Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Upon further review Joe Paterno rose to the occasion while everyone else sunk.



Two major events have occurred since the firing of Joe Paterno which prove that the news media are not only incompetent and dishonest but also hypocritical beyond anything anyone would have thought possible.

And both revelations are about as damning as could be imagined both against ESPN, whose commentators condemnation of Paterno and demands for his firing were some of the loudest, and the school officials at Central Mountain high school, where Sandusky's Victim One went to school.

The first revelation concerns the molestation charges against Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine. One of Fine's accusers secretly tape-recorded a phone conversation he had with Fine's wife in 2002 in which the sexual contact with Fine was discussed and where Fine's wife admitted she knew everything her husband had been doing. Fine's accuser says he took the tape to the Syracuse Post Standard in 2002 along with his allegations against Fine and played the audiotape for them. The newspaper declined to report the allegations saying that, even with the tape they wanted more corroborating evidence before they would report it. In other words the Syracuse Post Standard gave more of the benefit of the doubt to an accused child molester than the news media in general gave to Joe Paterno, a man with a polished solid gold reputation for 60 years. And there has been no outcry by any of the sanctimonious self-serving members of the media who railed against Joe Paterno focused on the Post Standard for "having knowledge of" sexual abuse and not reporting it.

It gets a lot worse. It has also been revealed that the victim took the same audiotape to ESPN more than ten years ago with his allegations against Fine and played the tape for them, No one at ESPN did a thing. For ten years. They didn't talk to their own lawyers.They didn't refer it to any child protective agency. They didn't refer it to any law enforcement agency. They did nothing. And now try and hide behind the excuse that they didn't have enough corroborating evidence to do any more.

This is the same ESPN whose commentators called for Joe Paterno's firing immediately for, in their factually challenged hypocritical world, "not going to the authorities" or "not doing enough", The same ESPN whose commentators said Joe Paterno going to the administrative head of campus police the next day with McQueary's non-specific report wasn't enough. The same ESPN who accused Joe Paterno without a shred of proof, of being aware of child sexual abuse and "not doing enough". The same ESPN that had an audio tape confirming from the mouth of the abuser's own wife, the sexual abuse of a ball boy at Syracuse university. And did nothing.

And are the same sanctimonious self-righteous group of journalists insisting that anyone at ESPN who had been aware of those tapes for the last ten years and who is still with ESPN be fired? No,  of course not.

We now know that the same media types both on television and in print who smeared Joe Paterno on their front pages with the word "Shame", without a shred of proof, did absolutely nothing when put in Paterno's shoes.

Unfortunately the second set of revelations makes it even worse for the media

New revelations were made by the mother of Sandsusky's Victim One that will forever shame even further everyone in the news media who attacked Paterno as well as the trustees of Penn State who buckled under the pressure exerted by the media mob and threw Paterno over the side to quiet them down.

Keep in mind that the fictional narrative by the press in their attack on Paterno, their reason for demanding he be fired was that he had knowledge of sexual abuse and didn't do enough when it came to reporting it, ( something that has already been proved to be completely false).

According to the mother, in a piece that can be read here, the principal of the high school her son attended, Karen Probst, was present in 2009 when her son openly accused Sandusky of molesting him and not only did the school principal do nothing, according to the mother the principal actually tried to talk her and her son out of reporting it.

Additionally, according to the mother, Steve Turchetta, the boy's high school coach repeatedly allowed Sandusky to come to the school and take the boy out of school not only without parental consent but without even any parental notification. And Turchetta continued to allow Sandusky to take the boy out of school even after the mother found out and protested.

The mother states that eventually there was a meeting at the school after the boy had told all to a school counselor and had gotten so emotional they finally believed him. At that meeting the mother states that when she insisted they go to the police, the school officials tried to talk her out of it. They told her to think about it and think about what the accusations could do to her family.

All of this information was available at any time any real journalist wanted to take the time to actually investigate and learn the facts. But all of them, like Sean Gregory at Time Magazine, Andy Staples at Sports Illustrated and just about everyone at ESPN except Lou Holtz, were too busy smearing Paterno to bother. It was Paterno they went after. Because it was Joe Paterno's picture that sold newspapers and got web hits, not Karen Probst's.It was going after Paterno that made the very small and sanctimonious feel very big.

The irony is, that in the end, Joe Paterno did more and with less knowledge, and did it faster than anyone connected to either the Sandusky allegations or the Bernie Fine allegations, all of whom had more knowledge that he did.

And isn't it ironic ( or perhaps par for the course) that ESPN, whose commentators like Jay Bilas and others were some of the most vocal for saying Paterno didn't do enough, had an audio tape that contained an admission of the sexual abuse of a Syracuse ball boy for ten years and did nothing.

So what will ESPN do now? Will they accuse themselves of "not doing enough"? Will they accuse themselves of allowing a sexual predator to remain free? Will there be any media condemnation by others of ESPN?Anyone hear any media condemnation? Anyone demanding people at ESPN be fired? Or will they all hide under their sheets?

So now class lets review the facts: Joe Paterno the day after getting a non-specific non detailed sanitized version of events from McQueary went to the administrative head of the Penn State campus police with Mc Queary's allegations against a man he knew and worked with closely for 26 years, without hesitating or calling Sandusky to get his side of the story. Karen Probst, Victim One's high school principal, Steve Turchetta his high school coach, the school's assistant principal, the school guidance counselor, Ray Gricar, the DA at the time who declined to prosecute, the Syracuse Post-Standard, and ESPN all had specific allegations and in the case of  the Fine, a tape recorded admission of child sexual abuse and did absolutely nothing for years. These are some of the people who yelled the loudest about  Joe Paterno and moral responsibility. These are some of the people who demanded Joe Paterno be fired for not doing more.

People are angry about what happened to Paterno. They should be even angrier now and should demand not only the restoration of Paterno's reputation, they should demand retribution.

Journalists who falsely accused Paterno should be fired and so should anyone who had knowledge of the events surrounding Sandusky and Bernie Fine. That includes journalists and school officials.

There should be demands that Sean Gregory at Time Magazine who wrote that Joe Paterno "knew a ten year old boy was being raped in a shower and didn't report it to authorities"  with no evidence to substantiate it be fired. So should his editor for allowing Gregory's dishonest report to be printed. So should an ESPN columnist named Jemele Hill who wrote her own dishonest column about Paterno simply parroting the false reporting of other journalists and making the same false claims. Anyone at ESPN with knowledge of the Bernie Fine tape should be suspended or fired. The two senators in Pennsylvania, Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Pat Toomey should be eviscerated, their offices deluged with phone calls for withdrawing their sponsorship of Paterno for the Medal of Freedom without any facts, just acting like spineless politicians reacting to the mob . And last but not least every trustee at Penn State who voted to fire Joe Paterno, which is all of them, should resign. They are the people who disgraced Penn State, not Joe Paterno.

The Penn State trustees made a mockery of every value that a university tries to instill in its students and proved, ironically that the trustees can't be trusted. They should all in good conscience, resign. If not their resignations should be demanded since it was they, not Joe Paterno who betrayed the values of Penn State,denying Paterno any form of due process and capitulating to a dishonest incompetent, out of control mob of journalists.

The day after Paterno was fired, students at Penn State demonstrated and demonstrated angrily. They knew, as college students tend to know, that a gross injustice had been done to Joe Paterno and they were motivated by something that the Penn State trustees and those in the news media either lost a long time ago or never had in the first place -- ideals.

The students at Penn State saw that the ideals preached at Penn State were trampled on by a mob of out of control self-serving journalists and a spineless collection of trustees. And they were justifiably angry. They knew a gross injustice had been done. The factually challenged Stuart Scott, reporting on the demonstrations for ESPN said of the demonstrators, "Don't they get it"? Here is a flash to Stuart Scott and the rest of the news media. They got it. You didn't.

When Paterno was given the sanitized version of the event in the shower by McQueary he went straight to the administrative head of campus police, the police agency that had the jurisdiction over any crime committed on the campus of Penn State. Joe Paterno went to the proper authority, he went immediately and he went as high as he could go. The news media, the Penn State trustees, the politicians, ESPN and everyone else who attacked Joe Paterno, given the opportunity, went as low as they could go. They will be remembered for it. And they should all lose their jobs. But before they go, they owe Joe Paterno one big apology.

349 comments:

1 – 200 of 349   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

Excellent post - spot on. The media has absolutely no accountability for inaccurate reporting and its classic sensationalism at the expense of the most impactful person on the history of college football.

Unknown said...

Despite the fact that I believe you meant Jay Bilas, and that Jemele Hill is actually a female columnist, I really agree with a lot of the points you're making here. Unfortunately, I don't expect there to be any recourse for restoring the reputation of a person whose moral fiber deserved more benefit of the doubt after a 60-year career of doing the right thing.

Anonymous said...

Awesome post! I hope this gets out there and turns some heads or rolls them for that matter.

Anonymous said...

While the context is accurate, you may want to verify/confirm the 2002 dates for the high schools actions.

Anonymous said...

Well said. ESPN always had a mild smell about it before this-- putting its twisted version of "sports entertainment" ahead of having a shred of journalistic integrity-- but these latest events concerning the fact-less crucifixion of Paterno and the fact-filled hiding of solid evidence of Fine's pedophilia-- now ESPN's odor is a strong, foul stench.

I wonder how Disney feels about its prime property protecting child abusers like Fine? Where was Disney's "moral obligation to protect children", we've all heard trumpeted so much lately?

Anonymous said...

Spelling Nazi: a "principal" is a person in charge of a school; a "principle" is that honorable thing ESPNDISNEYABC doesn't have one shred of...

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. Everything you have said meets spot on to everything I have been feeling over the past few weeks. Well said!!!

Rob said...

Well said Marc. Punch those selectively self rightous journalists right in the kisser.

click here said...

Didn't Paterno and Sandusky run those private training sessions that taught the fingercuffs offense?

minned said...

Excellent Post - how can we get that on the front page of the national newspapers instead of the crap that is being published to sell more papers? And I would certainly include Governor Corbett in your list of those who need to apologize (and account for their actions)!

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. The media crucified Joe Paterno with hearsay evidence. Now the ESPN is covering their butt on withholding the Syracuse tape -- just not enough evidence to report. I know there will be no recourse for the actions of the media. It is just a shame the outstanding reputation of a well respected coach was ruined with a complete disregard for the actual facts of the case.

OTE admin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
OTE admin said...

When I first heard the Penn State story, I was ready to hang Sandusky, Paterno, and all of the rest.

But after the Sandusky interview with Bob Costas, I did an almost complete 180 on this. It is clear McQueary is a liar, and because he is a liar and didn't really see what he now claims he saw, it is clear the actions of Paterno and the administrators of Penn State were entirely appropriate at the time they were notified of Sandusky's actions with the 10-year-old (horseplay in the shower).

People were fired or forced to retire or resign over nothing. Sandusky at the very least was guilty of inappropriate conduct with kids, but there are so many huge holes in the grand jury report, you could drive a fleet of 18-wheelers through it.

It's all outrageous.

Leslie Persin said...

A lot of people owe Joe Paterno a huge apology. He should be reinstated as the coach as well as his name restored to any trophy and awards.

Anonymous said...

My name is Mike Hughes and that is a tremendous article. You will never see anybody at ESPN get fired over this and the story will just slowly and quietly fade away.

ESPN is successful because they cater to the lowest form of people on earth, those that will believe anything they see on television.

