<p>My guess is that the response from the board was upon the (probably vocal and highly insistent) advice of legal counsel. In fact, I’m pretty dang sure it was. This will not end here for the university.</p>
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<p>For starters, let me share that I really love college football and love watching the games on Saturday. Watching the touchdown runs by Vince Young in the Rose Bowl will stay with me forever. Just as plenty of other great plays. </p>
<p>However, a bit of perspective is also needed. Football is part of many colleges. At some a bigger part than at others. It should, however, NOT be what defines an institution of higher learning. Coach Paterno was (or is) an icon at Penn State and represents PSU … football. The fact that this could be considered as being PSU is simply a statement of misguided priorities. Just as there is a lot more than Coach K at Duke, there OUGHT to be a lot more at PSU than a excessive adulation for a long term coach. </p>
<p>In the end, what does all this outrage amounts to? What difference is there for a coach to retire on Novermber 8th or on January 8th? A few more victories to pad a record of half a century? One more discussion about a Bowl or a Big 10 championship? Those are nothing more than records that will be forgotten in a few weeks. </p>
<p>Was it about salvaging a reputation? That could have been accomplished by THE MAN himself. He could have stepped aside, asked to be relieved of his public functions, asked a leave of absence, asked for a medical release … all possibilities that would have been granted as long as it meant to NOT lead the PSU football team on the field this week. </p>
<p>In the end, there were two failures: the first one to look for an easy way out by punting the problem away and NOT asking the right questions to expose the inevitable scandal, and the second one to fail to understand the enormity of the first failure and believe that gridiron records were all that mattered at Penn State.</p>
<p>Both failures are truly saddening. PSU students might want to revisit their priorities and, perhaps, redirect their outrage to the football program and to the administrators who made the wrong choices and conspire to maintain an illusion of honor and integrity.</p>
<p>The legal processes will go on and will, as usual, deliver a fair dosis of justice. However, what was wrong and what could have been done is sufficiently clear.</p>
<p>Without any way excusing his behavior, Sandusky was a sick man who did sick things. Yes - we all wish he could have controlled his compulsions. And we are all pleased that he’ll likely spend the rest of his life behind bars where he will not endanger others. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that he is sick.</p>
<p>Paterno and company have no such excuses.</p>
<p>Here’s my best guess on what probably happened in 1998: there was a recognition that Sandusky had a “problem” with being around young boys. He may even have admitted it (what he said on the wiretap suggests this)–but he probably claimed that he hadn’t really done anything wrong, that the incident involved there was isolated and misunderstood, etc., etc., etc. “We worked out together, and showered together, which I know looks bad and I shouldn’t do, but etc. etc. etc.” The prosecutor didn’t want to pursue it. The people at Penn State believed that nobody with this kind of “problem” could keep on coaching there–but they liked the guy, and maybe believed what he told them, and didn’t completely cut him off. They don’t hear anything else about this until 2002–and this is where I’d like to know more facts to even make a speculation as to what they were thinking. I do know, though, that people have an amazing capacity to convince themselves that they are doing the right thing.</p>
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I agree with this–indeed, it would have made it more possible for him to rehabilitate his image if his version of the story is different enough from what’s been released. Now, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to do that no matter what he says.</p>
<p>The students do not know what to do.They have no leadership right now. They are aching for it.</p>
<p>Many kids gathered in the streets. A few took it upon themselves to become destructive. I have read many numbers for last night. I have watched video. Most of these kids were walking around trying to get a handle on what was going on. We are …Penn State is not just a football chant. It is a unifying phrase. They are in this together.</p>
<p>It looks like they may have a “blue out” for the football game. T shirts saying stop child abuse and all profits to go to charity. The students are reeling. The school leadership has crumbled from the top.</p>
<p>Dont kick them when they are down. </p>
<p>Penn State students run the biggest philanthropic event in the WORLD. Giving millions of dollars every year to fight childhood cancer. Give them a break here. Its a great school with great kids. There are always some who are just looking for a reason to start trouble. There are at least 35,000 kids there right now. The great majority acting well.</p>
