of you have seen things done that were wrong and did nothing to stop it too.
————————————————
Could there be a dumber post on here? No, because comparing the two is just stupid. And it isn’t like these comments wouldn’t have come on here if an article about JoePa would have been written while he was still alive. Was he a quality guy? Yes, of course he was. Did he make a HUGE mistake in judgment? You bet he did.
Now, SMART enough to be make accusations, I KNOW you don’t know a thing about the people on here so I KNOW you can’t make the statement at the end of your post like you did to any level of fact. And I KNOW, that you certainly don’t know if anyone on here has ever known about something so hideous as child rape and done nothing about it so I KNOW you need get off the accusation trip you’re on.
TampaDawg
January 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
@bulldog steve, no we don’t know ALL the facts, but from what JoePa said himself on tape speaks volumes. So many in this are to blame in some way shape or form. The grad assistant somehow gets a free pass when he did oh so little as a witness to the actual crime. I would like to think as a father of two, if I knew there was something like that going on less than 20 feet away that calling the cops is second on my list of “to do’s” and putting an end to the immediate act is first. This guy gets a break for whatever reason when fact is, he was at least 22 years old when it happened and knew right from wrong and still did OH SO LITTLE. And the university board members that let him keep his job should be handed a pink slip along with him.
Ed
January 23rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Come on Brad, really? Paterno didn’t report Sandusky to local police authorities because he had an ingrained mob mentality? Man, that’s a stretch. To further that analogy, Paterno would have been akin to Sandusky’s capo or boss, and could have disposed of his wayward “soldier” with impunity had he so chosen.
Let’s face it, Paterno was in CYA mode. Sandusky was quickly, quietly, and unceremoniously ushered out of Penn State in ‘99 despite being in his mid-50s and one of the most successful D-Coordinators in the country. I doubt any of the ‘02 revelations came as a complete shock to Paterno or any of the other higher-ups at Penn State. It’s been said a thousand times, but is worth repeating: it’s not the crime so much as the cover-up that is often a great man’s undoing. Paterno should have learned that lesson from Richard Nixon, the President he once scorned for declaring Texas the nation’s number 1 team in ‘69 over a perfect Penn State team.
I think there’s much to be said for Paterno’s life, but you can’t whitewash the Sandusky tragedy.
GT
January 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Joe Paterno invented over hyping a Yankee college football team. How Georgia loss to these guys in ‘82 is still beyond me. Notice how these two teams only met once, that was not by coincidence. Unlike those great teams of Southern Cal, FSU or Notre Dame or even Alabama who went looking for competition Penn State hid. And while they were hiding they were working the press to get more yardage than the team desired. The Ohio State of their generation. Every year Bobby Bowden played a harder schedule which should go into some of the figuring for who the better coach was along with the Bear. I kind of wish Georgia would play some of the national powers but the SEC doesn’t duck anything just being in the SEC is facing the best. A legion is Bear Bryant or Bud Wilkinson both added something to the game. Those Ok vs. Texas games were off the charts, every year, no dodging see ya there type stuff. The only place you find that stuff now is in the SEC period.
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
2:58 pm
On the campus of the facility where I mentor you can walk around at night and hear the kids crying. The staff calls it “Night-timing” because it is at night when most of the bad stuff happened to these kids. I’m pretty sure that the vast majority of the sexual assaults Sandusky unleashed on his victims occurred at night, behind closed doors. Penn State protected the brand not those children. I’m sorry that some of you feel like Paterno is getting a raw deal. Some of you have probably been a fan of his for some time. I am certain if you knew the victims impacted by the lack of action by the administration and coaching staff you would feel differently. Bad things will always happen until someone steps up and shines a light into that darkness. Paterno and many others could have been that light. Paterno was the face of Penn State when things went well. No one knew the Presidents name, or the AD’s name and that was fine. Like it or not, whether you are a fan or not, you should not be surprised that Paterno is the face of the cover up. He was involved so my heart does not bleed for him.