The treatment of Joe Paterno by ESPN and others will amazingly enough become part of his legacy, and it will be that even in the worst of times Joe was teaching everybody another fact about life. It isn't always as it seems!

Being a father of 3, I have taken many trips to Disney, a child's dream, and had a great time. I also spent a lot of money on those trips and you had better believe that if this country ever stood up and said "we are no longer taking our children to Disney until something is done about ESPN", something would be done about ESPN before you could say protest.

WE ARE......NOT GOING TO DISNEY!

OTE admin said...

By the way, the mother of Victim One may be telling the truth, but on the other hand she could be exaggerating in order to get a big settlement from Penn State and probably the school district in question. Claims of school officials "doing nothing" are common when somebody is trying to game the legal system for his or her benefit.

I have been through false accusations and am in the process of being dismissed from a civil action, so I take any parent's claims with a giant grain of salt.

Anonymous said...

Very good piece. Even those who were not big fans of Joe should have a hard time denying that he was a scapegoat. What a bunch of fools on that board.

buckeye808 said...

Hey Tom...why no mention of Paterno's knowledge of Sandusky's proclivities going back to the 1998 investigation? Did Joe not know that Sandusky was fondling little boys back then? If he did not, why did Sandusky leave his job at the height of his career? And why did Joe seem to want to have little to do with Sandusky at that time of Jerry's retirement? Maybe, just maybe, Joe knew. In 2002, maybe, just maybe, Joe knew again? That is what the media saw, that is what the BOT saw, that is what the public saw and still sees. Of course Paterno should have been fired...and I for one am very thankful that the BOT spent "more than a minute" thinking about that decision.

Anonymous said...

Just because Paterno did a little more then the principal of a high school doesn't make him have no guilt. When will Paterno come out and defend himself? So he hasn't because his lawyer tells him not to? If Paterno didn't know about 1998 or 2002, or any of the others, and when he did know he did everything in his power to help the victim, why not come out and say it? I'm reserving judgement until I hear from Paterno himself.

Anonymous said...

Buckeye, we don't know what Paterno knew back in 1998. The DA, the police, and the PA Dept of Public Welfare were all investigating Sandusky. However, these investigations tend to be played "close to the vest" so to speak, to protect the victim's rights as well as the alleged perpetrator in case the accusations are false. The DA declined to prosecute Sandusky, the DPW also declined to pursue it. If Paterno did have any inkling, but no charges were brought, a logical conclusion for most people would be that the investigation could not show guilt. But due to the legality of privacy issues, we don't know how many people, or who, even knew anything at the time.

Anonymous said...

Just because other people did worse doesn't make what JoePa did or didn't do any better. I don't think he should have been fired but I don't think your points are valid.

Also, it's "principal" not "principle"

Anonymous said...

A 30-year old who had already informed police of the crimes needs less protection then a 10-year old boy who was raped in a shower the day before.

It's not like the news organizations were in sole possession of the tape. They did not withhold it from police. Bobby Davis made the tape AFTER he told police of the crimes. It is not as if ESPN or the Post-Standard had the ability to reverse the statue of limitations.

-J

Anonymous said...

Nice long rant. You seem to be missing the point. It doesn't matter what happened at Syracuse. It doesn't matter what ESPN knew. The only thing that matters is that Joe Paterno, as well as a whole bunch of other people, allowed young boys to be violated. EVERYONE that knew is accountable....including Paterno. Your fervent defense of Paterno is slap in the face of each young boy that had to suffer this indignity.

Nathan Howell said...

I apologize that I didn't actually read this article. I just had a thought. There were a lot of abuse cases in day cares and other childcare institutions I believe in the 1980s that upon later inspection turned out to incidences of hysteria because there were no instances of sexual abuse. Has anyone looked into the general US child sex abuse pendulum at the time of the 2002 newspaper reporting incidents? Was the pendulum swinging more towards skepticism about sex abuse claims because many had recently been proved unfounded, or was it swinging more towards believing too many without enough evidence? It is still wrong what happened, but it does help one understand the various pressures and environments that sex abuse claim "hushers" may have been under. This is important because it may also point to a greater cultural failing created by us all. Perhaps not, but until you look how do you know?

NEW said...

Check out http://thenewnittanys.yolasite.com There is a blog there called "The Paterno Medallion for the Unjustly Persecuted" you got to read all the posts...really good stuff

Anonymous said...

Wonderful article. I hope, if this isn't printed on the front page of every paper, it'll go viral on social media sites.

Paul Levine said...

Well said, Marc. A note of sanity in the hysteria of a piling-on news media.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice if the author knew how to correctly use the proper term for the principal and not the principle.

Anonymous said...

Buckeye - why are you faulting Joe Patero for knowledge of the 1998 police investigation into Sandusky? IT WAS A POLICE INVESTIGATION. Unless you believe Joe Paterno had specific knowledge or witnessed Sandusky in action,what is the football coach supposed to do? I personally knew Jerry Sandusky was under investigation in 1998. Should I have done more? If so what do you suppose I should have done. The only issue at hand is the 2002 incident involving Mike McQueary, which was described in this article.

Anonymous said...

Let's not forget that Corbett, as Attorney General of Pennsylvania was also a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, and knew of the entirety of the Sandusky case.

If you go to the DA and the AG, and both of them do nothing (although, that's a bit unfair to say of the late Gricar), how can we fault the coach who went to as high a power as he did to at least move things along?

Also, to someone who posted earlier about the 1998 case; Paterno essentially told Sandusky to get out (or, if you will, refused to retire although urged by the Board of Trustees, and Athletic Director) which made Sandusky retire with his package of: Office, use of facilities, key to locker rooms, showers and said facilities.

According to the fourth hand of the Attorney General, who was at the Grand Jury hearing (which is only used to establish a means of indictment and clarify charges, as well as only writes down what is relevant to those charges), Paterno checked in on the investigation, both immediately after Curley and Schultz's meeting with McQueary and 3 months later.

Can't wait for the details to continue to come forward.

Anonymous said...

You must have went to Penn State... Even if you haven't I'm sick of seeing Facebook posts from Penn alumni crying about the media... Get over the fact that your schools reputation will never ever be the same

Anonymous said...

you should learn how to spell and the rules of proper grammar before penning an article where you try to sound knowledgeable.

Anonymous said...

Good God.. if Joe Paterno does hit PSU/ESPN/ and the rest of the sports journalists world with a massive lawsuit, this could really cripple the entire football community as well as an other sports. Jornalists are the ones that implicated to "FIRE" Joe Paterno. But they also couldn't stand to watch Joe Paterno increase his Leagcy with WINS #410 and #411. Tom Bradley had to take a 2-1 record. The Media and ESPN couldn't stand joe beat a black man in the numbers race so they pressure PSU to fire him and drove a civil Rights bus with that black woman in the drivers seat right over paterno.
IF paterno dies in 2012 without honor. The media can cry crocodile tears for all they want, but thier guilt will kill them too.

Anonymous said...

You have your facts wrong. Read the article you linked to. Victim 1 didn't go to Principal Probst in 2002, he went to the Principal in 2008 (or 2009), quite a few years later.

If Joe Paterno had followed through in 2002, there wouldn't have been a Victim 1 in the first place.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure the students didn't riot because they saw an injustice being done to a man they felt was upholding the ideals the school preached. How about you be realistic and logical. They rioted because the face of their football team and school was fired so abruptly, and they are immature children who aren't thinking reasonably. What are the ideals that the school preached that these rioting kids were embracing that led to the riot? Integrity, professionalism, morality....... you're right those ideals totally make me want to start a riot where people get injured, property gets destroyed, and causes mass hysteria. Do yourself a favor and think about what you're writing before you actually put something so idiotic down next time.

-KW

Anonymous said...

Certainly, Paterno was a victim. He was completely unaware that Sandusky continued to volunteer for Second Mile, where Joe gave money. He also had no control of the weight room where Sandusky worked out, up to the week before the charges became public. After all, he's only the football coach. I mean, when I saw that guy at my office stab that hobo in the parking lot, I told my boss and that was certainly good enough.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for speaking the truth. Finally. What do people do when the media is wrong? What is the recourse? Who is in charge of the media?

Seems to me they have power and need to use it more responsibly. There is a serious trail of damage from the media prosecution.

They took what was a horrible event (the molestation of so many young and innocent children) and just made more victims. They spread the pain out and hurt almost every Penn Stater. Why?

The students are not yet jaded or stupid from age and the daily grind. They knew which end was up and 4000 youth went to the street in anger - unplanned - angry at the press and their college admin - and all they did was tip over a van? I think that is pretty decent actually. I think the press owes the students an apology too for marginalizing them and making it like they were "football crazed idiots" - when in fact, they are our only hope in this age of PR and lawyers....

LSNeeds said...

I'm glad you wrote this. You make some great points; this Penn Stater is pleased. Definitely employ spell check and perhaps an expert editor before posting (to eliminate homophones like principal/principle). Your work deserves to be well-respected :). I'll even edit your pieces for you free of charge (I'm a teacher). Lsneeds@gmail.com

Caroline said...

AMEN!!!! Thank you <3

Kevin Wilson said...

False statement: "Paterno ... went straight to the administrative head of campus police, the police agency that had the jurisdiction over any crime committed on the campus of Penn State. Joe Paterno went to the proper authority, he went immediately and he went as high as he could go."

He went to the Athletic Director, not the head of police. There is an important difference there.

Anonymous said...

This is a horrible editorial. So you try to justify Paterno's lack of action by pointing out that others have/had done the same. JoePa obviously understands he should have done more and stated so! The press focused on him because he is the face of the university and directly involves in the scandal. As a former Ncaa Div 1 All American we were told if you ever are involved in any sort of trouble expect your face to be on the front page, it doesn't matter what you did or didn't do, you are held to a higher standard.

Anonymous said...

Decent Article but i'm pretty sure your dates are wrong for the High School. I went to that High School and he wasn't there until maybe 04 or so. I can't quite remember because I didn't play football so I didn't see him that often. And Victim One didn't go to high school until 06 or so.

Anonymous said...

Actually Kevin, he did go to the administrative head of campus police AND the athletic director. There were 2 people Paterno reported to--Curley and Shultz. There is an important difference there...

Sybraspace said...

Very nice and very well said. Unfortunately, the media has written the last paragraph in Joe Paterno's obituary. We live in a perception is reality society. The media's need for eyes, short news cycles, and twitter have pronounced their sentence on the closing chapter of his legacy.

Anonymous said...

I see pedd state fans are still in their little bubble. silly people.

Anonymous said...

Yess!!! Well said!

Chad L said...

I agree with the most of what you're saying here, and they should all be under the spotlight for what they didn't do, however, that doesn't make what Joe didn't do any better. When you preach integrity, leadership and responsibility on a daily basis, when you hear that a young boy was sodomized you step in and do something. Having knowledge that Sandusky had access to your facilities after the fact, you're just as guilty as McQueary. Paterno has a big say in what goes on at Penn State and he as a human being let his fellow man down. He got what he deserved, and the rest of the coaching staff needs to go as well.

Anonymous said...

Take a look at this Penn State policy document on sexual abuse reporting, page 6, and tell me if you think Joe Paterno met the requirements for reporting. The doc dates to 2001.

http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/womenscenter/pdf/protocol.pdf

The pertinent passage...

