What is your major malfuction?!?!

[Lilavati]

i'm going to go out on a limb and say you could poll almost every former Penn State football player, and you'd have an overwhelming majority of players that would give the majority of credit to their on field and off the field success to Joe Paterno. and be proud to say so.

Just because the players also drank the Kool-Aid doesn't make it true.

Look, I'm not saying the guy wasn't a great coach. I know nothing about football, but if there's anything people are agreeing on, it was that he was, in fact, a great coach. But he didn't do it by himself, and his departure doesn't mean the end of their football program . . . unless they make it that way. If they think they can't do without him, then, well, perhaps they can't.

But this response by the student body and certain members of the public stikes me as so bizarre that its creepy.

 

[Jules]

I agree with Taqroy.

This society basically hunts down everyone whose name has ever been tainted in the least bit with child molestation (as it should), unless your some big sports guy. Hmmm. If only I was famous.. I could be responsible for the torture and killing of dogs, I could cover for child molesters, and the public would STILL love me. What the **** (in imaginary capital letters) is wrong with us?! The message that we are sending is horrifying. How DO we tell kids confidently to talk to someone if a person of authority touches them inappropriately, when we are setting examples like this?

 

[PWCorgi]

But this response by the student body and certain members of the public stikes me as so bizarre that its creepy.

Have you ever been to the campus? Or hung out with PSU fans? It IS creepy!
Although the state as a whole is good at being ridiculous about sports (hello, Eagles anyone? They have JAIL CELLS inside their stadium!)

 

[release the hounds]

Just because the players also drank the Kool-Aid doesn't make it true.

Look, I'm not saying the guy wasn't a great coach. I know nothing about football, but if there's anything people are agreeing on, it was that he was, in fact, a great coach. But he didn't do it by himself, and his departure doesn't mean the end of their football program . . . unless they make it that way. If they think they can't do without him, then, well, perhaps they can't.

But this response by the student body and certain members of the public stikes me as so bizarre that its creepy.

because they drank the kool-aid???? wtf is that supposed to mean. if you've never been a part of something like that, i guess you wouldn't understand. There are lots of coaches, and a lot of players that dont' really hold them in to high of regard.

Then there are coaches like Paterno, and Lombardi, who's players give thanks their entire lives that they were priviledged enough to be a part of that. Very successful not only in sports, but outside and contribute their success to knowing and learning from people like that. If that's drinking kool-aid, maybe more people should.

Something else that's very creepy, that a guy molsted little kids, and 28 year old man saw it and walked away and called his dad, the police were notified years before and did nothing, a mother and parents of molested children, confronted the sandusky and still let their kids be a part of his organization and be around the man, an AD covered things up and all sorts of people did things wrong, but all anybody can talk about is Joe Paterno, a man who's involvement at this point seems to be pretty small.

Kind of bizzare when you can go to any news site, any message boards from dogs to sports, to knitting most likely and find Joe Paterno is dominating everything. How are the people indulging in that any different than those sticking up for the man?????

 

[Lilavati]

because they drank the kool-aid???? wtf is that supposed to mean. if you've never been a part of something like that, i guess you wouldn't understand. There are lots of coaches, and a lot of players that dont' really hold them in to high of regard.

Then there are coaches like Paterno, and Lombardi, who's players give thanks their entire lives that they were priviledged enough to be a part of that. Very successful not only in sports, but outside and contribute their success to knowing and learning from people like that. If that's drinking kool-aid, maybe more people should.

Something else that's very creepy, that a guy molsted little kids, and 28 year old man saw it and walked away and called his dad, the police were notified years before and did nothing, a mother and parents of molested children, confronted the sandusky and still let their kids be a part of his organization and be around the man, an AD covered things up and all sorts of people did things wrong, but all anybody can talk about is Joe Paterno, a man who's involvement at this point seems to be pretty small.

