Penn State Scandal

[mikekerrIII]

I really hope that this last controversy doesn't mar Paterno's legacy. I'm sure it won't, though.

I hope his inaction does mar lhis legacy, what good has he done compared to the evil he ignored? Football is only a game, ignoring the rape of children is not.

[Charles RB]

Yes, the most important thing in all this is that the man who didn't stop one of his coaches raping children doesn't have his reputation tarnished.

I think it's gonna be preeeeety tarnished.

[Cavemold]

Well, it seems they were just a bit ahead of the curve, because he did die in fact this morning: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colle...ead-at-85.html.

Great college coach , I think in general he was good guy .That made a huge mistake by not telling the police himself . He tried to teach his kids right from wrong. He was beloved guy from his community even still to extent even after this scandal... Greatest college coach in history . I would say .

RIP
Joe PA.

[7thangel]

is it possible to not turn a thread about the abuse and cover-up into a paterno rest in peace thread? there's a college football thread where it would be a hell of a lot more appropriate

[lasraik]

His legacy is allowing a pedophile to rape kids on his watch while he knew about it but did nothing to stop it.

Numerous lives were ruined because of his inaction. That is his legacy because that is more significant than any sport achievement.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The only person who really knows what he was possibly thinking with his action/in-action (yes Paterno did act , but not enough to go farther) is gone. We can't possibly know what the guy was thinking at his age (late 70's when it happened).

In the end it will tarnish his legacy a lot. His work at the University will have praise for the years of work , the students that passed and the millions of dollars he put back into the University . But the story will always end with ...Paterno should have went farther to know about Jerry Sandusky.

But the real story is one we will never know from his perspective fully. The interview he gave , was basically on his death bed. He had to do it at the hospital in a state where he clearly was struggling to get it out. So you have to wonder how well and fully could he honestly give an answer . (A lot seems to echo the Grand Jury deal he gave then)

So at the end ...only person who knows is gone. He won't suffer anymore. Its clear the guilt ate at him quick. I knew the moment he was diagnosed that this and the guilt he seemed to show then would end his life quick.

RIP Joe Paterno. You will face your maker there and whatever you did fully know from 2002 will come out there.

[Nick Soapdish]

I really hope that this last controversy doesn't mar Paterno's legacy. I'm sure it won't, though.

Do you write for The Onion?


I also like what they wrote about his death - Joe Paterno Dies In Hospital; Doctors Promise To Tell Their Superiors First Thing Tomorrow (no story, just a headline).

It's pretty much guaranteed that it's marred his legacy. It hasn't completely destroyed it and I don't see Penn State taking his statue down or the NCAA wiping out his wins (although they're going to investigate so they look like they're doing something responsible). So he'll keep the all time record. Awfully convenient that a yearlong investigation culminated in charges the week after he breaks the record. Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

[Kid Montana]

Do you write for The Onion?


I also like what they wrote about his death - Joe Paterno Dies In Hospital; Doctors Promise To Tell Their Superiors First Thing Tomorrow (no story, just a headline).

It's pretty much guaranteed that it's marred his legacy. It hasn't completely destroyed it and I don't see Penn State taking his statue down or the NCAA wiping out his wins (although they're going to investigate so they look like they're doing something responsible). So he'll keep the all time record. Awfully convenient that a yearlong investigation culminated in charges the week after he breaks the record. Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

He didnt break the record, he tied it.

Also, he wasnt the witness, that pansy that could have stopped it but didnt was. The Grand Jury report acknowledges and was later corroberated the he wasnt told it was a rape, just inappropriate. Not excusing it, but I dont think he really fathomed what had happened. In part, his generation really has had a problem acknowledging such things occur.

The part I do find inexcusable is that they continued to let this guy have access and (dont know if its true) assist in recruiting afterwards? That is why the university deserves scorn, but the reporting part...that is on the witness.

[Nick Soapdish]

He didnt break the record, he tied it.

Also, he wasnt the witness, that pansy that could have stopped it but didnt was. The Grand Jury report acknowledges and was later corroberated the he wasnt told it was a rape, just inappropriate. Not excusing it, but I dont think he really fathomed what had happened. In part, his generation really has had a problem acknowledging such things occur.

The part I do find inexcusable is that they continued to let this guy have access and (dont know if its true) assist in recruiting afterwards? That is why the university deserves scorn, but the reporting part...that is on the witness.

Joe Paterno has a career record of 409-136-3. Eddie Robinson has a career record of 408-168-15. John Gagliardi is still active and is at 484 wins, but he's at a lower division.