"In certain circumstances it will be
necessary to report incidents of sexual
assault to law enforcement authorities
and to the chief student affairs officer.
Incidents involving the following cir-
cumstances will be reported, however,
the identity of the victim should not be
revealed without written permission:"

and further down (my bold font)...

"As
soon as you have the information, a
report should be made to the police, at
any hour
, and to the office of the Vice
President for Student Affairs (at Univer-
sity Park) or chief student affairs officer
(at campus/college locations). At Univer-
sity Park, the Director of University
Health Services (865-6555) will receive
all reports for the Vice President. I"

Anonymous said...

While I get the point you are making about the double standard of the media, I doubt you read the grand jury report, every word, every page like I did. There is no undisputed fact that Paterno got a "sanitized" version--in fact, McQueary states that he gave a detailed version of what happened to Paterno. You also seem to be conveniently ignoring the 1998 events, where Sandusky was investigated by the police and where Sandusky abruptly and unexpectedly resigned, after which Paterno conveniently failed to attend the farewell bankquet. He works with his second in command for over 20 years and doesn't attend the farewell banquet? Doesn't raise a few suspicions? And do you really think Joe Paterno wasn't aware in 1998 and again in 2002 about what was really going on? I appreciate all the good Paterno did, but being an apologist while ignoring the facts and diverting attention to the media, doesn't absolve him of complicity in this matter. Staying silent was not a valid defense to the Nazis, why should it be here?

Anonymous said...

Good post, but you forgot one thing. The moral of the whole story: If you do your best to do the right thing, at the right time, at every turn in your life, and hold the best interests of others above your own, you will end up suffering at the hands of evil-doers or the court of public opinion. Indeed, you will regret whatever goodness you spent your time and money to extol on others.

Anonymous said...

Joe Paterno is a jerk. I know him. I have had to deal with his condescending, arrogant attitude. His wife is even worse! Do you know him or are you just another brainwashed fanboy? Joe Paterno in his own words: "I wish I had done more." Sure sounds to me like someone who didn't know anything. And the students... They had it right? The students who were mad at Penn State? The ones who LEFT Penn State property to destroy State College? Look at the facts. He is as responsible as any administrator. Hopefully he lives long enough to be charged criminally.

Anonymous said...

What HOGWASH! You're twisting facts and drinking JoePa's kool-aid. The Syracuse incident and ESPN's reporting in no way vindicate Joe Paterno and the cover up at Penn State. They're ALL guilty. McQueary testified he told Paterno, Curley and Shultz IN DETAIL of the 2002 shower rape of a 10 year old boy. How did this become horseplay by the Penn State Administrators? Give me a break, they all knew of this pedophile and rape for 9+ years and did nothing. YOU don't get it!

jamie said...

somebody commented that all the rioters did was 'tip over a van' - they did a lot more than that. and for me, this is the weirdest part of the story. I don't know what the kids were thinking.

the rioters:

-tipped over a news van
-tore down light polls
-threw rocks and fireworks at the police
-girls in heels danced on the roof of a parked car
-threw rolls of toilet paper into the trees
-tore down street signs
-tipped over trash cans and newspaper vending boxes
-shattered car windows
-pepper sprayed a cop

Anonymous said...

2:02 p.m.: Do you work for ESPN? Or maybe...the local newspaper?

Tom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The people complaining that the author didn't use the proper form of "principal" are just mad because the rest of the article is amazing and proves great points!

Anonymous said...

"When Paterno was given the sanitized version of the event in the shower by McQueary he went straight to the administrative head of campus police, the police agency that had the jurisdiction over any crime committed on the campus of Penn State. Joe Paterno went to the proper authority, he went immediately and he went as high as he could go."
NOT TRUE. He went to Curley, the Athletic Director. Perhaps YOU should check YOUR facts before you blame everyone else for having incorrect facts.
I mentioned this fact in your prior rant about Joe Paterno should sue and you never had the nerve to respond.

ED said...

Tom referring to the commentator, not the original post

In differentiating between Penn State and Syracuse, you seem to place great weight on the existence of a grand jury report that, in your words, "spells out everything". Nothing could be further from the truth - what you have is an accusatory document prepared by the prosecutor that does not lay out the actual testimony of the witnesses who are not subject to cross examination and is not subject to the rules of evidence. If as you say it is all spelled out, why should we go to the trouble of having a trial.

The real fact of the matter is at this juncture we do not know what McQueary told Paterno. If it was as the blog state "a sanitized version", there really isn't any difference between Paterno and ESPN, except that Paterno did the right thing and reported to his superiors and to the campus police head while ESPN did nothing.

Anonymous said...

Paterno apologist. Just because other people involved didn't act appropriately doesn't mean that Paterno did. You ever heard of right and wrong? In cases of child molestation, I think there is a clear right thing to do, take whatever information you have and share it with the authorities, and I mean the police!. Sadly, Paterno consciously decided to protect his football program rather than protect the safety of innocent children and in the process tarnished his legacy.

Dave D said...

WOW!!!! So many delusional idiots posting on this thread. Yeah, the Holocaust didn't happen either right? You people are SICK SICK SICK!!! Paterno knew! You are idiots if you think otherwise.

Anonymous said...

I agree, only in the fact about the media being hypocrites and wrong. Yet people who keep supporting jo pa arent getting the bigger picture. Stop with it. This is a bigger deal than even him. Its so big that you have to show the importants of cleaning everything up. This is a moral issue. Not a legacy one. No matter what you say, he did know something went wrong in that locker room. If a coach knew a player took money. But didnt know the amount. would he still not look into it. Yes. And that is an ncaa violation. What went on a penn state was a MORAL VIOLATION. much bigger deal.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

you should learn how to spell and the rules of proper grammar before penning an article where you try to sound knowledgeable.

You should learn how to write a sentence that flows smoothly when it's read.

Kevin Wilson said...

To whomever responded that Paterno did go to Schultz: you need to read the grand jury report.

Page 7 reports that Paterno called Curley but makes no mention of any contact between Paterno and Schultz.

McQueary then spoke to Schultz and Curley together approximately one and a half weeks later, and specifically mentions that Paterno was not present at this meeting.

Unless you are privy to information not listed in the Grand Jury report, you are wrong.

Anonymous said...

If there is a direct moral equivalency between Paterno's actions and those of the ESPN journalists, then both deserve the same fate.  Either all should be fired - both the reporters and Paterno - or none should be fired.  
You seem to imply that the actions of the ESPN crew, being morally equivalent to those of  Paterno, mean that ESPN should hang and that Paterno should be redeemed.  But if you want fair justice, and believe the players in the ESPN case are to be trotted out as villains, then why should Paterno not face the same fate?
Do you believe that journalists should be held to a higher standard than a man with actual, direct involvement in this mess?  That's the way it seems, but I don't know if that's the way justice should work.

Anonymous said...

Great job here, now if only the real story were told.

Anonymous said...

The sad fact is that this side of the story will likely never see the light of day in the major media. As a kid I was taught that it was the media's job to report the news in an unbiased way, but obviously headlines sell newspapers even if they are based on speculation. I hope the facts come out at some point so I can finally be at peace with this entire situation, but until then I believe in the American justice system - Joe is innocent until proven guilty.

SAILBOAT 68' said...

There is a lot of insanity and rush to judgement out there. It surrounds the word pedophilia and our societal reactions to it. The public, the press and the politicians all jump on the same bandwagon. It is an easy and irrational thing to do because the subject or crime is pedophilia and we as human beings react with anger and hysteria on this subject. For example, Dr Conrad Murray, who was found guilty of manslaughter was in the news for two years yet not one politician, news reporter or public personality stated he was guilty of medical malpractice, murder or manslaughter. They all waited for his trial by jury to find him guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to four years today. I think he was really guilty of malpractice, but that's another story. My point is: the trial of Jerry Sandusky is just coming up, but he and everyone around him have been found guilty by association in the press and public's eye. This is a form of the old Napoleonic law, GUILTY TILL PROVEN INNOCENT, which is not our American justice system. In addition, Governor Corbett of PA was the Attorney General of the state and I find it somewhat unusual that a grand jury would meet in 2008 to investigate Sandusky, but nothing of substance is done till 2011 under a new attorney general. In my experience, a grand jury meets for a few weeks and finds that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial. It usually doesn't take an additional three years! This entire case is bathed in innuendos with all the facts and accusations yet to have their day in court. I hope our justice system works to uncover the real truth. I believe cooler heads and due process are in order, but the damage to the university, administration, football program and coaches has already been done. I hope the victims of these crimes have their day in court and justice is done.

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU. Finally.

Anonymous said...

An incredibly truthful post that I wish had appeared sooner. As someone who has lived in State College for their entire life and is now a student at Penn State, the "scandal" (if you will) is horrifying. We students aren't sure what to think because everyone is shouting at us. Sometimes, they yell at us for feeling bad about losing our head football coach. Other times, they blame us as a community for the entire problem. And State College residents are flat out embarrassed that the name "Happy Valley" will forever be tarnished. I'm thankful for this article because it really redirects the spotlight from the innocent to the truly suspicious.

And for the record, Joe Paterno followed Pennsylvania law in reporting what he had been told regarding Sandusky. Pennsylvania school employees, including those at universities, are not allowed to contact the police in cases such as these. It has to go through the administration before it can be relayed to authorities. Whether or not he heard anything further after telling his superiors doesn't matter because it would have been against the law to have done anything else. Unfortunately, for everyone pounding so hard at JoePa, he did everything he was ALLOWED to do. This has nothing to do with his moral complex.

Connie Kirstner said...

What a great article! Finally, someone is writing what I have been saying since the media started their attacks on Joe!! Thank you so much and may this be read by many.

Connie Kirstner

Anonymous said...

Excellent article and great example of the hypocritical media!

Anonymous said...

This is the best thing I have read about the Penn State "scandal" since the story first broke. I live in State College and am nauseated by the fact that somehow things have changed from being about Jerry Sandusky to being about Joe Paterno and even Penn State Students. The media has vilified Joe Paterno and chosen to lump all Penn State students into one group, which includes the few students who chose to vent their frustration by rioting and destroying property. Thank you for your post - I only wish everyone could read it!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this! It was excellently written and is so true. It is so refreshing to see honest journalism!!

Anonymous said...

Don't you think you stepped out of line a little bit with the part about the media disgracing penn state, not paterno? I mean, I have my own opinions about what would have been appropriate actions in regards to JoePa but don't be so quick to point fingers. Sandusky and everyone else tied up in this mess are the ones who disgraced penn state. The media made mistakes, but didn't disgrace the institution.

Anonymous said...

This whole Penn State scandal has got to be one of the media's biggest debacles ever. I believe that in the end, Joe Paterno will come out looking good and the media will look like the fools.

Anonymous said...

Thanks. I have been telling people that exact same thing since day one.

Anonymous said...

I'm a huge Penn State football and Joe Paterno fan. But we are talking about a sport and what would be justice is to allow the "cover" to be blown off this story and not justify anyone's actions who had any knowledge of this pedophile's activities. There is no excuse and no rationalization for a 50 year old man to be in a shower with a 10 year old. Zero tolerance...no excuse...you are fired on the spot. These pedophile's know how to manipulate their friends, families, co-workers, etc so that they can prey on innocent children.
I know because my siblings and I were victims of a pedophile and other people knew about it but looked the other way. Let's create a culture where there is no safe place for a pedophile and there is no institution, image or monetary interest that would stand in the way of doing the right thing.