Kind of bizzare when you can go to any news site, any message boards from dogs to sports, to knitting most likely and find Joe Paterno is dominating everything. How are the people indulging in that any different than those sticking up for the man?????

I actually have no idea of the answer to that. I'm responding to people rioting on his behalf . . . until I read that, I wasn't very interested in him myself. After all, he's just one of a number of people who did absolutely nothing (besides pass the buck), including the young man who witnessed it (and the janitor, who saw a different incident). However, once people start rioting to defend the guy, I pay attention.

And by drank the kool-aid, I mean bought the story. It seems to be that the man has been essentially deified by Penn State and his fans. It seems to me that no matter how great a coach he is, he did not do it alone. Perhaps that's the reason he's getting so much attention . . . as far as people are concerned, he IS Penn State football and therefore is the central figure in any story that involves Penn State football. (Edit: And my point is, he's NOT the living embodiment of Penn State football. There are dozens, hundreds, of other people who have made it what it is. To give him all the credit is to deny everyone else the credit they deserve. The world's best coach can't make a team a winner if they aren't talented and driven)

Frankly, I'd never heard of the guy before this story broke, and until people started rioting, he was just one more person who did nothing and should lose his job. But when people throw things at cops and overturn news trucks in his defense, well, I wonder what the hayseed is wrong with them.

 

[Renee750il]

"All that is required for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."

 

[Miakoda]

"All that is required for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."

Amen.

Paterno should have alerted the police to this matter. He should have confronted Sandusky in this matter. He should have put him on leave until it was resolved.

And according to one of his former players, he should've "knocked Sandusky the f**k out" (as quoted off of ESPN news on Sirius XM).

 

[release the hounds]

Amen.

Paterno should have alerted the police to this matter. He should have confronted Sandusky in this matter. He should have put him on leave until it was resolved.

And according to one of his former players, he should've "knocked Sandusky the f**k out" (as quoted off of ESPN news on Sirius XM).

Sandusky wasn't an employee at the time Paterno was made aware. He hadn't been an employee since 98 or 99

BTW, the person that actually witnessed this happen, is still working for the university. How many know his name?

 

[Renee750il]

Actually, NOT reporting a known incidence of abuse to a minor is a crime. Everyone from the grad student to the admins is culpable.

 

[Lilavati]

Sandusky wasn't an employee at the time Paterno was made aware. He hadn't been an employee since 98 or 99

BTW, the person that actually witnessed this happen, is still working for the university. How many know his name?

His name is Mike McQueary. He has a lot of explaining to do; I suspect he still has his job only because he testified in front of the grand jury.

He wasn't an employee, but he had emeritus rights and spent a lot of time on campus.

 

[cliffdog]

I am a die-hard University of Alabama college football fan. During the football season, every bit of my life that doesn't go to the dogs revolves around football. It is a huge part of my life to the point of obsession.

Much of my team's success in recent years is due to Nick Saban. He is my hero. Nick Saban is like a religion in our household.

If the same thing had happened at Alabama, I would be calling for Nick's resignation. I don't care if our football program collapsed. This kind of thing cannot go unpunished. I think the people who are supporting Paterno are morally bankrupt. To suggest that this guy should get no punishment, because you don't want your stupid football team to suffer, is just wrong.

 

[Fran101]

I go to UCONN, we have the number ONEcollege basketball team in the nation. We won the national championship, basketball is a religion around here.
I am a huge fan. It's great to have school spirit and we have an amazing coach.

but excuse me, I don't care how many games we won, if I found out our coach was doing that to children, I would hope they threw him out on his ass.

I don't care if because of the fact that he left, we would never ever win another game ever again (which is ridiculous, the players are the one playing), I WOULD STILL hope that guy rots in hell and is never associated with our school ever again.

This is not a professor having sex with a 20 year old for an A in the class.
THESE ARE CHILDREN innocent children being VIOLATED and people are really trying to make a fuss about the SPORTS TEAM?! WHO CARES ABOUT A SPORTS TEAM IN COMPARISON TO A CHILDS LIFE?!