AIRDAWG
January 23rd, 2012
3:00 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.
LHarding Dawg
January 23rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Goodbye JoePa, you’ll be sadly missed as a coach. Think about if every major football program in America graduated 90 something percent of their players, like JoePa did, what college and pro football would look like. There would be a lot less tats.
Fair and Balanced
January 23rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Okay, Mr Bradley printed what he believed happened so I will print my beliefs. Joe Pa reported to the AD as he was required. AD reported to the President…as he should have. Somewhere in. The admin above Joe the issue was discussed, they decided to take no action and told Joe to not worry about it…all taken care of and Joe was to get back to coaching football.
Look, I may not have all the facts, but nobody does. The man was over 70 years and probably did not hang around those showers much and I doubt that a lot of what happened down there was reported to him about Sandusky coming on campus after he was released from coaching. Remember, this man was not under his employ at the time of this stupid thing. Joe received it 2nd hand. Anyone seeing this act should be the one responsible to tell the law. No need to crucify Joe by the media for something a lot of people could have and should have done.
Bradley struggles with how to remember Joe but Richt seems to have no problem. I don’t have a problem with this. Too much focus on this one failing and it seems to have erased all the good he did for his whole lifetime. Sad that media types wish to focus almost exclusively on the negative.
John Galt
January 23rd, 2012
3:52 pm
The only benefit of a doubt due to Paterno- if any- is the possibility that a man of his age raised in his generation MIGHT not have been able to comprehend what might have been going on with Sandusky. If you were to tell my 85-year old dad that a grown man was behaving improperly in a sexual way with boys, I don’t think he would understand what you were talking about.
I’m not arguing that this was the case- but it is at least a remote possibility.
jvillebil
January 23rd, 2012
4:17 pm
It is extremely hard for some people to take sides on this issue because if you ask any person at Penn State that played, coached or worked with him, well it seems about 99% had nothing but love or glowing remarks.
But then if you ask any person that works with children that have been sexualy, mental or physically abused they don’t have a lot of respect.
It’s kind of like when a devoted husband after 25-years of marriage goes through some type of midlife crisis and has a one night stand or short lived affair. It’s when they come to their senses that it seems like it was an out of body experience. Suddenly all the good, seems to be washed away, and it takes years to build it back. I think Joe wasn’t as dumb as some people seem to think he was when it came to this horrible situation. How can you coach for 61 years, lead men into battle and deal with almost every situation imaginable and yet be so naive concerning sexually abuse on a child. My gut tells me Joe wished he would have never been told and then he wouldn’t have had the private battle going on in his heart. I believe he kept telling himself he did the right thing and the people upstairs would handle it. I believe the people around him did everything to keep from dragging him into the situation. Was he a great coach? yes, Did he instill honor in many young men? yes, Will he be remembered for many great things? yes
But life is not very forgiving. Barry Bonds will always be associated with steriods, Pete Rose will always be tied to gambling, O.J will forever be remember for the glove and unfortunately Joe Pa will always be remembered for trusting someone else with something he should have dealt with.
I wish his family a peace of heart.
VCGA
January 23rd, 2012
5:34 pm
In all the blogs I’ve only read why didn’t Paterno do more. I’ve yet to see anyone ask why the graduate assistant didn’t call police of some type, campus or otherwise. The Grad Asst is the one who actually “SAW” the act not Paterno. Paterno did what most people would have done and that was report the incident to the administration. I agree with many on this blog, it’s only because of Paterno being a legend in a sport he loved, a great man who gave much to the institution that he worked for, and a builder of great men that people want to shame him. It’s easy to say what we would do after the fact, shame on all who continue to bad mouth him.
dawgster7
January 23rd, 2012
5:44 pm
“Paterno did what most people would have done and that was report the incident to the administration.”
I agree that the graduate assistant should have stopped it right there, but if you really believe that most people would have reported to the administration and not called the police right way then that is really sad.