Anonymous said...

Nice post, I'd need some sources to back up some of that info though...

Anonymous said...

The fact that ESPN may or may not have known and ignored evidence of someone else's indiscretions DOES NOT absolve Paterno, McQueary, Penn State Administration, etc...of anything at all. People knew. Barry Switzer said it best...there is ZERO chance that no one else on that staff knew. The net sum of this article is the author saying that ESPN should retract all of their coverage else they'd be hypocrites. Who cares if the media outlet is hypocritical...it doesn't make anyone involved in the PSU fiasco any less culpable. THIS article borders on sensationalism, and is clearly written by a blind JoPa believer. We don't know the extent to which those in power at Penn State covered this up. Sure, shame on ESPN for NOT doing the same 10 years ago, but to downplay the significance of the cover up at PSU because ESPN may have aided a cover up 10 years ago...give me a break. This article is not news. No new facts are brought to light. No argument about the state of affairs at Penn State is made. This is an opinion piece, written by someone screaming "ESPN IS GUILTY TOO!!!! STOP PICKING ON US!!!"

Anonymous said...

To bad this will never be taken into thought. ESPN will buy this story so it never hits the streets

Anonymous said...

SO send this story out to all the newspapers nationwide....see who is brave enough to "blow the whistle" now on everyone else!!!!

Anonymous said...

WHO CARES?! ESPN is just as guilty as Paterno, then. You are grasping at straws to rationalize what Paterno didn't do.

Anonymous said...

Your title is misleading as you fail to prove its point.

Anonymous said...

PEOPLE!!!! Everyone is assuming Paterno didn't do anything based on very bland and incomplete presentments contained in the Grand Jury report. That grand jury report is only formulated for the purpose of incriminating Jerry Sandusky. It is not written with Joe Paterno, Mike McQueary or anyone else in mind. We don't know the facts about who knew what. Barry Switzer stating that "there is ZERO chance anyone on the Penn State staff didn't know" does not hold water.

Marc Rubin said...

"... you may want to verify/confirm the 2002 dates for the high schools actions."

the dates came from the mother of Victim One and the source of her statement and dates she provides is linked in the article, but pointing out any needed corrections or inaccuracies here is always welcome.

Marc Rubin said...

"WE ARE......NOT GOING TO DISNEY!"

As the parent company of ESPN your decision to not go to Disney and letting Disney know about your feelings and decision will have more of an impact that you realize. Don't minimize it. Let them know. And so should anyone else who feels the way you do.

Anonymous said...

I've worked with Joe and all the rest of them for mor year thn most of youhave been alive. NOTHING happened at PSU regarding the athletic program that was not controlled by or cleared by "Coach.". No question that everyone loves to see a program like PSU fall from grace.. In this case, we all deserve it. Calling Im Curley Joe's "superior" is beyond laughable!

Anonymous said...

Somebody wrote...
And for the record, Joe Paterno followed Pennsylvania law in reporting what he had been told regarding Sandusky. Pennsylvania school employees, including those at universities, are not allowed to contact the police in cases such as these.

For the record, Joe Paterno violated Penn State policy which required him to report it to both police and the admin. Read up on PSU policy at guru.psu.edu on sexual abuse.

Marc Rubin said...

".. why did Sandusky leave his job at the height of his career?"

Your questions may all be legitimate and worth getting the answers to. Unfortunately no one in the news media is interested in getting any facts.

Anonymous said...

the dates came from the mother of Victim One and the source of her statement and dates she provides is linked in the article...

Indeed, and those dates are nowhere near 2002. They start in 2005-2006 timeframe and later for victim 1. Go back and reread the articles.

Marc Rubin said...

" When will Paterno come out and defend himself?"

Ah if people would only gather the facts before forming their opinions. Paterno was ready to tell all at a press conference the day after the news broke of the indcitment against Sandusky, including everything he had been told by McQueary. The trustees at Penn State forced him to cancel the press conference and then muzzled him telling him not to talk. Sooner or later Im sure he will tell what he knows. Or someone will.

Anonymous said...

I don't think that any of us, at this point, anyway, can really speak to what Paterno knew and when he knew it. However, I think you made some bad assumptions here in your rush to defend him. Just to name a couple, you cannot assume that, if in fact, someone at ESPN was given information of Fine's misdeeds, that EVERYONE at ESPN knew about it. You also cannot equate the actions of an entire corporation like ESPN that has no authority over any school with the actions of a man long known to be THE face of and THE ultimate authority over the Penn State football program.

Additionally, your inability to correctly spell "principal" when referring to the person in charge of a school is maddening and hurts your credibility as you attempt to come across as an intelligent author.

Anonymous said...

Just to help you with the dates, from the article you linked to...

According to the grand jury indictment (PDF link), sometime in 2005 or 2006, Victim One, aged 11 or 12, met Sandusky through his charity for disadvantaged kids, The Second Mile. (Mother One says she isn't entirely certain when her son met Sandusky.)

In 2002 he was only 7-8 years old.

Marc Rubin said...

" It is not as if ESPN or the Post-Standard had the ability to reverse the statue of limitations."

But they didnt report it either did they. They are both supposed to be a news organization. And wasn't one of the so called criticisms of Paterno by ESPN related to something about their idea of "moral responsibility" as opposed to legal?

Marc Rubin said...

"You seem to be missing the point. It doesn't matter what happened at Syracuse. It doesn't matter what ESPN knew. The only thing that matters is that Joe Paterno, as well as a whole bunch of other people, allowed young boys to be violated. EVERYONE that knew is accountable"

This is pretty funny considering that the only evidence we have is that Paterno didnt know any of the things you are so sure he did know (without any evidence to prove it,naturally) and the people who the evidence shows DID know, according to you just do not count.
Are you a journalist?

Marc Rubin said...

"It would be nice if the author knew how to correctly use the proper term for the principal and not the principle."

thank you Miss Manners and the spelling has been corrected. But really, no kidding, it's the principle not the principal.

Marc Rubin said...

"To whomever responded that Paterno did go to Schultz: you need to read the grand jury report.

Page 7 reports that Paterno called Curley but makes no mention of any contact between Paterno and Schultz."

What you are calling the grand jury report is a grand jury summary. There is a lot of information that the grand jury has as well as prosecutors that are not included in the summary, and of course no actual verbatim testimony.

Marc Rubin said...

"The Syracuse incident and ESPN's reporting in no way vindicate Joe.."

I didnt think the point was that hard to get. The ESPN and Syracuse reporting werent meant to vindicate Paterno who already has enough facts to vindicate him. Those incidents were mentioned to indict ESPN for doing the very things they accused Paterno of doing or not doing.

Marc Rubin said...

"...So you try to justify Paterno's lack of action.."


And exactly what lack of action is that? care to be specific?

Anonymous said...

And exactly what lack of action is that? care to be specific?

He did not comply with Penn State policy as of 2001 on reporting sexual abuse, as per the link above. That, and common sense.

Mike Nargi said...

Ever consider that ESPN is stocked with 'cues alum?

Anonymous said...

Kevin...you are correct in quoting page 7 of the report as saying that Joe called Curley and not Schultz however, if you read further you will see that on Page 8 Schultz says that he was called to the meeting with Curley and Paterno. This just an example of inconsistencies and/or areas of gray within the presentment which we should be reminded is a summary of information compiled by the Attorney General's office and is not necessarily word for word testimony. None of us has seen actual transcripts of the witness testimony. I feel this is by far one of the best posts I have read to date. I would love to see this enhanced by facts and published in the main stream media.

Anonymous said...

Good article, I'm just blown away that I've seen Paterno compared to Nazi's and the Holocaust. Wow, we as a society have completely lost it.

Kevin Wilson said...

Responder: Gary Schultz, who was indicted on perjury, isn't exactly the best source to use to make your point.

Page 7, based on Paterno's testimony, reports that the Curley/Paterno "meeting" occurred on the phone, which would have been difficult for Schultz to attend.

Anonymous said...

Sandusky was arrested on a saturday but it wasnt until the attorney general's press conference on monday when Frank Noonan chief of state police said Paterno failed morally and that's when the lynching began. Look there is more to this than meets the eye but the person who failed the most was Tom Corbett because Sandusky should have been arrested after victim one came forward and Corbett as DA allowed this behavior to go on for close to three years while he campaigned and worried about being governor. He is the real POS in all of this.

richk7 said...

I think my biggest problem with this is the legal aspect of it all. I'm sure Sandusky is a perv and should probably burn in hell. However, he is still innocent in the eyes of the courts until proven otherwise. The trustees took actions against a colleague of an ACCUSED man. Anyone can make accusations. The trustees disgraced Paterno's name without Sandusky even being convicted.

Anonymous said...

Some wild assumptions in this post.

1) "he had knowledge of sexual abuse and didn't do enough when it came to reporting it, ( something that has already been proved to be completely false)." -When was this proven false? I must have missed that report.

2) "a non-specific non detailed sanitized version of events from McQueary" - pretty amazing that you know the exact version that McQueary gave Paterno. That is a major question going forward in this investigation, pretty impressive that you know the answer. You must have some good inside sources, or maybe you were there?

3) The fact that some unknown person at ESPN heard a tape 8 years ago does not eliminate any and every ESPN employees right to an opinion. We have no idea who hard that tape, its not like every single person employed by ESPN has a copy of it.

In the end, this article comes off as a whiny attempt to throw a tantrum at the media. You stretch to connect dots that arent there, which is exactly what you accuse "the media" of doing in this rambling post.

Anonymous said...

In regards to November 29, 2011 7:28 PM post:

I think your comment is a whiny attempt to ramble and cover the media's hind side for not doing the right thing. You work for ESPN pal?

Anonymous said...

Since when did he go straight to the head of the campus police? What came out via the grand jury report is that he only went to the AD, and did so a few days later. I don't want to hang him either but he himself admitted that he should have handled it better.

And college kids have some uncanny sense of wrong and right - that's why they rioted? Come on. Seriously?

But, yes. Certainly a bit of hypocrisy in play here,

JB said...

This Article is great. ESPN demoralized a very moral man who stood for more than a team, more than an institution, he stood for respect and sincerity. I hope this article goes viral just as the BS from ESPN did. The people who don;t know a thing about what Penn State football is about and what the man Joe Pa himself is about should hold out until all the facts are brought to the table. Thanks 4 nothing ESPN and you POS Andy Staples.... JOE PA 4 LIFE

Anonymous said...

"Paterno was ready to tell all at a press conference the day after the news broke of the indcitment against Sandusky, including everything he had been told by McQueary. "

More BS from Rubin...

The widely circulated stipulation before Paterno's presser was NO questions on Sandusky, ONLY questions about Nebraska game. Which was a lame attempt by the PSU disinformation bureau and probably why they canceled 30 minutes prior to the impending fiasco.

Get your facts straight, Hack.

Anonymous said...

No I do not work for ESPN. But if I did, I wouldnt want to be condemned as a hypocrite because some unknown person at my company heard an account of child abuse and did nothing. I'm not defending the media's hind side, whoever heard that tape at ESPN is just as guilty of moral irresponsibility as anyone, but blanketing an entire corporation under that inaction is ridiculous.

Besides, that wasnt the major part of my post. The writer makes assumptions that support his own point, even though they are from from proven, which is exactly what writers at ESPN and other outlets are guilty of doing in this scandal.