I have pride in my school and pride in the game and our legacy.
but I don't think winning is more important that being a decent human being.

 

[Lilavati]

I go to UCONN, we have the number ONEcollege basketball team in the nation. We won the national championship, basketball is a religion around here.
I am a huge fan. It's great to have school spirit and we have an amazing coach.

but excuse me, I don't care how many games we won, if I found out our coach was doing that to children, I would hope they threw him out on his ass.

I don't care if because of the fact that he left, we would never ever win another game ever again (which is ridiculous, the players are the one playing), I WOULD STILL hope that guy rots in hell and is never associated with our school ever again.

This is not a professor having sex with a 20 year old for an A in the class.
THESE ARE CHILDREN innocent children being VIOLATED and people are really trying to make a fuss about the SPORTS TEAM?! WHO CARES ABOUT A SPORTS TEAM IN COMPARISON TO A CHILDS LIFE?!

I have pride in my school and pride in the game and our legacy.
but I don't think winning is more important that being a decent human being.

To be 100% fair, the man whose firing is so controversial, Paterno, is not accused of molesting anyone. He's accused of being aware that another coach, whom he worked with for many years, was molesting children.

 

[Fran101]

To be 100% fair, the man whose firing is so controversial, Paterno, is not accused of molesting anyone. He's accused of being aware that another coach, whom he worked with for many years, was molesting children.

tomatoe-tomatoh
By knowingly allowing it to go on.. he's just as guilty.

 

[sparks19]

I'm sorry. I don't follow penn state or anything but I'm a little disturbed by how Paterno is being totally villified.

it's not like he saw it happen and was like "Mh I won't say anything" and went about his day. it wasn't like he encouraged it.

He heard a rumor and reported it to his superior. Should he have called the police? sure but it's not like he did nothing at all and just turned a blind eye. he didn't.

I don't think he's a horrible human being or the scum of the earth and it actually REALLY sickens me that he's getting a worse rap than the guy who actually raped these kids. I think he's just a guy who made a bad decision.

should he pay a price for that? sure... but people are basically ready to spit on his grave and I find that a little disturbing in itself all because he reported it to his superiors and not to the police. Do you think he honestly knew how bad it was? he heard a report from someone ELSE that someone was fondled in the shower... he took that to his superior and expected them to handle it. was that the wrong course of action? it seems now it was. But I don't think he had the intention of seeing it go unresolved. He probably didn't expect his superiors to not do anything about it. a bad decision not going to the police himself but worthy of this sudden hatred and comparing him to someone who actually raped the children himself? That's a bit outrageous to me.

 

[Lilavati]

I'm sorry. I don't follow penn state or anything but I'm a little disturbed by how Paterno is being totally villified.

it's not like he saw it happen and was like "Mh I won't say anything" and went about his day. it wasn't like he encouraged it.

He heard a rumor and reported it to his superior. Should he have called the police? sure but it's not like he did nothing at all and just turned a blind eye. he didn't.

I don't think he's a horrible human being or the scum of the earth and it actually REALLY sickens me that he's getting a worse rap than the guy who actually raped these kids. I think he's just a guy who made a bad decision.

should he pay a price for that? sure... but people are basically ready to spit on his grave and I find that a little disturbing in itself all because he reported it to his superiors and not to the police. Do you think he honestly knew how bad it was? he heard a report from someone ELSE that someone was fondled in the shower... he took that to his superior and expected them to handle it. was that the wrong course of action? it seems now it was. But I don't think he had the intention of seeing it go unresolved. He probably didn't expect his superiors to not do anything about it. a bad decision not going to the police himself but worthy of this sudden hatred and comparing him to someone who actually raped the children himself? That's a bit outrageous to me.