The joke that I quoted was that after hearing about the attack (which McQueary has claimed that he stopped), he decided to wait until Monday to report it to the university. And yeah, his generation doesn't seem to have been as open about that sort of abuse so maybe he didn't think that it went on and the Catholic Church scandal was only just starting to break which he might've also missed, having football goggles on. But it's still a pathetic effort on his part as well as that of the university and McQueary. Like you said, none of them had any problems continuing to hang around Sandusky or keeping him around the university.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Joe Paterno has a career record of 409-136-3. Eddie Robinson has a career record of 408-168-15. John Gagliardi is still active and is at 484 wins, but he's at a lower division.

The joke that I quoted was that after hearing about the attack (which McQueary has claimed that he stopped), he decided to wait until Monday to report it to the university. And yeah, his generation doesn't seem to have been as open about that sort of abuse so maybe he didn't think that it went on and the Catholic Church scandal was only just starting to break which he might've also missed, having football goggles on. But it's still a pathetic effort on his part as well as that of the university and McQueary. Like you said, none of them had any problems continuing to hang around Sandusky or keeping him around the university.

Paterno seemed more confused as he claimed at what McQueary told him and echoed that in his last interview. Its possible being as old as he was then (mid to late 70's) he didn't understand really what McQueary was trying to say to him and didn't know whether it was horse play or rape. (he does at one point claim he's never had this happen in 58 years at the school)

Now its possible after he turned it in (and the AD and President buried it) Paterno when he saw Sandusky may have thought , well they must have looked into it. They would have done something . Its true Paterno should have done more months later , but in his mind maybe he felt what he was told by McQueary was looked into and it was settled.

We really don't know what Paterno was thinking really. We will never know what he fully was thinking in 2002 and years above that.

[Charles RB]

I also like what they wrote about his death - Joe Paterno Dies In Hospital; Doctors Promise To Tell Their Superiors First Thing Tomorrow

Oh, that's good.

[charlesthehammer]

Joe Pa is a horrible person. The fact that people are defending him only makes it worse. He died because he could not go coaching for 2 games (and lung cancer) but was willing to go 10 years letting a rapist have basically free reign. He is not the only bad person in this scandal, but people that are sanctifying him are just terrible people as well. I would go as far as any people that make any excuse for him are terrible people.

[Aaron Kashtan]

I really hope that this last controversy doesn't mar Paterno's legacy. I'm sure it won't, though.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/spo...this-me,26609/

Which someone else has already posted. Oops.

[worstblogever]

Joe Pa is a horrible person. The fact that people are defending him only makes it worse. He died because he could not go coaching for 2 games (and lung cancer) but was willing to go 10 years letting a rapist have basically free reign. He is not the only bad person in this scandal, but people that are sanctifying him are just terrible people as well. I would go as far as any people that make any excuse for him are terrible people.

And just as easily, someone could say someone who demonizes someone who has recently passed away, while his family is still grieving, without knowing all the details of what happened during a period of the deceased's life is a terrible person.

Paterno's full involvement is an unknown. Whether he was involved in a deliberate coverup, after telling his supervisors isn't known. He reported allegations about someone he considered a friend to his bosses. That's known.

They didn't follow up on it, that's known.

What isn't known, is if Paterno thought that meant the allegations were unfounded, and moved on, getting back to running the program, and wondering what the hell his assistant coach was going on about... or he knew they WERE true, and covered it up.

Unless I know one way or the other, what the truth is, I'm not ready to speak ill of him. But if it's certain, that he was absolutely positive about what happened, and let his bosses do nothing? Then, he's terrible, yeah.

[charlesthehammer]

And just as easily, someone could say someone who demonizes someone who has recently passed away, while his family is still grieving, without knowing all the details of what happened during a period of the deceased's life is a terrible person.

Paterno's full involvement is an unknown. Whether he was involved in a deliberate coverup, after telling his supervisors isn't known. He reported allegations about someone he considered a friend to his bosses. That's known.

They didn't follow up on it, that's known.

What isn't known, is if Paterno thought that meant the allegations were unfounded, and moved on, getting back to running the program, and wondering what the hell his assistant coach was going on about... or he knew they WERE true, and covered it up.

Unless I know one way or the other, what the truth is, I'm not ready to speak ill of him. But if it's certain, that he was absolutely positive about what happened, and let his bosses do nothing? Then, he's terrible, yeah.

I honestly do not know what could be revealed that would change anything(as it would also have to conflict with his own testimony). I do not care whether he is 100% positive or 1% positive, you go to the police when these things come up or you know anything but the bare minimal especially for someone in Joe's positon. Though the fact that they did get old San banned from the facilities makes me think they were willing to believe it. He did the bare minimum to deal with this and helped ruin many childrens lives. But hey he is dead so I guess we should think of him huh? I mean he won some games and donated some money right? Though the fact you seem to believe that there must be 100% sure he did something to go to the police might make you a terrible person. Also if calling a rapist enabler a rapist enabler even after he dies makes me a bad person, then I am a bad person.