I hope to God that it turns out that Joe Paterno really knew nothing, but we are far from being able to say that confidently at this point.

Anonymous said...

Check your facts. The local police had all of the information that ESPN had, including the tapes. So, "teacher," Joe Pa told his boss and let it end there. ESPN had all the same information as the police... what more did you want them to do?

Anonymous said...

I think it is misleading to say that Paterno was given a sanitized version of the story. Paterno's grand jury testimony was that he was told of "fondling" of a "sexual nature with a young boy". Not exactly a shower rape, but clearly more damning than some sanitized version about "horseplay" or some vague thing like that

Anonymous said...

PSU supporters who argue so passionately in defense of JoePa are like passengers standing on the deck of the Titanic upto their asses in icy water and passionately defending the Captain. Who cares what the Hell the Captain did, this ship is going down! This "ship" is your diploma. JoePa is a rich old man. He'll do fine no matter what happens. What about your families? How are they going to do when the PSU entry on your resume becomes a huge liability? Do you really believe that stuff PSU is putting out about how employers still adore PSU grads? Consider the woman in a corporate HR department who has to winnow down a stack of resumes for further review. Before the PSU scandal, all she knew about football was that her husband liked to watch it on TV on weekends when she let him. What do think she's going to do when she encounters a PSU resume? Weigh the evidence for or against Sandusky, JoePa etc? Hell no, she's going to think to herself, "That poor boy in the shower" and cringe. Where do you think that resume is going? You say that you love PSU but the very thing you advocate, the rehiring of JoePa, would mean the destruction of PSU. How would you feel if Second Mile and PSU rehired Sandusky? That's exactly what the public would feel if PSU rehired JoePa. The outrage would be overwhelming. The public doesn't make fine distinctions. You can't change that. So keep on defending that rich old guy and you'll be proudly chanting "WE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT STATE COLLEGE!

Anonymous said...

This blogpost (blogrant?) seems to really miss the mark. Not only is it patently biased, rife with typos, and lacking in named sources, it unjustifiably attempts to exonerate Joe Paterno merely because others were also at fault. I don't think anyone will argue that Joe Paterno is not the only one who had information about Sandusky that he should have reported to the police. I also don't think anyone would argue that the media attacked Joe Paterno worse than others who were complicit in the same wrong (Spanier, etc.). But guilt isn't relative. Joe Paterno doesn't get off the hook easier for not reporting what he knew just because some guys over at ESPN didn't either. Whether Paterno "did more with less information" isn't the point. The fact that he didn't do ENOUGH with that information is exactly the point.

I agree that Joe Paterno got the worst of the media and it's sad that we heard and read more about him in the wake of the scandal than we even heard about Sandusky himself. It's truly frustrating and you can blame the media for that. But at the end of the day, that's just the media being the media. It exploits high profile stories (hey, remember Tiger Woods?) to death, even when they are not worthy of the attention. The media writes and reports about what we are interested in: what sells. JoePa, a symbol of Penn State football and beacon of righteousness, sells. For this blogger at the end of the article to ask for retribution and an "apology" to Joe Paterno is utterly ridiculous. What's done is done. Move on - the Board fired him and they will not renege on that decision. Hopefully Paterno and the many others who should have done more have already apologized or will apologize to the victims and their families. That's all I can really hope for at least.

Anonymous said...

Why do I keep seeing the words "He did as much as he should" or "He went to the campus police". If Paterno knew something was happening, he should have gone as high as the president to ensure that this happened no more. He did not go any further than the minimum required to protect the old boys club and the football program. As someone earlier said...Your fervent defense of Paterno is slap in the face of each young boy that had to suffer this indignity

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry how is an alleged phone conversation of his wife an admission to sexual abuse?? I'll make a phone call accusing you of sexual abuse then you tell me how legit that is

Anonymous said...

things that joepa could have done to prevent his firing 1)NOT LET SANDUSKY USE PSU FACILTIES 2)NOT LET SANDUSKY RUN THE PSU YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAMS OR STILL RECRUIT FOR PSU 3)IF MCQUERY WAS LYING JOEPA SHOULDN'T HAVE PROMOTED HIM FROM JUST A GA TO WR COACH...........ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT JOEPA HAD TO GO HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP AND THE CAPTAIN ALWAYS GOES DOWN WITH THE SHIP.....but joepa never wanted his players to get awards but he was alright with staying past his prime so he could get most wins by a d-1 coach......selfish...joe got fired on his own accord if he would have stepped down in '04 this would be a big deal....but joepa pulled the strings in the althelic dept

Anonymous said...

Great article, you should do a little more research into what & when the governor of PA knew. He did not stop further abuse by going to authorities.
How do we get the media to change to be more accountable?

Anonymous said...

uh, not sure how ESPN et al not doing what they perhaps (depending on if this tape was already in the hands of police or not) should have done excuses JoPa from doing what he should have done. He had a 1st hand report (the level of detail reported to him is not totally clear) from someone on his staff, and all he did was report it upwards. Where's the follow up? Especially since he quite possibly knew about the earlier investigation. I just don't see how inditing ESPN clears Paterno.

Anonymous said...

What a joke...

Let's summarize. Because other people covered up for child molesation... it's ok that Joe Paterno did. Sad sad sad.

I don't understand why my fellow Penn State fans rationalize our immoral behavior because others were also immoral. WE ARE (being pathetic)

Anonymous said...

This is a hard time for all PSU fans, and I agree that Paterno certainly did not deserve the amount of abuse he has taken at the hands of the media. However, I also agree that he is not entirely blameless. Seeing these two sides debated in the comments is worth reading, as both sides have some posters that make valid arguments that show real thought and consideration. However, for the sake of all of us actually interested in the material of this post, can we please stop harping on grammatical errors such as "principal" vs. "principle"? It was perfectly acceptable for the first person who pointed the mistake out; these things happen. But for the subsequent posters who posted no other comment than this correction, I ask you: do you come to these sites to actually read the material of the posts, or are you just looking to put your two worthless cents into any conversation? For if you are interested in the actual discussion, READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID FIRST! Do no re-post the exact same thing that others have pointed out; it shows nothing that credits you, merely that you are no more intelligent than the media accused of parroting others.

One other point of contention I have with some of the responses posted here: Do not dare to dismiss the students who protested just because they are students. While I'm sure some of them were in fact only protesting because they were seeing the face of their prestigious football program fired, there are many who protested from intelligent positions. They deserve every bit as much consideration as any of those who post here, and I dare say more than some. Do not let the fact that they are young and ideal interfere with your ability to see the value they may offer.

Anonymous said...

Marc, you suck as a writer. You're no more authoritative than you are grammatically accurate. If it's your goal to stir up hype and get a slice of the pie of attention, you may succeed. If your goal is serious journalism, you have lots to learn. You may have reported facts in this blog post, but any truly honest reader couldn't justify agreeing with them, as nothing is backed up with sources.

Anonymous said...

That was a waste of time. No sources. No facts. Just a biased opinion rationalizing behavior to protect their god.

How anyone could support Joe Paterno is beyond me. Man is evil evil evil.

Just look at what has come out since he was fired. It's common knowledge he's had cancer for 16 months... but now it's public knowledge... why? Cause he needs pity.

Then.. "Sources close to the Paterno family" tell the press that Sue Paterno was kicked out of the pool... when the pool is closed. They were just angry because in the past they've been able to use any facility at anytime whether opened or closed. But yet they whine to the press about this... sorry Paterno's.. you have to be normal human beings now. Be lucky you aren't in jail where you belong.

Kevin said...

This is a very well written article, but it's fundamentally wrong.

Don't get me wrong, Joe Paterno is a man of amazing moral fiber. He's got the legacy to back it up, and the humility of a saint. That said, a man came to him and told him a child had been raped, and he didn't call the police. That's the bottom line. Providing examples of other people who made the same mistake, especially to a greater degree, does nothing if not further incriminate all those ethically responsible.

If an adult has any degree of credible evidence of such grievous abuse, he/she has an ethical responsibility to report it to the police. It may be considered "following protocol" to report it to higher authority, but there's no system of punishment in place for cutting out the middle man and directly contacting police. Joe Paterno got an unfair share of media coverage, but a winning record and unfair reporters doesn't grant you clemency for acting in the strongest reasonable manner to prevent a child's rape.

But what should anger everyone is not Joe's fall from grace. He's a strong man and has taken the series of events like a champ. It's the fact that, come trial, Sandusky is going to walk. The defense lawyers will be shooting fish in a barrel between decade old hearsay reports and the fickle technicalities of high profile cases. They'll have to ship the jurors in from across the ocean.

Anonymous said...

KEVIN...do everyone a favor and read the grand jury report again.

On page 7 it states,"Paterno called Curley to his home the very next day..."

Anonymous said...

The grammar in this post is awful. I am hearing most of your "facts" for the first time despite reading the grand jury report and other articles from various news outlets. Combine the grammar and lack of sources with your need to defend your homer opinions in the comments sections and you have next to zero credibility.

Moving on.

Anonymous said...

The bottom line: If Joe Paterno was informed that one of his grandchildren had been molested; how long would it have taken for him to get to the bottom of it and either ID'd where a false rumor started or if there was a molestation?

The situation would have been resolved within days.

Anonymous said...

Why is everyone assuming Joe Paterno didn't follow up Shultz (head of UP police) after his first meeting with him. The only facts available are from the grand jury report, which was compiled for the sole purpose of convicting Sandusky. If Paterno followed up, that information would have been omitted from the report because it would have serve no purpose in convicting Sandusky. All we know for sure is that the AD and head of university police were informed, and they talked to McQueary and decided not to act on his claim for whatever reason

Anonymous said...

I can honestly say that this is one of the worst articles ever written. How dare all of you choose football and Joe over the welfare of LITTLE BOYS!!! When will this society stop waging war on our children!!! I'm ashamed of the behavior of Penn State and Syracuse Univ. Morals seem to be far from present in the group of folks who commented on this article and they have probably NEVER been part of the authors vocabulary. That's my two cents, now if you will stop this crazy train, I'd like get off. Oh and by the way this article does no favors for your beloved JoePa. It's a disgrace that he can't step up and be the hero by advocating for these victims considering that most of you won't! Disgusting!

Anonymous said...

A. I agree w other posts that you can't justify joes actions because others actions were worse.
B. The media oes suck and everyone had a knee jerk reaction which is expected bc of the egregious nature of the crime.
C. I love Joe pa. I am a psu alumni but you cannot have it both ways. Joe cannot one day say I am the best football coach ever and the face of this university...an icon for all that is good then when he has to do something difficult say oh he's just a football coach bc he isn't just a football coach. If he said I never want Sandusky on this campus again it would have been done. In many ways his position was higher than Schultz or Curley.
D. We cannot fully pass judgment bc we don't know the full story. Ppl lie to grand juries all the time. There are no defense lawyers and pretty much no limits on the prosecution. They also release only what they want. We don't know anything yet.
E. The students.....45000 undergrads on campus. Most did not choose to riot. Most chose to hold events in support of the children. Were they angry...yes but that's bc the dumb board of trustees handled the firings badly. Also with that many kids there are always anarchists who get the other kids presumably drunk going. This riot was not about what happened. They would have been rioting about bad cookies in the cafeteria if they thought they had the medias attention. So stop boiling 45000 undergrads most good kids upset about the whole thing down to a couple thousand drunkies and anarchists.

Anonymous said...

