Paterno Fired?

[Joannelet]

McQueary was a grad asst coach at the time of this incident. He played at PSU and was now starting his profession as a GA coach. He was the unfortunate person to find this event happening. He does what he has been taught over the years keep it internal. He goes to the highest ranking person on staff. Joe Paterno, he reports it and thinks he is done. Here is where it gets a little muddy. Sandusky was McQueary's dad's college roommate and teammate. So his dad probably has spoken kindly about him over the years. He is now morbidly confused as to what to do. That was the easy way out. Tell the coach. The other reasoning behind this, he is smart enough to know what kind of drama this could lead to PSU and extra heat on his mentor, Paterno. This probably would have been brought out as a scandal and Joe Patereno may be asked to step down as coach. Who would hire the kid once it became known in the coaching profession that this GA took down one of the most storied coaches and instituions in college football. A lot to deal with as a 22 yr old kid. He didn't do all he could have, so cut him a little slack, but not much. There still is that moral right and wrong issue we all have to deal with.

I totally understand what you are saying and the way McQueary was thinking. I am sure that is exactly what he was thinking as the first thing he did was run to his dad when he witnessed the crime. CRIME is the key word though that should have hit the 22 year old and the father in the head! They were both too consumed with their images and what would happen to THEM and their jobs rather than the safety of the child or Sandusky doing this to other children. The thing that bothers me MOST is that NO ONE...not McQueary, not his father, not Paterno or the heads of the school ever sought out the child that was involved. They all KNEW that SOMETHING happened with a child in the showers but NEVER once found out the child's name, questioned the child or even gave 2 thoughts about the child involved....until 9 years later they are sending him prayers.

It is such a horrible, disgusting story and there were so many opportunities to out this guy and STOP him from hurting other children. But everyone was too worried about image and what the consequences would be for each other rather than the boys he was raping

[PopPhan]

Let's get a couple things out there....

1) McQueary should have stopped Sandusky IMMEDIATELY. Just making enough noise to let Sandusky know someone else was there would, probably, have been enough

2) McQueary should have, immediately after that, gone to authorities - Paterno, Shultz, Curley, whoever - NOT a day later, after talking with his dad

3) Shultz was the head of University Police, even though that is not listed in his title. PSU has it's own police force due to the size of the University vs. the size of the town of State College.

4) Paterno went to Curley and Shultz to report the alleged incident. I say 'alleged' in that he did not see the incident and it was reported to him the day after it happened

5) Curley is still on Administrative Leave and Shultz went back into retirement. Paterno and Spanier have been summarily dismissed. McQueary is still a coach (although, he has been told NOT to show up to the game this week - and probably for the rest of the season - due to death threats against him.) Sandusky is out of jail on $100,000 unsecured bail.

Now, I don't say to give Paterno a pass, but his resignation should have been enough. The Board of Directors made a 'knee jerk reaction' to the media attention to try to make themselves look good.

As far as those who condemn Paterno for saying 'I should have done more'....How many times have YOU been in situations where, after the fact you wish you would have/could have done more? "Glass houses...."

[Hair_Razor]

Now, I don't say to give Paterno a pass, but his resignation should have been enough. The Board of Directors made a 'knee jerk reaction' to the media attention to try to make themselves look good.

As far as those who condemn Paterno for saying 'I should have done more'....How many times have YOU been in situations where, after the fact you wish you would have/could have done more.."

A. Then I want Tressel back!!!

B. Those situations in which "I wish I had done more" did not involve someone else's well being or safety. Unforgivable! To know what you would do in that situation is unknown, but it still doesn't make how it was handeled right.

[Ian]

Let's get a couple things out there....

1) McQueary should have stopped Sandusky IMMEDIATELY. Just making enough noise to let Sandusky know someone else was there would, probably, have been enough

As hard as it is to believe, if you read the grand jury report McQueary claims that both Sandusky and the boy saw him and neither one reacted.

What does that tell you??

[Scar]

OK, finally have some free time.