I don't hate him. And I don't think its as bad as raping the children himself. No where near as bad. But to be clear, he did not hear "a rumor." A trusted subordinate came to him and told him that he had personally witnessed another coach raping a little boy in the shower. Considering Paterno's relationship to McQeary, which seems to have been (and is) quite close, he almost certainly believed him. He then reported it to his superiors. And nothing happened. For years. But the alleged rapist was still around, and was quite publicly involved with children.

Paterno is pretty low on the people I blame actually. We have the rapist himself (Sandusky), the college president (the buck stopped there), McQaery, who has yet to explain why he did not immediately intervene (he was a much younger man, he could easily have overpowered Sandusky) or at least call the police (instead of his father), Curley, the athletic director (Paterno's superior) and THEN Paterno.

However, people are RIOTING because the man was fired. As well he should have been. I'd be pretty upset if he were not. This was not an allegation of sexual impropriety. It is not a "sex scandal" as some of the press is calling it. It is an allegation of the brutal rape of a child, made at the time by a reliable witness. But I don't really hate him. I don't care about him much at all . . . except that other people care so much, enough to get violent, and THAT I do care about. Quite a bit. Something is seriously rotten at Penn State.

 

[Fran101]

I am reading all kinds of different stories.
I read that he saw FIRST HAND what was going on.

If not.. then I withdraw my opinion.. there is a big difference between SEEING IT/KNOWING IT FOR SURE and allowing it to happen, and hearing it from somebody else. It seems that he did do the right thing and went to a superior

It's not like he simply kept it to himself or did nothing..

to not immediately call the police on something you don't know for certain, especially something like THAT (with the potential to ruin somebodys career/personal life)... I think is understandable..

*shrug* I think people need to get their stories straight. I've been hearing about this from students/teachers all day long and it seems there is some confusion as to what exactly happened.

 

[Beanie]

What Paterno is guilty of is hearing a report and telling the university about it. Authorities have said "he fulfilled his legal obligations." But to some that is not enough. To some it would not be enough unless he had gone after Sandusky with a butcher knife and castrated him so "enough" is going to vary. He did NOT however do NOTHING as many people keep saying... even authorities agree that he did what he was legally obligated to do.

McQuery still has his job because nobody knows who he is even though he is the one who SAW IT HAPPEN and he literally walked away. Paterno heard the hearsay later and reported it to the university who apparently quickly covered everything up. Paterno was fired so it would look like Penn State was "doing something" about it... firing McQueary wouldn't achieve that since nobody knows who he is. DOING SOMETHING?? They should have DONE SOMETHING back when you heard the report. To the actual RAPIST.
Paterno is a scapegoat plain and simple and I 100% agree with sparks that the vilification is ridiculous.

Rioting because he was fired is also ridiculous, but it's not like Paterno told them to riot. In fact he came out of his house where they were gathering and asked them to go home!

I think Fran brings an excellent example of why this IS sad to a guy who is the winningist coach in NCAA football... people are going to hear all kinds of the wrong things, and nobody is going to remember SANDUSKY was the one who actually raped those kids. It's all about frickin' Paterno.

 

[Psyfalcon]

Every article I've read firmly places the largest blame on Sandusky, and mentions him by name. That is not being ignored, and it is now in the court system.

Paterno was involved in a cover up. Yes, he went to his (nominal) superiors but did nothing else when they screwed up. If its not a legal failing, it is certainly a moral failing to ignore it. Sandusky was still using the facilities well after he was witnessed. Everyone including Paterno and his grad assistant stood by for years even as he came and went.

 

[Psyfalcon]

...McQaery, who has yet to explain why he did not immediately intervene (he was a much younger man, he could easily have overpowered Sandusky) or at least call the police (instead of his father)...

I'll agree, though there are a few mitigating circumstances. He was 28, he should have done something about it. Still, he was a player under Sandusky from 93-97. I can see why he freaked out, most of the players really liked their coaches, but it was still a major failing to not bypass the coverup.