You speak often about Paterno getting a sanitized version. There are no facts to ba k this up.

Brian said...

Actually, ESPN already came out and showed their 10 year old interview with the Syracuse victim on Sportscenter on Nov 17th. They explained that they did not air it 10 years ago since after additional investigation by them and the local law enforcement authorities, no one could find evidence to support the claims of the victim. The entire situation is sad by the first of the two claims made wrongly attacks ESPN.

Anonymous said...

Wow...so many uninformed people posting so many uninformed opinions...it does not matter that the author used principle instead of principle. Joe went to curly and curly and shultz went to his house the next day. I agree with most of what the author posted, however, as joepa said himself he should have done more. As far as espn goes they are culpable also and should be ashamed of themselves. Also jim boheim what a weasel. "it id all lies, it is a money grab" give me a freaking break. he should be fired immediately and sued for what he said. Also does anyone find it odd that the commentaters on espn seem to be on a gag order.. Nobody wants to comment on it hmmmm?

Anonymous said...

The fact is Joe Paterno got 2nd hand information from McQueary. It is not for him to take that information to the police. It was McQueary's duty to: 1) Remove said child from harm when he witnessed the event! 2) Make a statement to the police that cannot be dismissed as hearsay as he was the WITNESS...not Joe Paterno.

Also, it was the Board of Trustees who granted Sandusky emeritus status which gave him continuing use of the facilities, not Joe Paterno. This is the same BoT who fired Paterno, but I guess according to some posting here, Joe fired himself because he didn't have anyone higher than him at the school....Riiiiight. There were many people higher up on the chain who had more than one account. The report filed to the University from a janitor is far more graphic and detailed, but again, the Uni higher-ups did not file an official report. The 2nd and more graphic report had NOTHING to do with Paterno.

In the Grand Jury summary there are about 2 or 3 sentences that mention Paterno out of 23 pages. Why? It is because he was not a key person. He was not a witness, he was someone who passed information along. It was McQueary and the janitor's obligation to make their statements to the police, and I don't see either one of them out of a job yet for not doing that. The only reason Paterno is being eviscerated is because he is a public figure whose face sells publications. End of story.

Anonymous said...

Excellent article! It expresses my sentiments exactly; I have nothing further to add, aside from "Excellent work".

Anonymous said...

Excellent. Very well said.

Anonymous said...

I have thought throughout this whole process that Joe Paterno got a raw deal. I do not condone the students for rioting in the streets but I do feel some of the media sources stretched the truth.

Anonymous said...

I know that I'm missing the point of the article, but why do they have a picture of Warren Moon and Jake Reed? Couldn't they have found a picture from within the last 15 years?

Also, while I do believe he is completely correct that ESPN could have done more and that this shows how hypocritical some broadcasters have been on the subject, it brings to mind several questions.

1) How many of the speakers at ESPN who blasted Paterno actually had access to this information, and how many of them are still currently at ESPN? What I mean is that in you couldn't blame PSU's current players for this even if there were past players who could have said something. and in the same way, how many of the reporters themselves had access to the information.

2) Even if the entire world concedes that the actions of the media were underhanded, manipulative, and hypocritical, that doesn't necessarily do anything to prove JoePa's reaction to the events.

I'm not saying that this is all cut and dry, but I think this article is more of an emotional rally-cry piece than anything else.

Also, Warren Moon and Jake Reed FTW!

Anonymous said...

Wow...WAY off base here. ESPN was not the EMPLOYER or DIRECT SUPERVISOR of Fine...as was "JoePa". Paterno not only knew one of HIS employees was involved in the abuse of children..but he let his players, who were put in HIS trust by their parents, do work for Sandusky's charity. Very different situation. The media is just that....the media.

Anonymous said...

Bottom line here is Paterno could only go on what was reported to him. He isnt a law officer or DA. He was fired but out of everyone involved in this fiasco he was the least culpable. Tom Corbett on the other hand started this investigation as DA. Victim #1 came forward. In Delaware County DA at the time Mike Green would have arrested Sandusky based on this. He would not have allowed Sandusky to roam for close to three years and rape more little boys. Corbett was more worried about the money given to his governor campaign by Penn St insiders so he pushed the investigation off. How all of this got lost is because the one state police investigator Frank Noonan who just now happens to be head of state police, a coincidence right, said Paterno was morally obligated to do more. Well how about you sir and Corbett. They threw Paterno under the bus to deflect attention off of them. In three years the people of Pennslyvania will make a statement and get rid of these dirtbags because we see right thru their lies.

Tracy said...

Interesting article... but would help credibility if occasion was spelled correctly in the headline. Please correct.

Anonymous said...

Haha, I love how anyone who dare questions the patriarch Joe Paterno is called an ESPN commentator or a journalist. Nice logical work, do you think you could win a debate with that kind of reasoning? There are more important things in life than the reputation of a football coach. We ought to be rethinking the use of a bureaucratic system for reporting sexual abuse, the ties of campus police to administrators (big conflict of interest), and an overhaul of Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law to prevent the inaction of sexual abuse cases.

I agree that the principal and any school administrators who attempted to silence victim one and his mother are absolute dregs of society and ought to be fired. And what's happened or happening at Syracuse, if the accusations are true, are also deplorable. My thoughts and condolences go foremost to the victims and their families for fighting for what's right. The media has always fed on the fall of leaders or figures.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT PATERNO DID OR DID NOT DO. In fact, it's irrelevant entirely to any evidence regarding his moral obligations. You can point out where others have failed too and rightfully condemn those actions. But you can't use one person's inaction to justify another person's autonomous decisions. But to raise hell over journalist's judgements is staring into a microcosm versus the true gravity of the situation. Paterno admitted he ought to have done more, but it shouldn't have taken hindsight to realize you ought to kick a pedophile out of your ranks with every last resource you've got. McQueary testified he called his father, then told Paterno, and spoke to Schultz and Curley.* Do you mean to say Paterno knew absolutely nothing?

But you are a Paterno apologist. "Paterno was given a sanitized version of the event in the shower by McQuery" - do you have ANY evidence for that? How do you "sanitize" the rape of a child? If an account is so sanitized it's no longer sexual assault or rape, then the account becomes a lie. (If that were the case, McQueary ought to be fired and in handcuffs. I think McQueary ought to be kicked out of PSU as it stands.) Nonetheless, your language still implies Joe knew Sandusky was messing around with kids which is a piss-poor excuse to uphold Paterno. And you don't need to think about that - you act. I believe Paterno should have called the police, not his superior who who's in charge of the police, but the damn police. If JoePa is the extraordinary example of honor in collegiate football programs marred by bad dealings elsewhere, how can you be satisfied with the excuse "well, he fulfilled his legal demands, let's go home". That's the law, but it's not justice. And many of us are raising an argument about justice, not the law. For those who don the pathetic excuses of "oh, they didn't want to smear Saundusky's reputation with a false accusation", you're either idiots or apologists. Would you rather ignore a potential problem or prevent a predator from hurting children?

I'm going to say this blogger doesn't get it. Everyone else outside of the football bubble is ashamed anyone can't see the thing to "get" is how an administrative system and its interests covered up a pedophile. It's not about the demi-godly figure of Paterno because guess what? He's not a deity. And I'm not a journalist either. I'm a recent Penn State alumnus (2009) and largely respected Paterno because I thought he was the shining exception. I don't believe this anymore sadly.

*McQueary is outright liar here given he claimed in an e-mail he contacted police and tried to "stop" what Sandusky was doing (but not physically?!) and the worst of cowards. According to CBS news, both Penn State police and State College police claim he reported nothing to them, so I hope McQueary is never seen around Penn State again.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and to Susan at November 29, 2011 10:26 AM:

Just because you have an anecdotal example of a false accusation against you doesn't mean it has any weight in this case. The last thing we need is the creation of hypothetical situations for victim-shaming when it cannot be warranted whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

Another rant by a Penn State Koolaid drinker. You actually had my attention until you justified the rioting, drunk students. That is never acceptable in out society, never. As far as a lot of the nation is concerned, like it or not, they are Penn State.

Anonymous said...

The fact is Joe Paterno got 2nd hand information from McQueary. It is not for him to take that information to the police. It was McQueary's duty to: 1) Remove said child from harm when he witnessed the event! 2) Make a statement to the police that cannot be dismissed as hearsay as he was the WITNESS...not Joe Paterno.

To this post, all I have to say is AMEN!

Anonymous said...

He did everything he could? Did he find out the name of the victim? Find out who HE was? Did anyone???? NOOOOOOO

Anonymous said...

The subtitle of your article is spelled wrong - occasion - if you want to spout off - learn how to spell - just because one person's deeds are bad doesn't mean the other was a saint. Your premise is full of flaws!

Anonymous said...

ESPN, a magazine in Syracuse, a high school principal and anyone else being wrong, doesn't make JoePa's inaction right.

Bottom line is this. JoePa heard that there was a 60 year old man in the showers with a 10 year old boy in his football facility. Who cares what the specifics are beyond that? Although there is still debate as to how much detail was provided, 60 year old in the shower with a 10 year old is enough detail for me. He took it to campus police and washed his hands of it . 'Not my problem' is how he treated it. He never followed up to find out what the outcome of the campus police investigation was. He never bothered to find out who the boy was. He continued to associate with Sandusky and he continued to employ McQueary...for 9 years. If he didn't believe McQueary, how could he continue to employ him? If McQueary lied, that's a MAJOR breach of trust, in my books. If he did believe McQueary, how could he stand the sight of Sandusky and allow him to continue to be associated with his program, let alone know that he could potentially be perpetrating additional crimes through the Second Mile foundation? I don't care how long I've known and trusted anyone...if I believe they are sexually abusing children, they are out of my life, and JoePa had enough power at PSU to make sure that Sandusky was never anywhere near the athletic facilities again. Instead, Sandusky had an office, keys to the facilities and was a strong presence within the PSU football family.

I've always believed that two wrongs don't make a right. JoePa can't be absolved of responsibility here just because others may have done the same thing.

Anonymous said...

I think it also fishy that soooo many sportscaster came from Syracuse..COINCIDENCE???? These are some that work for ESPN..David Amber, Steve Bunin, Matt Berry, Sean McDonough, Dave Pasch, Dave Ryan, Anish Shroff, Jayson Starks, Mike Tirico...And others in the Biz that are sports announcers that graduated from Syracuse Marv Albert, Bob Costas, Adam Schein, Dick Stockton...just to name a few

Joe C said...

Yeah, there is a lot of truth there, but this is a poorly written piece. I do agree that ESPN obviously glossed over facts to make news in the Penn State situation and completely ignored a tape that should have been given to someone in the Syracuse siutation. There are certainly some people at ESPN that need to be fired over this. However, until more evidence is gathered and more facts are known, this will be a blog that gets little or no attention despite having some relevant content.

I agree that JoePa had ZERO due process and was taken down as the pure result of a witchhunt rather than a complete investigation. However, I'm not so naive as to think that he is free from reproach in this either.

The way to get the proper attention to your piece is to gather ALL of the factual information and then generate an informed opinion based on ALL of the facts. ESPN was wrong and hypocritical, but this blog is falling into that trap as well. If people want to defend JoePa for how he has been treated, I can understand that. However, I can also understand why the decision was made to let him go. Personally, I cannot fully support or attack the man for what he's done. I just wish others would be more inclined to do the same after a more complete fact finding is done.

