We are Penn State

Rakhir's Avatar
I think it is a sad sad thing to happen to Joe at the end of his career. I really must question though how it is Joe informed the proper people and they never did anything about it? I feel Joe should have gone to the authorities but why is he being the fall guy in the university? Remember he informed the university and its regents of what was going on. Why aren't they being held accountable as well?

Sandusky has to go to jail and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law along with others who may have participated or at least enabled, but I just can't figure out why nothing has been said about how the university president and regents failed to act on this years ago when they were properly informed.
Keyzer Soze's Avatar
Just announced Paterno to retire at end of season!!! I think the pressure will be too great for him to continue and may decide to leave before seasons end.

Others need to pay the price, not just the coach. Regents meeting on Friday, heads will roll I'm sure.
SpursFan's Avatar
It's house cleaning time followed by major legal follow up which is going to cost Penn State a fortune. This program is going to have to do a total reset.

Though Paterno did the correct legal thing, it appears he failed on the moral side by not following up.

Who knows how many more boys were abused after Joe's notification to school officials?

This thing is just ugly.

SF
Marcus78's Avatar
The winningest coach in football history will not be remembered for the years and years of great moral character or his record on the field, but that he didn't pick up the phone and call the police. While I think it is very sad, Joe Pa should have known better and done more.
flinde's Avatar
" I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief....This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

See post # 28 above.

Paterno got it 2/3 right anyway (except for hindsight bs). But retirement in 3 months is not going to do it, not for the program getting over this someday when we all have flying cars, or his legacy.

Paterno's statement also said:

"That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can...."

No offense to anyone in particular, (except Scott Paterno) but, that's crafty posturing fucking lawyer bs nonsense. This is not the time or place. Mike Millen was crying on live national TV. Mike Millen.

I guess its possible to announce that you are retiring in three months, then announce that you are resigning today. Just as its possible to defend the indefensible by saying "I did what I was legally required to do."

I can read. I know what supposed "republican strategist" and "sometimes" (his words, not mine) lawyer Scott Paterno has said in his "statement". But, Joe can still do the right thing.

There will be no "immaculate reception" here. The honorable thing needs to be done. By Joe Paterno or by the Trustees.

dennisrn, my friend, I'm not a friend of whackjob right wing propogandizing rags like the Tribune Review who who spout whats best for the Mellons and the Goldman Sachs as thinly disguised populism, but did you ever think we would see something like this in the Tribune Review:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_766281.html
They still have road games at Ohio State, and Wisconsin. The fans at those stadiums will hammer Penn State if he is still coaching. It could be a very ugly situation.
flinde's Avatar
Absolutely right SAGuyinSO, we have the prospect of watching hundreds of thousands of two big ten powerhouse fans at home booing Joe Paterno (and being somewhat justified in doing so) on national TV to look forward to.

We need to look to Ohio F'ing State Trustees for moral guidance??? Just shoot me now. I don't like this alternative universe. All Woody Hayes did was old man girl fist bitch slap another adult in a heated moment. And he lasted less than 12 hours before being canned. Not resigning honorably. Canned. And it was the f'ing 70's!

Scott Paterno maybe doesnt have the brains to look beyond his big fat belly in his "strategising", but this needs to end, as neatly as possible, before Saturday.
Rakhir's Avatar
Funny thing you bring up Woody Hayes. I read that after he was fired some university employees went in to clean out his office and in the back of a closet was over 3 million in uncashed checks from speaking engagements. Apparently he would speak for any and all charities but was too embarrassed to take money for it. So he would politely take a check for speaking and then throw it into a box in a closet and forget about it. This in relation to having turned down pay raises at Ohio State and one must conclude Woody Hayes is probable the last person in sports history who actually did it for love of the game rather than the money.
macdeft's Avatar
they're 5-0 in the conference with a chance to play for the championship game so nobody's quitting or getting fired before the Nebraska game and therein lies the disturbing nature of this university's priorities that have allowed this behavior to continue for years and years whether the information was passed "on up the proper channels" or not
I'm just glad they're finally taking this whole sad mess up the ladder! Eveyone's been placing blame on the obvious people...but, what about Graham Spanier? Finally, they're getting to who really turned a blind eye!

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...d-scandal.html
flinde's Avatar
Gee dennisrn, that press conference was past my ovaltine and bedtime.

Kudos to the Penn State Trustees for doing the hard things that needed to be done.

My prayers are for all the victims and their families. And the Mike Millens brought to tears and despair because their life's foundations have been obliterated. And that Penn State post Paterno is still undefeated in the Big 10 come November 26.

Other than probably getting a little wound up before the Ohio State game next week, I'm done with the Penn State stuff already.
trynagetlaid's Avatar
I'm not a big Penn State football fan, but they are rated #12 in the BCS and their next three games are against teams lower than them in the BCS standings. Then there's the Big Ten championship game Dec. 3 which should be winnable. The winner of that game goes to either the Rose Bowl or the BCS Championship game. Wouldn't it be one of the best sports stories of the decade if those players and coaches decided to kick it up a notch, win out the next 5 games, and finish either #1 or #2 in the final BCS standings?

Or, because of the coaching changes and distractions, these boys could tank the rest of the season. Personally, I hope they don't.