Nobody will deny that Sandusky is sub-human. Nobody will deny that what he did (I purposely left out “allegedly”) is one of the most despicably evil things anyone could do. But if this happened in a scenario that didn’t involve such a nationally recognized and important institution, it would not be national news and we would not be talking about it. What needs to be emphasized here is that Paterno IS Penn State. He had more power than anyone on that campus. And as far as the athletic department goes, he was the boss. The AD was nothing compared to him. You can bet that he had the final decision to cover this up. Yes, everyone and anyone who knew should have reported it, we know of seven people for sure and I’m certain even more knew. Had Paterno or anyone else reported this the first time (I'm now hearing he may have known as early as 1994,) many other children would not have to have been victimized. But Paterno is the guy. He is the name. He had the power. There is no one else involved in this that anyone had ever heard of. That is why this is news and that is why Paterno needs to be vilified.

The more that comes out on this just continues to sicken me even more. I hope Paterno is never allowed on campus again. If they ever give him some sort of celebration it would be an outrage.

[Scar]

A lot to deal with as a 22 yr old kid.

He was a 28 year old coward.

[Scar]

As far as those who condemn Paterno for saying 'I should have done more'....How many times have YOU been in situations where, after the fact you wish you would have/could have done more? "Glass houses...."

When the situation involves the abuse of a child... never. And if I ever were, I can guarentee I will do everything I possibly can.

[Hammer]

OK, finally have some free time.

Nobody will deny that Sandusky is sub-human. Nobody will deny that what he did (I purposely left out “allegedly”) is one of the most despicably evil things anyone could do. But if this happened in a scenario that didn’t involve such a nationally recognized and important institution, it would not be national news and we would not be talking about it. What needs to be emphasized here is that Paterno IS Penn State. He had more power than anyone on that campus. And as far as the athletic department goes, he was the boss. The AD was nothing compared to him. You can bet that he had the final decision to cover this up. Yes, everyone and anyone who knew should have reported it, we know of seven people for sure and I’m certain even more knew. Had Paterno or anyone else reported this the first time (I'm now hearing he may have known as early as 1994,) many other children would not have to have been victimized. But Paterno is the guy. He is the name. He had the power. There is no one else involved in this that anyone had ever heard of. That is why this is news and that is why Paterno needs to be vilified.

The more that comes out on this just continues to sicken me even more. I hope Paterno is never allowed on campus again. If they ever give him some sort of celebration it would be an outrage.

The mentality that allowed this to happen is in all sports, not just at Penn State. If you expose secrets, you'll never work in that respective sports industry again. The power is held by a select few at each institution, of which Paterno is definitely one of them at Penn State, and you do not cross them.

A friend of mine used to work as a TV producer for a professional sports team's broadcasts. He never gave specifics, but he said if we knew what 99% of the players, coaches and TV people did, you would never be able to watch sports again.

As hard as it is to believe, if you read the grand jury report McQueary claims that both Sandusky and the boy saw him and neither one reacted.

What does that tell you??

It tells me that this child was too scared to speak. This was more than likely not the first time this happened to the child. I'm sure he knew no one would believe him or it would be covered up. As for Sandusky, please see my first comment. He knew his connections would protect him.

[Ian]

As for Sandusky ...He knew his connections would protect him.

Yep. You took the words out of my mouth, Christine. Exactly what I was getting at.

[indytraveler]

How about the latest developing news from this story.... Sandusky showered with the boys but didn't touch them? At least not in that way. What? I'm sure glad Bob Costas was there on the interview or I'm not so sure I actually heard that. His defense attorney must be proud.

[TinkerbellT421]

His defense attorney must be proud.

Never ceases to amaze me how some of these lawyers can defend some of these people....

How about the lawyers defensive statement today 'Showering with kids doesn't make him guilty'

ummm...say what!?!?!

This whole story disgusts me, makes my stomach turn and burns me in anger. And not to mention the students that basically caused a riot the day after they fired Paterno. So disappointing that they are upset about him being fired, but not upset about the situation? Cause a riot for the victims....not because Paterno was fired. (This is all IMO).

[MizMissy]

Another issue for me ... and I really haven't seen any news articles picking up on this fact ... is the timing of it all. This investigation has been going on for quite a while, but the story breaks, the grand jury findings come out, only AFTER JoePa get his record win to become the "winningest" football coach in NCAA history. A little too convenient timing for me.
Just seems that once again in this story, let's let football take precedent over the lives of these innocent children (and I am a HUGE college football fan), it's wrong. Pure and simple.

[Nascfan]

Another issue for me ... and I really haven't seen any news articles picking up on this fact ... is the timing of it all. This investigation has been going on for quite a while, but the story breaks, the grand jury findings come out, only AFTER JoePa get his record win to become the "winningest" football coach in NCAA history. A little too convenient timing for me.
Just seems that once again in this story, let's let football take precedent over the lives of these innocent children (and I am a HUGE college football fan), it's wrong. Pure and simple.