Funny emough I had bought a bunch of JoePa memorabilia (pictures and a book) just before all of this went down. I haven't thrown them out, but I haven't put them on display either. In my mind, that's because I am withholding judgement.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. It just proves that the Press is the most powerful institution in the world.

The reason ESPN/ABC/Disney won't do anything about this... They have Syracuse slated for 14 of their roughly 300 nationally televised games this season and that might have an effect on their pocketbooks and as much as we hate to admit it, dollars come before kids, even to Disney.

Storm said...

Completely illogical. So you think others have not been been punished like Paterno. So shouldn't your demand that others be punished just as much? Not Paterno should be absolved. You seem to forget there was a 1998 investigation into Sandusky - and then the following year Paterno decided to change his coaching staff and Sandusky decided to take a great early retirement plan. No other schools asked him to be head coach. So knowing the 1998 investigation and hearing the 2002 allegations - you would have to be stone cold stupid or senial to not demand police action.

Kevin said...

"The fact is Joe Paterno got 2nd hand information from McQueary. It is not for him to take that information to the police."

Let's follow this logic in another situation: My child comes home from school, says a boy showed him a gun he has in his locker. I'm not responsible to go to the police, because I didn't see the gun, right?

This isn't petty theft or cheating on a test, people, a child was allegedly raped. Degrees of separation mean nothing.

Kevin said...

And just to clarify for everyone, it's common knowledge of the courtroom that 99% of hearsay is admissible under a ridiculous number of stipulations. In the case of what Joe Paterno heard from McQuery, the testimony is admissible as an excited utterance. McQuery, while also ethically responsible to go directly to the police, wasn't incorrect in his decision to tell Paterno.

Anonymous said...

What Paterno did equates to me reporting a crime to the mayor of my township and NOT THE ACTUAL POLICE. Drink all of the Kool-Aid you want, be nothing more than apologists... but Paterno didn't do enough. Why can't PSU students and their alumni get this?

buckeye808 said...

Marc Rubin...you my man are an apologist of the worst sort for a man that has clearly failed to be the man 'most' thought him to be. All your blogging won't change the fact that the nation now sees Paterno for what he really is. Being a football coach who time passed by a decade ago who is too much of a narcissist to do what was right for Penn State University and the players that he coached. But most importantly, his narcissism allowed him to put football and his image before the defense of young boys under attack by the pedophile Sandusky. Shame on you Marc Rubin and shame on the rest you Paterno water carriers for not seeing these evident truths. I thank the media for in their apparent over-reaction Paterno was removed from his job by the Trustees. Otherwise, Penn State may have found a way to once again cover-up the failings of an aging football program and its head coach along with the very top in administration at Penn State University,

Anonymous said...

Thank you for you article.
As time goes on I am more convinced that PSU and Paterno have been unjustly villifed by a media witch hunt.
The burying of the Syracuse story only confirms my suspicions. Although the damage has been done, the truth will eventually come to light.
Ratings, half truths and sensationalism is what drives the news today.

Anonymous said...

Bullshit. Get PSU out of my Big Ten. THEY DISGUST ME. Bunch of freaking perverts. And you all just help the enabling... JOE PA is no hero you idiots...

Anonymous said...

Best article I have read about this situation since day one. I am currently a sophomore at PSU and it's nice to see that people actually understand what happened too, not like those jackasses at ESPN who had a whole day devoted to the scandal and slandering joe.

Anonymous said...

please, please, please, send this to every newspaper, magazine, tv station out there. This was an awesome article. i wish everybody can learn the actual accounts of this story, as represented in this post, so they no longer follow in blind obedience to the sensationalized press.

Anonymous said...

Regardless if you are a Joe Pa fan (or a Penn State fan) or not, JoPa should not have been fired at this juncture. He should have been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW!!!!!!!

marcus said...

So according to you, the REAL villains in this story are the media, secondarily the Penn State trustees.

And the REAL victim is Joe Paterno. And secondarily those poor little college students.

Geezus you people are a bunch of whiners who can't see the forest for the trees. By "you people" I mean you who exist in your own pathetic, utterly blind, myopic football bubble.

Paterno is not innocent-STOP making him into a martyr. There are NO heroes in this story, EVERYONE enabled years of child rape out of pure cowardice. Everyone colluded in this years long horror against children.

Sandusky had been under investigation long before the incident witnessed by McQueary and that was no secret to Paterno or PSU's authorities.

What a bullshit whining rant. Get your priorities straight. This isn't about anyone's precious worship of a football coach.

It's about instiutional and community tribal insularity in which nothing can be allowed to disturb PSU's perfect unaccountable cocoon of a football program. Not even child rape.

Anonymous said...

I'm not even going to touch on the Cuse because you have you head so far up your ass on the Sandusky crap. This isn't case where Paternos buddy is drinking a little too much and Paterno is telling him " You'll be fine get some help well make sure this stays home"...The guy was raping kids you jack ass..RAPING,TOUCHING, SUCKING...on and on..get the point? Paterno didn't "rise" to anything..What he should have done was told Sandusky to stay the hell away from his players and from the campus FOREVER! And then HE should have called the cops..But he didn't..He did what was right for his coaching legacy thats it.So no you are a closet itty bitty titty toucher yourself or your such an idiot PSU supporter your blinded by the bleach white football uniforms PSU wears.

Anonymous said...

RE READ YOUR FACTS HE DIDN'T BEING THE RECORDING IN 2002 that was just recently handed over

Ken said...

This is the dumbest most ridiculous thing I have ever read attached to this scandal. You mean because the Syracuse crew acted worse than Paterno, his failings aren't quite as bad?

The guy was told that a rape had occurred with an assistant coach and an 8 year old boy. And he did the VERY LEAST he could do.

You should be ashamed of trying to defend him by diverting attention at the media, another school, etc.

THEY WERE ALL WRONG.

I never comment on shit like this, but you must be Penn Stater with blinders on.

Anonymous said...

You PSU people need to stop drinking the kool-aid that Joe Paterno and the university has been serving all of you for over 40 years now. It doesn't matter what ESPN did or didn't do, the fact is that Joe Paterno (along with others) allowed a man to continue to molest children.

I know all the PSU people are going to say that Joe did what he was suppose to do. Really? A man who holds his players and program to a higher standard than other universities is going to do the bare minimum when it comes to sexual abuse to children? Please, Joe was fired because he deserved to get fired, just like the president and everyone else who was involved deserve to be fired.

Maybe once the cult kool-aid wears off you PSU people will finally realize this, and accept the fact that what needed to be done was done, and it will make the university stronger in the end.

Anonymous said...

Great comments, and dead on.

Anonymous said...

Good stuff. I also might point out on top of Paterno's long standing career aside Sandusky, his short one along McQueary. It shows how people are underestimating just how difficult doing what Joe did with this second hand information must have been. Im not sure exactly how long McQueary had been assisting the team or involved, but to take information from him and go above a 26 year cooworker is nothing to look past.

Anonymous said...

Why are are still focusing on this one, isolated incident involving McQueary, naively believing that this was the only time JoePa ever knew or heard anything about Sandusky's actions? How could the entire staff not know about what was going on over the many years it was happening? JoePa had a polished solid gold reputation because he had enough power to cover things up. People want to blame the media, yet we're not thinking beyond what the media is telling us about this one incident with McQueary. There were other incidents with other kids - what about them? Why didn't anyone ever hear about any of this until last month? How would JoePa not know anything else about any other incidents or victims? He is the most powerful man in PA and runs State College. This is all one big cover up, and the general public has no idea about the layers of this story and the involvement of the entire PSU football staff and other State College bigwigs.

Anonymous said...

This article rings true to me. I think the press and most everyone else just ran with the inditemnent of Coach Paterno. I hope ALL the facts come out in this case and they are properly aired my the press. I also hope, but doubt, the press will own up to any mistakes they made. If they don't and Joe is cleared, I think he should sue everyone who contributed to tarnishing his good reputation. I doubt that Joe would ever sue Penn State, the institution for which he gave so much.

Anonymous said...

Nice defensive move, but you're praying to a false idol. It's not ALL the PSU people who are upset by Joe's firing. It's a small percentage of them. The large percentage of them, just for fun let's call them the 99%, simply want the truth to come out. Joe only said one thing: one damning thing - "In hindsight, I wish I did more." Since then, he has been silent. I'm waiting to fully understand what he meant by that, because so far, that is a very culpable statement. It certainly sounds like he knew, or at least strongly suspected, that Sandusky was a child molester who built a charity for underprivileged boys and used Penn State football to promote it. And Joe said "I wish I did more." Hmmm, Joe, say it ain't so? Why won't you, or your lawyer, say something like that?

StephieBe said...

Fantastic Post.

In regard to comments:

Unless you went to Penn State, go to Penn State, or are in any way affiliated with Penn State it would be who of you to keep your mouth shut.

I understand that you are upset (then again it has nothing to do with you) and so are we, but you have absolutely no idea what went on, none of us do.

We do NOT owe you an explanation as to why we love our University, nor do we owe you and explanation as to why we love Joe Paterno and what he has done for this school (if you went here you would know, of course).

You will never understand what this community is and why we stand behind the people we do, so please stop trying to understand and stop criticizing our stance. We will come out a stronger University and rather than criticizing our stance how about you act? Go volunteer with organizations against child abuse. There is work to be done here and rather than worrying about who we stand behind and why, how about you go do something? (I can provide a list of organizations if you’d like).

The truth will come out (and more than likely we will be the first to know as we go here, and all you have is ESPN and NBC) and we all will see who is right and who is wrong, and who should or shouldn’t be supported, but until then we DO NOT have to defend our ideas, opinions, and University to you, it is a bond we will never be able to explain and one you will only understand if you are here with us in Happy Valley.

Anonymous said...

Go post. I agree with you but it is hard to do so when you don't have your own facts straight and that is what you are accusing these journalists of. I am a Penn State student myself and I was downtown for those riots because I agree that there was a huge mistake made. This post would have been a lot strong if you looked somethings up though. Good job, people need to read this.

Anonymous said...

Please send this to ESPN and all of the other people who deserve to read this. Penn State, its students and Joe Paterno all deserve this posting to be brought to the media's attention, so they can get a big slap in the face. They have no consideration to how they are ruining a school's reputation over one person. We are so much better then that person and we always will be. But we want that to be recognized, and this could be the start.

Josh Macuga said...

I'm a Penn State graduate proud of my degree, my university and my football team. Joe Paterno did for Penn State University what Steve Jobs did for the information age... he was treated like a mob rat pushed into oblivion when he deserved a King's goodbye. It saddens me every day that a man with such virtuous ideals was damned for doing all he knew he could do. I hope that one day everyone sees the error and injustice they've promulgated.

JoePa Is My Hero said...

oh my god you are so right! If my child is raped, I hope JoePa is aware so that i'm sure the right steps are taken!

WTF does Syracuse, ESPN or a high school principal have anything to do with the FACT that children were raped and the PSU staff dropped the ball? This whole analogy you're making is insulting to child rape victims who should be able to count on people in positions of authority to understand their obligation to help

Aly Czap said...

Excellent post. Extremely well written. Extremely well said. Everyone should read this. The media should be completely ashamed of themselves, for they knew the truth, and spread lies and false information around, focusing on a man that did his job. The truth will eventually come out, and all that were involved and really didn't do anything, well, they'll get theirs. They made their bed, now it's time for them to lie in it.