<p>BTW, I have some direct experience in this type of litigation (in another state) and the administration (and uni) could well be in for a world of hurt. Again. This will not end well for the uni and closing the barn door after the cows are gone helps very little.</p>
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<p>Isn’t the lesson from this that leadership for a university shouldn’t come from a stadium?</p>
<p>[Penn</a> State coach Joe Paterno still could face legal trouble - St. Petersburg Times](<a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/penn-state-coach-joe-paterno-still-could-face-legal-trouble/1200845]Penn”>http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/penn-state-coach-joe-paterno-still-could-face-legal-trouble/1200845)</p>
<p>“…Penn State has liability, and all those individuals — the vice president, the athletic director, the president, Paterno — they all could find themselves in a RICO lawsuit,” Florin said.“…”</p>
<p>cartera, Well said.</p>
<p>Penn State did the right thing. Letting Paterno finish out the season was impossible, even if he couldn’t see that. I feel badly for the man but I feel far worse for the victims.</p>
<p>"On the “Mike and Mike” show on ESPN yesterday (Wednesday) morning, they talked to a man that claimed to be a childhood friend of McQueary. This man claimed that McQueary was a friend of one of Sandusky’s children and that they grew up together.</p>
<p>Has anyone seen anything anywhere that corroborates this?"</p>
<p>Yes, earilier on this thread.</p>
<p>sax, I do feel sorry for the Penn State students. I’m sure they are really confused and upset. It is good to hear that the students are thinking of doing something positive in all this that will benefit a child abuse charity. My younger son attended a volleyball summer camp at Penn State in 2008 and loved it. It is a great school and the whole thing is very sad on many levels.</p>
<p>Cartera. I was not suggesting Paterno/ football is the students only leader at all. They have lost the president of the university and the board of directors is in a shamble. Who is steering their ship at this moment. They are floundering to rally around something to bring them together. Remember this crisis is days old to them. Their beloved college is being attacked from all sides</p>
<p>“One thing I hate the most about this is that it makes people suspect the motives of anybody who wants to work with kids.”</p>
<p>NO IT DOES NOT!</p>
<p>Everyone implicated was either accused of abuse or accused of covering up abuse.</p>
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<p>How about if they go to classes? Have classes been canceled? This is a University, yes?</p>
<p>Does any of this connect to the missing D.A.? Body never found. Hard drive found destroyed. Had been investigating these charges some years ago. </p>
<p>Rumors are flying on various news sites.</p>
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Maybe it shouldn’t, but I think it does. It certainly results in people who want to work with kids having to go through security checks, take youth protection training, follow various rules (like never being along with a kid), etc. it made my church put windows on all the Sunday School classroom doors so people could look it to make sure that adults aren’t doing anything wrong. I’m not saying any of those precautions are unreasonable, but we are certainly in an era of suspicion.</p>
<p>let’s not get over dramatic about the students. What should they do?..They should go to class and learn something. Not knowing what to do sounds like they are 5 year olds who lost their parent in the mall. Football is a game, itt’s not life or death.</p>
<p>A football coach and a president where fired. And the college students are acting like it’s the end ofmthe world. If all Penn state is is football, how sad is that. College is about education, growing up and it seems Penn state and it’s staff and students all need to grow up. If a university based it’s reputation, it’s legacy, it’s foundation on a football coach, they have very skewed sense of things.</p>
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<p>Oh please, that is silly. </p>
<p>Why try to add a “romantic” twist to the actions seen on TV last night? Students do not take the streets and overturn media trucks because they are seeking to unite in a quest for leadership. That “leadership” should have been provided to them prior to the events. The students could not care less about losing a president and having a board in shambles. They cared about football and about the “injustice” of firing Paterno. </p>
<p>They could have done something: stay inside and debate the issues instead of acting like savages. Something that the images and interviews indicate to be too much to expect.</p>
<p>Fwiw, to the credit of Joe Paterno, when he came out with his spouse, he spoke briefly and asked the students to go home, study, pray for the victims, and love Penn State. Perhaps, the students should have listened to their deposed leader.</p>
<p>"… but we are certainly in an era of suspicion."</p>
<p>And rightfully so. These measures are put in place to protect children. People understand that the same way most understand the TSA airport procedures for the public safety.</p>