Exactly what I was talking to my daughter about this weekend. Way too convenient timing.

[PirateLover]

Via USA Today:

E-mails from 2001 between Penn State University's former president, vice president and athletic director discussing what to do about Jerry Sandusky's alleged encounter with a boy in the shower are raising new questions, CNN reports.

The messages from Feb. 26-28, 2001, may illustrate a coverup by former Penn State president Graham Spanier, then vice president Gary Schultz and former athletic director Tim Curley.

University officials "knew they had a problem with Sandusky after a 2001 shower incident, but apparently first decided to handle it using a 'humane' approach before contacting outside authorities whose job it is to investigate suspected abuse," CNN reports.

On June 22, Sandusky was convicted of abusing 10 boys over 15 years.

CNN said it does not have the e-mails, but that the alleged contents were made available to them.

In one e-mail, Spanier allegedly acknowledges Penn State could be "vulnerable" for not reporting the incident. "The only downside for us is if the message (to Sandusky) isn't 'heard' and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it," Spanier allegedly writes.

On Feb. 26, 2001, Schultz allegedly writes to Curley that he assumes Curley's "got the ball" about a three-part plan to "talk with the subject asap regarding the future appropriate use of the University facility," ... "contacting the chair of the charitable organization" and "contacting the Department of Welfare."

However, Curley apparently changed his mind and refers to a conversation he had with head football coach Joe Paterno. It's not known what the two discussed.

Curley writes later that he would rather just meet with Sandusky, tell him there's "a problem," and that "we want to assist the individual to get professional help," according to CNN.

Schultz and Curley are currently charged with perjury and failing to report suspected child abuse. They have pleaded not guilty.

The new e-mails could lead to further charges, CNN reports.

[Ian]

Yeah this whole thing just gets more and more grotesque.

You know it's one thing to cover up for athletes being out all night partying or even a DUI (where no one is hurt of course), but this ... this is something else entirely.

Frankly, I think the NCAA should ban Penn State from football for good. Just so other universities are clear ... this CANNOT happen ever again!

[PirateLover]

So thankful that Sandusky will be behind bars, but anyone who played a role in the cover-up, allowing that man to continue to prey on children for over a DECADE after they were first made aware of the situation, needs to be held accountable.

[barnaby]

Frankly, I think the NCAA should ban Penn State from football for good. Just so other universities are clear ... this CANNOT happen ever again!

Why?
You have college football players who had nothing to do with it. It makes no sense to punish them.
Get rid of every coach, management, college staff, etc who were part of the coverup.
But the football players had who had nothing to do with it, what is the point of punishing them?

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

Why?
You have college football players who had nothing to do with it. It makes no sense to punish them.
Get rid of every coach, management, college staff, etc who were part of the coverup.
But the football players had who had nothing to do with it, what is the point of punishing them?

I completely agree on this one. The Penn State Football Program should not suffer because of this. The Students that play football for Penn State were NOT involved in this cover up. They should NOT be punished for something they did not do. Yes, the football and athletic program should be shaken down and EVERYONE from the TOP DOWN should be removed and replaced, but the students - don't punish them.

[Ian]

Why?
You have college football players who had nothing to do with it. It makes no sense to punish them.
Get rid of every coach, management, college staff, etc who were part of the coverup.
But the football players had who had nothing to do with it, what is the point of punishing them?

You're not "punishing" them. They can go play football somewhere else. If you're good enough to make the Penn State team trust me ... someone else will snap you up in a heartbeat.

Anyway, the harshness of what I'm suggesting is precisely the point. You do that and no university would ever consider engaging in a cover up like this again.

[barnaby]

You're not "punishing" them. They can go play football somewhere else. If you're good enough to make the Penn State team trust me ... someone else will snap you up in a heartbeat.

Anyway, the harshness of what I'm suggesting is precisely the point. You do that and no university would ever consider engaging in a cover up like this again.

Actually, PSU hasn't been getting the great players like they used too, and their relevance as national contenders shows that. But I digress.

Point is, what if your dad played at PSU and you wanted to play there? What if you grew up a kid from western PA who always wanted to play in Happy Valley? Why should those players be forced to go elsewhere because of the acts of select group of people?