Anonymous said...

I DON'T KNOW WHY WERE YELLING!!! LOUD NOISES!!!

ClB said...

This might possibly be the most poorly reasoned article I have read in a while. While you are right that ESPN hyped the JoePa thing and likely won't emphasize how it could have done more in the Syracuse case - this is just common sense and how journalism works - whether it be Fox, CNN, etc.

With regard to JoePa, you emphasize that he got a non-detailed report and reported it to "someone", which somehow seems to be hinting that JoePa did what he should have. What you completely fail to include is the context behind this. Sandusky is a guy who (i) JoePa had already had a likely very uncomfortable meeting with Sandusky a few years earlier where he basically said - you are fired because you do bad things with little boys and (ii) the police and prosecutors office had been investigating Sandusky for this. The fact that Sandusky didn't seek another coaching position also likely indicates the fact that JoePa said he wouldn't vouch for Sandusky to another school. With that context, pretty much any story with any amount of detail likely should have rung true to JoePa, let alone a "non-specific" story that had to do with Sandusky being naked with a boy in an empty locker room.

Your second problem is you try to somehow conflate (i) the fact that others were not fired following this scandal or were also in a position to make a report about the abuse but didn't with (ii) an intimation that JoePa is somehow less culpable or should be treated differently. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other, and even less so when you consider the amount of power JoePa had in the area. While anyone can grasp how uncomfortable it would have been for JoePa to make a report about someone he knew, the consequence of not making a report to the police is that you will have to pay the price if the story ever breaks - which it did here.

Interesting points about the ESPN situation which is rife with its own problems, but you are just completely ill reasoned on all the stuff about JoePa.

Marc Rubin said...

"..NOTHING happened at PSU regarding the athletic program that was not controlled by or cleared by "Coach.".

Unless Im mistaken nothing that Sandusky did was part of the Penn State athletic program.

Joe G. said...

Absolute garbage points. I could bring a tape of 2 people I hire off the street to ESPN or a local new outlet and say it is of 2 celebs or athletes. Audio is the most overrated form of evidence there is. Get off Paterno's nuts and move on, I would be ashamed of that school and all it has to offer. I also do not know what has transpired at Syracuse but I am pretty sure Boeheim would have handled it much differently than Paterno did.

Marc Rubin said...

"Indeed, and those dates are nowhere near 2002. They start in 2005-2006.."

I corrected the dates which had to be calculated from 2002 based on the mother's account of "a year after that.." etc. But last time I looked 2005 was, believe it or not, actually near 2002. You seem to be desperately grasping for straws.

Marc Rubin said...

"He did not comply with Penn State policy as of 2001 on reporting sexual abuse, as per the link above. That, and common sense."

What you claim makes no sense.He reported it to the administative head of Penn State campus police. Just becuase you would have to go in and ask to see a desk sargent doesnt mean Paterno did. And nowhere in any grand jury summary or statement coming from Penn State officials has anyone suggested Paterno violated any Penn State policy,or accused him of such including the grand jury AND the attorney general who said clearly that Paterno fullfilled ALL his legal responsiblities. I assume you understand that means reporting it to the proper authorities. I think the lack of common sense and knowledge of the law lies with you not Joe Paterno.

Marc Rubin said...

"Joe Paterno is a jerk. I know him. I have had to deal with his condescending, arrogant attitude. His wife is even worse! Do you know him or are you just another brainwashed fanboy? "

Sounds like Joe Paterno didnt think much of you either and that you know it.

Anonymous said...

I am a booster and I know a little more than most people. There is a lot not yet released. Joe wants to tell his side of the story. When the University cancelled the press conference it was because Joe wanted to talk and the university only wanted him to field questions about the upcoming game. Joe then tried to schedule a press conference at his home (off campus), but was advised by the university's attorneys not to or face legal actions.

When the smoke all clears on this it is going to resemble the Duke fiasco with regards to Joe.

Here is s sneak peak as to what will come out and what information has been told to me.

In 1998 Joe wanted Sandusky fired but the BOT refused to because there were no charges filed against Sandusky and they didn't want a lawsuit for wrongful termination. Joe forced Sandusky (one of the nation's leading DC) to retire. Sandusky's attorney negotiated his retirement package with the BOT and requested an on campus office and telephone line so he could still use his ties to Penn State to get donations for the second mile. The BOT granted this to him. This infuriated Joe and he addressed his concerns with the BOT who told him he didn't have the authority and it was a BOT decision.

In 2002 when then incident was reported to Joe, he told his boss the AD. Who told the director of the campus police. Curley and Schultz interviewed McQueary about the incident. Curley and Schultz deemed the incident as "horseplay" and did not do anything else. A few days later Joe contacted Curley and Schultz as to what was done. When not satisfied he contacted the university president and again demanded that Sandusky be banded from campus. He was once again told that he didn't have the authority. Still not satisfied he went to the BOT and was once again told that he did not have the authority to demand this and was told that Sandusky's access to the campus was part of his retirement pack and they didn't want any lawsuits. Joe was told to drop the matter. Joe dropped the matter. This is what Joe was referring to when he said "I should had done more"

In my opinion it is the BOT who is as much at fault here as anyone. I feel Joe should have been put on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation. However the BOT has been trying to get Joe out since 2004 and they took advantage of this opportunity and fired him. Think about it. Joe reported to his boss, his boss and the director of the campus police investigated and choose to do nothing and then lied about it to the Grand Jury and were arrested for perjury. However Curley still has his job, Schultz retired and the university is paying their legal fees but Joe gets fired??

And yes the media played a big part in this whole thing. Take a look at the article in SI regarding this matter. Sandusky is accused of molesting these children however there is not one photo of him. However there are 5 photos of Joe including the cover.

Before you attack my grammar or spelling I wrote this in my office at work and didn't have time to proof-read it.

Jules said...

If you (and others) think JoePa rose to the occassion in doing what he did to report the terrible abuse (as compared to the Syracuse situation) - then America has no moral leaders left. As an alum, JoePa accepted the god-like mantle that was placed upon him. In so doing his larger than life persona dictates that he should have and could have done more. I am embarassed by his lack of leadership and follow through. By repeating the statement from the grand-jury that JoePa waited until the "following" day to do anything speaks volumes...what was he doing in those 24 hours? One can only suppose....made a ton of phone calls and consulted with a hell of a lot of people on what he "should" do....he made a terrible choice by not going to everyone and anyone who would listen to save these children. He is a moral failure...plain and simple. I am happy he is gone.

Marc Rubin said...

" "a non-specific non detailed sanitized version of events from McQueary" - pretty amazing that you know the exact version that McQueary gave Paterno."

Thank you for missing the point. The point is, since you have missed it is I dont know what McQueary told Paterno and NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE. Yet there are all these assumptions that that McQueary told Paterno what he witnessed in the shower. My use of the term "non-specific " is quoting Joe Paterno which is an actual source for what I wrote as opposed to the news media who have NO sources for what they assume.

In addition, when Paterno says he was given a "non-specific" account which had "none of the details" that McQueary gave to the grand jury I believe him until something comes along to prove otherwise. And you might also be reminded that no one including McQueary, the prosecutor, the grand jury or anyone else has disputed Paterno's version of what he was told.

Amazing that you didnt get all this. Actually, its not so amazing after all.

pennst8rrr said...

Repost this article on ESPN's page

Anonymous said...

Thank you for finally, finally, putting into words what so many of us here at Penn State have been feeling. Well done, great perspective

Marc Rubin said...

"What came out via the grand jury report is that he only went to the AD, and did so a few days later. "

Other people have pointed out constantly and I will do so again that the grand jury "report" as you put it, is NOT a report it is a SUMMARY meaning it is not evidence, it does contain every single fact pertinent or otherwise or every piece of evidence presented to the grand jury, but only SUMMARIZES the salient points regarding an indictment of others, none of which concerned Paterno. It is not intended or designed to try and defend Paterno against anything or to explain or detail his actions or account for them in any specific detail.

Anonymous said...

But Marc, you said that he reported it to the head of campus police when he actually reported it only to the AD...and did so a couple of days later. You have other false info in here too. You are just as bad as the reporters. And again, your assertion that college kids have some uncanny ability to sense right and wrong (reason they rioted) is absurd.

Marc Rubin said...

"More BS from Rubin...

The widely circulated stipulation before Paterno's presser was NO questions on Sandusky, ONLY questions about Nebraska game."

More BS or sheer ignorance or stupidty or all three from Mr. Anonymous. I personally was watching ESPN when they announced that Paterno was going to use the pre-game press conference to tell everything he knew and what he had been told by McQueary and I was also watching when they announced that the trustees cancelled the press conference and said it wouldnt be rescheduled.

What you think you know and $2 couldnt get you on a bus in New York because you'd be short .50c

Anonymous said...

You make some great points, but they do not seem to lead you to the correct conclusion. When we as adults see or hear about anything involving the questionable treatment of a minor, you call the police, FIRST, they will investigate that is what they do. You do not report it up the food chain. Sorry, I liked Joe too, but he is not guilt free here. Did he break the law.....no, but if it were your kid how would that sit with you.

Storm said...

As a Penn State Alumni - he does not get a pass! Are you aware the former President Graham Spanier wrote his doctoral dissertation on "Sexual socialization and premarital sexual behavior : an empirical investigation of the impact of formal and informal sex education". Maybe Spanier was gathering data on informal sexual education to minor boys? He was the President for 16 years (average length of time Pres stay at a college is 8.5 yrs) - I sense their was more then Sandusky doing things. I don't expect the truth to come out if PA people are involved in the investigations. Have you seen the picture of the "Sandusky blitz" ice cream special (that is off the menu now)? The banana flavored ice cream with chocolate covered peanuts and carmel swirl - involves 3 scoops of ice cream (forming a triangle) and a cone on top of one of the scoops (rather phallic looking wouldn't you say). That being said it's hard to imagine some people didn't have any inkling of what was happening. The person running the program had to be privy to it - sorry. JoPa is human - not perfect - stop idolizing him - the higher you rise the greater you fall.

Marc Rubin said...

"This blogpost (blogrant?) seems to really miss the mark. Not only is it patently biased, rife with typos, and lacking in named sources.."

Really? lacking in named sources? This is pretty funny coming from someone who signs their comment "anonymous".

Like they say, you can't make this stuff up.

Anonymous said...

Of course they cancelled it, moron! The school's reputation was already in jeopardy. You think they wanted more stuff coming out?

What's that have to do with my previous post anyways? The fact of the matter is you have false statements in here, many of them. And you're using way too much of your theatrical side. College kids know right and wrong. Rofl. Save that for your other job.

Anonymous said...

Your title sucks too - painting him as some sort of hero. Seriously, are you just trying to make a movie script... a badly over dramatized one?

Marc Rubin said...

"How do we get the media to change to be more accountable?"

Great question and the answer is the only way that matters to them -- the pocketbook. If morals or standards of fact or journalism mattered we wouldnt be talking about this.

One way to start is with the Daily News that published Paterno's picture with the word "shame". Boycott the paper and its web site since ad revenue is based on hits. Also letting advertisers know that there will be an organized boycott against their goods and services as long as they keep advertising in the paper at least until those responsible for the irresponsible reporting are fired.

Disney is the parent company of ESPN. Letters or calls to them protesting the same irresponsible journalism from ESPN will definitely have an effect. If you think they dont care youre wrong. They do.

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