<p>For all we know, Curley may have told the family his defense and he may be protecting himself and Paterno, the same way he protected PSU all those years. </p>
<p>And how Paterno could be told by McQueary Sandusky did something “sexual” and “wrong” with a minor and not know he was a pedophile is beyond me. </p>
<p>As for the family, wishing something true doesn’t make it so.</p>
<p>As much as the family wants it to be one way, I do not think releasing statements is helpful. It just makes more questions.</p>
<p>“Joe Paterno did not cover up for Jerry Sandusky. Joe Paterno did not know that Jerry Sandusky was a pedophile.”</p>
<p>Yeah, back to the idiot-child defense.</p>
<p>Why is that friggin statue still standing?</p>
<p>Maybe when the report comes out? Many of them (at PSU) will be in it, so we will see!</p>
<p>Slightly off-topic, but here is a student-generated movement in reaction to the problem: I thought the wording was well-chosen, in that it addresses showing the rest of the country that PSU students “get it” and also addresses the idea of making the community itself more inhospitable to bad behavior. I am not wording this very well. Too early</p>
<p>[Blue</a> Out Penn State | Stop Child Abuse!](<a href=“http://wp.tlt.psu.edu/blueout/]Blue”>http://wp.tlt.psu.edu/blueout/)</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, greenbutton.</p>
<p>[Scout.com:</a> Joe Paterno Defends PSU Football](<a href=“http://pennstate.scout.com/2/1201534.html]Scout.com:”>http://pennstate.scout.com/2/1201534.html)</p>
<p>Onward State has published a letter written by Joe Paterno the month before his death, to the football team members; it apparently was released by the family this morning. Presented without comment, verbatim.</p>
<p>Oh my. I don’t blame the Paterno family for wanting to make Joe Paterno’s heartfelt statement public, but I think having waited this long they probably should have waited at least another day to see what Judge Freeh says. And then decided whether and when to release this.</p>
<p>Agreed JHS. I also thought they should not have released the statement grrenbutton linked</p>
<p>I believe the Paterno family is still very insulated from how the rest of the country is feeling.</p>
<p>They have made many statements since the grand jury report came out that would not have been made if they had a better understanding of the pulse of this story. </p>
<p>I thought this would improve when they started using an attorney other than their son but apparently they are not getting very good counsel.</p>
<p>Greenbutton, thanks. I think that his statement perfectly sums up how he treated this situation. Unless my copy was missing a few paragraphs, there was not one word about the victims in this mess. It was all about Penn state and Penn State football and the players and them.</p>
<p>For the last 40 years or so, Joe Paterno would periodically tell everyone what to think, and at least in State College pretty much everyone would think what he told them to. And the people who disagreed didn’t last too long in State College. I’m sure it was hard for Paterno, before he died, and for his family still, to imagine a world where his words no longer have that kind of authority.</p>
<p>The Paterno family issued a statement this afternoon —they affirm that the op-ed piece (apparently that’s what Joe had in mind) was written by Paterno, but the family did not release it. Apparently one of the players to whom it was sent did that.</p>
<p>“It was all about Penn state and Penn State football and the players and them.”</p>
<p>He wasn’t great with players when their very lives were threatened either. He was all about JoePa.</p>
<p>Tomorrow’s report release and news conference is going to be covered by Harrisburg’s NPR station, WITF. There will surely be many news outlets with the story, but here’s one that will have a local flavor. They do a very nice job.</p>
<p>[Live</a> audio, video and interactive coverage of Freeh report - witf.org](<a href=“http://www.witf.org/regional-a-state-news/live-audio-video-and-interactive-coverage-of-freeh-report]Live”>http://www.witf.org/regional-a-state-news/live-audio-video-and-interactive-coverage-of-freeh-report)</p>
<p>Paterno’s defense of PSU football certainly seems odd in light of where things are now, particularly where he refers to the allegations. Obviously he was hoping for a different outcome to those allegations himself, one where all of the denials, and indignation at being held accountable would be believed…</p>
<p>Son, Jay Paterno, is doing a preemptive interview tomorrow morning on the Today show.</p>
<p>He’s defending the family fortune.</p>
<p>Hadn’t noticed this until now. How is Spanier continuing to deny that he was ever told of child sexual abuse. </p>
<p>The statement released by Mr. Spanier’s attorneys Tuesday said: “Selected leaks, without the full context, are distorting the public record and creating a false picture. At no time in the more than 16 years of his presidency at Penn State was Dr. Spanier told of an incident involving Jerry Sandusky that described child abuse, sexual misconduct or criminality of any kind, and he reiterated that during his interview with Louis Freeh and his colleagues.”</p>
<p>Read more: [Freeh</a> report on Penn State to be released Thursday - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](<a href=“http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/freeh-report-on-penn-state-to-be-released-thursday-644185/#ixzz20NTaZbwF]Freeh”>http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/freeh-report-on-penn-state-to-be-released-thursday-644185/#ixzz20NTaZbwF)</p>