Will Sandusky Scandal Keep Joe Pa Frozen at 409 Victories

Talk about the ying and yang of life.

The week following Joe Paterno’s 409^th victory, a 10-7 win over Northwestern, the campus was rocked by the news that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky had been arrested on 40 counts of molesting eight young boys over a 15-year period.

The situation was largely swept under the carpet, including janitors who viewed Sandusky performing sex on a boy estimated to be between 11 and 13 years old.

The janitors, although they reported the incident to supervisors, feared for their job if reported to authorities.

If anything, Paterno has become beyond reproach in matters such as these.

Apparently, Paterno was told of the incidents, reported them to the athletic director, who apparently swept the allegations under the carpet.

Sandusky retired from coaching in 1999, but kept an office at the school until the last few years.

The most reprehensible part of the affair was the charitable organization Sandusky founded in 1977, the Second Mile.

Set up to help underprivileged children, Sandusky used the organization to have sex with the youngsters, promising them college football walk ons to taking one youngster to the Alamo Bowl to watch Penn State play.

This situation smells all around and is equally as sad, especially for the victims.

What role does Paterno play in the scandal?

It depends on the reaction from the current student body.

And the early  returns to date are not good.

Students held signs, “Tonight I am Ashamed of PSU,” and “PSU can’t hide behind the helmet.”

On the surface, Paterno pulled a Pontius Pilate on the whole affair.

He claims no knowledge, yet kept Sandusky with access to the campus.

Two top university official, athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president Gary Schultz, are accused of covering up and have been served with perjury and failure to report an incident of child sex abuse.

Both have left employ of the college.

If the student body peacefully asks for Joe Paterno to step down, it still might not be enough.

My first thought was that the body of Paterno’s work would be greater than this current affair.

I could not bear the thought that Paterno would not be able to get his 410^th victory.

Then the parent (I have a 15-year-old daughter) in me calmly thought, this might be a nice (as nice could be) dropping off point for Joe Pa.

As a Penn State parent I met today said, "We don't even deserve the eight wins."

He could save face by stepping down.

Otherwise, this affair will stay with him for a long, long time.

(Information collected from today’s Philadelphia Inquirer story, “Paterno: Unaware of ‘nature’ of charges”)

 

Comments

[Matt]

DO NOT make JOEPA the scapegoat for others mistakes.he reported abuse and others did nothing. SAVE JOEPA!!!!

[Eisenhicks]

Thanks, Matt. Really, inside, I feel the same way.

However, as a writer, you have to look at the facts and come up with an opinion. The overbearing opinion was for Paterno to resign. And here is the biggest reason, and it might not even be a big one, but I believe it is real.

The janitors, the workers, the worker bees, the fabric of America, were scared shitless.

They told their bosses what they had witnessed, as they should. But feared for their jobs if they took it any further. What? The larger than life image of Joe Paterno as Penn State is a mighty entity. Or appeared to be. How could those guys go up against the great Joe Pa?

This is why I said he should resign and I do so with a heavy heart as a Penn State fan. He is faces responsibility for letting the event continue, but more so by association.

That is the great thing about sports and life, we can have a healthy discussion. Thanks!