13-1
January 23rd, 2012
6:02 pm
Morgan,
I am truly sorry to hear that, sir. Best of best
LakeDawg
January 23rd, 2012
6:16 pm
Dawglasville,
You are very eloquent and I can’t really add to what you’ve posted, but I have to have my say. People speak of Paterno’s legacy and all the good he did through the years and its all very true, but his inaction in this matter is also part of his legacy. It can’t be whitewashed away. He lost his way somewhere along the line as happens with so many who attain great power. His legacy became more important than those kids in his mind. It is a great tradegy, but he made the decision. Probably more than once. He should get no reprieve for his decisions. As for those who insinuate that critics live in glass houses, I will say there is sin and then there is SIN. There is no way I would look the other way when a child is being molested. If we as a society can’t commit to protecting innocent children, then we are truly lost.
LakeDawg
January 23rd, 2012
6:22 pm
Fair and Balanced
Let’s see. On the one hand you have a legacy of playing by the NCAA rules (doing it the right way), being a mentor to young men, and winning a lot of football games. On the other hand you have a man who looked the other way while children were being raped. I know which way I see the scales being tipped.
Charleston Jacket
January 23rd, 2012
7:08 pm
It sickens me to think that 2 men had the opportunity to do something to help that little boy and neither did nothing. One could have and should have stopped the act; the other should have taken immediately taken action to have that sicko put in jail. Paterno’s football record will never, ever overcome the fact that he turned his head rather than take a stand to protect defensless children. Forgot who made the quote but it is true “when good men turn their head, evil abounds”. Paterno was not a good man and gridiron conquest will never replace the devastation to one little boys life.
Steven
January 23rd, 2012
7:12 pm
VCGA ,
You are right, the grad assistant should’ve stopped the rape he saw.
It kills me how a lot of comments on here rip people for ‘judging Paterno’ and kind of saying ‘you didn’t know the man’. Yet none of these people who support him on this blog knew him either. Winning football games without getting put on probation and having a high graduation rate is admirable but it doesn’t make one a ‘holy’ person. From everything we hear, he was a great guy but none of us know that for sure. All we know is that he was a football coach, he wasn’t a saint. It makes me sick seeing those students/fans up there acting like they are mourning a martyr.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but the man failed morally in a major way which was disapointing and still is. That is why people, myself included, have some negative feelings towards him.
Then again-NONE of us knew him.
Chris
January 23rd, 2012
7:13 pm
Joe pa rest in peace. I think in a few years we will only remember the good. I truely think he died of a broken heart. Praying for his ffamily.
R.I.P.
P.S. NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS! This is a serious matter and i dont like seeing negative messages regarding a sad situation where there is alot of pain.
DOGFAN
January 23rd, 2012
7:18 pm
LOST A GREAT COACH, GOD BLESS JOEPA’S FAMILY
Charleston Jacket
January 23rd, 2012
7:19 pm
Well said LakeDawg
To be clear on my blog, I understand that Paterno was not the one who witnessed the act but he was the one who failed to report it and covered it up. So please spare me the nonsense of separating the onfield conquest with this incident. They are intertwined forever – how as a society can we overlook the most henious of acts and glorify what some claim to be a great man. He was not a great man – just a pathtic self center coward.
BTG MIKE
January 23rd, 2012
7:29 pm
I’m going to take the time to write about this one time only.
Paterno reminds me of my father. He was not as savvy to the world of sex and corruption that most people in today’s generation are. He, like most folks his age, thought that people….especially the one’s he chose to bring into his circle….had nothing but good in their hearts. He probably thought the incident (incomplete) discribed to him by McQueary was innocent, never-the-less poor judgement on the part of Sandusky. McQueary didn’t give him all of the details, instead allowing him to draw his own conclusions. Had McQueary told him everything he later divulged to a grand jury, this would have been resolves ten years ago.
