<p>Wow. that poor kid. Just one outrage after another. this is just so wrong in so many ways. It’s a never ending disappointment to hear how people can behave.</p>
<p>I was really trying to keep an open mind and not blame “football culture.” I do believe these kinds of things can happen in any organization which loses touch with what is really important.</p>
<p>But, I am now of the revised opinion, regardless of who was guilty of what, that the entire town and area is in dire need for the football program to stop for a while, and for a new set of values to be brought in.</p>
<p>Paterno should go to that school and speak to those kids about this. That might set a new tone. If he has the integrity he’s supposed to have, that is what he would do. He would value the kids above himself at this point. It’s up to him, even if he doesn’t talk about the scandal, to get out there and talk about how much more important it is to value and respect each other than to value a football game. this is my considered opinion about what a truly heroic man worthy of a bronze statue would do.</p>
<p>sax,of course as you point out the DA had many cases other than Sandusky, but the article indicates that though the bust was a big deal, it was a small amount and they did not appear to think that was the reason for his disappearance. from your earlier post…</p>
<p>“He was in the midst of being a part of the largest drug ring bust in central PA history – a heroin deal,” Tony Gricar said. “But it was a [small] amount compared to anywhere else, so there was no point to off a prosecutor or, as some have speculated, for him to go into witness protection.”</p>
<p>it may still be completely unrelated to the PSU scandal, but since the article written in 1/2011 seemed to still see his disappearance as a mystery, who knows. imho, it sounded more like a suicide given the brother’s very similar disappearance which turned out to be a suicide.</p>
<p>“Paterno should go to that school and speak to those kids about this. That might set a new tone. If he has the integrity he’s supposed to have, that is what he would do. He would value the kids above himself at this point.”</p>
<p>We’ll see if he has either the guts or the integrity.</p>
<p>“But, I am now of the revised opinion, regardless of who was guilty of what, that the entire town and area is in dire need for the football program to stop for a while, and for a new set of values to be brought in.”</p>
<p>That’s pretty idealistic. One could say the same thing about Wall Street.</p>
<p>My husband is a trader and he DOES say the same thing about the alliance between what people mean by “wall street” and the FED. Many traders do, actually.</p>
<p>A special on NBC starting now about the whole thing</p>
<p>way to stay classy Happy Valley. Seriously the worship of Div 1 football has warped that place. I really question if any true benefit comes from it when all is said and done.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>And one would be right in both cases.</p>
<p>As for Mr. Bronze Statue, he was the one man who could have stopped the “riot” and he didn’t. Does anyone really think he will do the right thing and condemn the bullying? Tell those kids there are more important things than Penn State football? When pigs fly.</p>
<p>[Joe</a> Paterno Fought Penn State Official Over Punishment of Football Players - WSJ.com](<a href=“Joe Paterno Fought Penn State Official Over Punishment of Football Players - WSJ”>Joe Paterno Fought Penn State Official Over Punishment of Football Players - WSJ)</p>
<p>The real JoePa</p>
<p>It’s time for Universities with major college football programs to make a decision-either the programs and students are apart of the University and abide by the same academic and social standards as all the other kids, or you say listen our sports programs operate on a different standard. Many of these kids would not get the opportunity for a college education without sports, and many are here simply to prepare themselves for what they hope will be a lucrative professional career. The football program helps fund all our other sports programs and it positively impacts alumni loyalty and those are good things. Just be honest though-the gig is up about what most of these programs are all about.</p>
<p>Fascinating story. I found this particularly interesting …</p>
<p>“Dr. Triponey also wrote that Mr. Paterno believed that the school’s code of conduct should not apply to any incidents that take place off campus—that those should be handled by police—and they shouldn’t be allowed to affect anyone’s status as a student.”</p>
<p>For those who have indicated to me that I am being silly for not wanting to send my child to PSU because of the culture in that place - this article really brings it home. This is NOT by any stretch of the imagination an isolated incident. And I do not want my child in harms way, and have to depend on the school adminsitration or police, if - god forbid the football team involved./</p>
<p>I will admit to being shocked by this article. I truly did not realize Paterno had quite that much clout in terms of discipline and other matters. He basically appointed himself King of all things that touched the football program, players or staff in any way. Everyone else be damned!</p>
<p>SM74, thanks for posting that article. I have to agree with momofa12, it does really point to the much bigger problem within PSU that needs to be fixed, not just in the football program.
My biggest red flag to the article is the fact that PSU has the highest graduation rate amoung football players with no NCAA sanctions. I wonder if there will be instances of grade tampering too?? I hope not, but it seems that so much has been swept under the rug that it is possible.</p>
<p>I knew JoePa was king, but that story is just plain scary.</p>
<p>momof, early on I would have scoffed at the idea of not sending a kid to what seems to be a fine school academically because of this scandal – not because I didn’t think there was corruption; I was sure there was. But even I am surprised by the extent to which Paterno was able to wield his power while continuing to be praised for his “clean” program. Now, all things being equal academically when choosing a school, there is definitely enough information being uncovered that would make me tip the scale in favor of the other college.</p>
<p>ETA: And the program only appears “clean” because all the dirt is being swept under the rug.</p>
<p>And really you have hit what I was trying to say. All things being equal, as a mother interested only in the welfare of my child, I would prefer if she chose a place that does not have this aura/history/reputation. I have heard stories for years, and BELIEVE ME I know that it happens at many other places besides PSU, about what football players (or really stars of any sport) are permitted to get away with. I look at the tragedy of the Yeardley Love case - and what can potentially happen. I just have to hope and pray that this will make the administrators of our children’s education and welfare, understand that sports can not rule.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Those of you who were referring to Curley (the Athletic Director) as Joe Paterno’s “boss” should make certain to read the text of his e-mail included in the article. The tone is unmistakably that of a Chamberlain anticipating His Majesty’s moods.</p></li>
<li><p>Nice that Graham Spanier said he would choose his dean over Paterno in a dispute. Stand up guy! Too bad that a week later the dean was gone, her replacement was doing exactly what Paterno wanted, and Spanier was still the president. Apparently the choice wasn’t his to make.</p></li>
<li><p>Let’s not go overboard. Penn State has tens of thousands of students, many of whom enjoy watching football, but few of whom ever have meaningful contact with any football player or coach. Getting hysterical about football culture at Penn State both overestimates the impact of football on the students and lets everyone else off the hook for issues that only tangentially involve football. Joe Paterno’s poor attitude towards discipline didn’t make Penn State generally unsafe for everyone else, and firing him, however justified that is, won’t solve any actual problems.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And to point 3. of jhs’ post, unfortunately MANY or MOST colleges and universities have to deal with the complexity of who and how to discipline students and staff. It is the nature of the beast that is a huge self-contained world. </p>
<p>I think of a campus of a very special kind of village or town. It is interesting to think about how differently campuses are run and codified than our towns, however.</p>
<p>As poetgrl and I have been saying, the separate jurisdictional aspect of the “campus” creates issues with safety, security, reputation, transparency and rights. Is the Law of our land being applied and enforced at all levels on college campuses? </p>
<p>Obviously, the situation at PSU took this set of characteristics and let them blow up way out of proportion… The Vatican, anyone? Now, that is very very unfortunate.</p>