Paterno was sold out by the institution he supported for over half of his life. They threw him under the bus, much like Nixon did to his closest advisors during the Watergate investigation. He reported what McQueery had told him…..only….McQueary didn’t tell him everything. It could have happened to anybody………..and does every day. Paterno wasn’t culpable here and could have been saved if there weren’t so many people more powerful than him looking to save their own behinds. That’s what broke his heart…….and mine. Why didn’ PSU officials do more. Somebody had to be wise to it, even if Joe wasn’t. By offering up Paterno’s head, it keeps us from looking deeper in the closet.
Charleston Jacket
January 23rd, 2012
7:40 pm
Okay maybe I was a bit strong with the self centered coward comment- but I truly do not get how you let that one pass. Child molestation has been center stage in the media and on everyones radar screen for the past 25 years or so. Men we must step up in a world turned upside down and protect our families and the innocent.
I do wish peace to his family
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
7:43 pm
LakeDawg – I’ve never been accused of being eloquent before. It is encouraging to see a lot of sanity on this blog. It’s time for prayer and healing now. If some of you guys really want to hear about the mental and physical pain endured by these victims watch (or record) Good Morning Atlanta on Thursday morning. My friend who runs the mentoring program for Youth Villages is being interviewed about her work (I just found that out about two hours ago). It will break your heart.
Dawglasville
January 23rd, 2012
7:48 pm
BTG MIKE – I will agree with you on this. There are a lot of people who must answer for this. Those who are guilty must be held accountable.
Jack T.
January 24th, 2012
12:55 am
Steven
January 23rd, 2012
9:08 am
BEST POST…………………………..If it had been Joe Pa’s grandkid…………….Chester would be stopped
13-1
January 24th, 2012
7:39 am
Heartbreaks the last several months of his life because he didn’t do enough, he said himself. Greatest coaches of all-time who didn’t do what he said now, he should’ve done. I think for what JoePa did say, that he is a great man. It takes a great man to admit he handled it wrongly. He did that. In my book, therefore he is what Vince Dooley and Mark Richt said he is. Neither said he is the greatest or best or without mistakes. We all make mistakes. JoePa made several mistakes during his lifetime that profoundly are recorded in his legacy. When Vincent J. Dooley says that it is tragic what he endured the last several months of his life, then, that says it all. Vince did not excuse him, calling it tragic what happened to him leading to his death. Health, mental and physical are closely tied together; they always have been; they always will be.
John Gagliardi has the most wins of any coach in college football history 484–133–11. Joe Paterno 409-136-3 as college football coach, said himself of Jerry Sandusky that he told Penn State and when they didn’t do the right thing, covering it up and bringing great shame upon Penn State, their president, the football program, their head coach, their defensive coordinator of many years, and the victims their cover-up caused and yes they caused the victims – all those after they knew and did nothing:
Penn State will go on NCAA Probation over this and well they should. Vince does not defend that which JoePa himself said of himself prior to his life, leaving this earth his legacy forever tied to Jerry Sandusky and the 50 victims JoePa could have done something about; maybe he didn’t know all the facts, but JoePa said he knew enough of the facts to know :
“I wished I had done more.”
For that, that’s good. He atoned for this. Do not run in here and try to wish it all away that what JoePa didn’t do, wasn’t his fault. Sure it is, or he would not have shared with you, for none of you excuse-makers to have even the guts to come and here and discuss one-time, none of you :
His headstone should read :
“I wished I had done more.”
Jack T.
January 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Well stated by 13-1
and I will add……………Learn from Joe Paterno’s decision to do very little to stop the child preditor to protect the “image” of the great Penn State University. He was a good man that made a bad misstake that allowed the preditor to continue assaulting kids that HAD NO ONE TO FIGHT FOR THEM.
Markos
January 25th, 2012
6:25 pm
Joe Paterno is a great man who made one huge mistake wich im sure eveyone has. He will be remembered for all the great things he did and love he had for a great game.
FLdawg
January 28th, 2012
2:26 pm
You can tell the character of a man when things are turning bad fast. Well, things certainly did go south fast at stae college. Joe’s character was non-existent or at least distant as hell. Maybe his age will be his greatest defense, better than any he ever had on the field.