Penn State: The Ugliest Scandal in NCAA history

13 thoughts on “Penn State: The Ugliest Scandal in NCAA history”

1. Yet another sad note to this: Penn State has long been the Gold Standard when it came to how a College Football program could be competitive on the field and maintain a high level of excellence on campus and in the classroom. Of all the schools that have been pegged with the words “Corruption” “Violations” and “Cheating”, Penn State was the one that they fit the least for all of Paterno’s reign.

   This resets the scale of wrongdoing in college sports; suddenly, party boats at Miami and selling memorabilia at Ohio State doesn’t seem remotely sleazy. And what’s more, this wasn’t an isolated incident that only recently occured: This was a ongoing problem that may have been covered up.

   A football player getting a $500 handshake after a game isn’t a scandal – THIS is a scandal.

2. Dear Drew,

   I am so torn about my feelings about this. I just hope I can accuratly describe the conflict.

   My first emotion is the remembering of the Duke Lacrosse team scandal. How the lives of those players were turned into a living hell over a total lie. How people were so quick to judge them guilty and ready to lynch them, and their coaches. I am trying very hard to give coach aterno the benefit of the doubt here.

   My 2nd emotion has me wondering if his age had something to do with this too. Remember the man is 80+ years old. I think back to my grandmother who recently passed away. In one field of expertise she remained sharp as a tack to her final days (In her case playing the pian/organ) but in other things she could forget things less than an hour after it happened. She was never diagnosed with Alzheimers but in some areas of her life she did slip.

   Now having said all that I agree with you Drew that the program itself deserves the death penalty. Not sure if it deserves the 2 year term that SMU got or if it should be longer (if that can be done legally) but the death penalty should definatly apply here.

   For Paterno himself let the facts sort themselves out. Don’t be quick to lynch him (again remember the Duke Lacrosse) but if the facts turn out as they’re being implied/rumored and if his facilties are indeed 100% then he should resign if he has any self-respect left, and if not then again Drew you are right he should be fired with no benefits (golden paracute et al)

   All the best

   Louis

3. Good Morning from Omaha,

   lt is too easy and I have way too many thoughts.

   IT is wrong. Joe was wrong and should have done more. Penn State was wrong in how they handled this.

   Its a shame that after almost 40 years that Joe is being done in by his “friends” and associates.

   Resign- yes but with full disclosure from Joe up and from GRaham Spanier, the chancellor on down. Spanier was the chancellor at the University of Nebraska before he came to Penn State. Frying pan- its time to meet the fire.

   Tell the truth, let the public deal with it. Its easier than telling a lie and then having to face the facts as they come out.

   Penn State has produced some of the best football players in America- now its time for them to produce some of the best citizens who, by doing there civic duty, are coming forward, telling the truth, and letting the pieces fall where they may.We may not like the truth, as she tends to be ugly, but ultimately she wins everytime.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

4. Joe Paterno’s time is over at Penn State. He should have retired before this season even started and avoided all conflict. But could this come at a worse time for Penn State? They’re 8-1 with a very important game vs Nebraska coming up this weekend. They need to focus on football not on this scandal. Papa Joe should step down and let the kids just play football. Thats my two cents.

5. Soven, No disrespect but this really is a little more important than football. Many young innocent lives have been ruined by a sick man who was allowed to continue his sickness under the protection of Joe Paterno and his power. Football? really? As Rhett Butler says in Gone with the Wind “Frankly my Dear I don’t Give a Damn”

6. This smacks of good old boy network. You may say this is quick to judge, but I think not. An ongoing police investigation, an eye witness oh so many years ago, nothing quick about this. How many people knew about this? I agree that this should not be tolerated, and that there is no excuse for letting this slip under the rug. There is no possible way anyone thought about the victims of this abuse, their humilation, their powerlessness. And Joe Paterno should have sounded contrite from the beginning.

7. I wish I had said this, heard it from a caller during the local sports talk radio show

   “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

   Edmund Burke, commenting after the Nuremberg Trials.

   That’s all that needs to be said.

8. Hey Drew, I agree with you. This is a terrible scandal and for the sake of everyone involved Paterno should step down. But my one question is, What about Sandusky? He is sitting at home, relaxing in his sick ways while no legal action is taken against him. How is that fair?

9. OKAY they fired Joe, now just fire the whole regime and start fresh

10. Soven:

    Sandusky was placed under arrest and indicted. He was released on bail pending trial.

11. Thanks Badger!

12. What bothers me about the current situation is that other people who were involved in this have not received any sort of censure.

    For example, the guy who was named as the interim coach for Penn State was Sandusky’s assistant at the time of the reported incident. And is refusing to answer any questions about that.

    THAT’S messed up.

13. Louis, I share in your general concern in situations like the Duke case. The difference here being this is information coming from a grand jury investigation and not a grandstanding DA like the Duke situation.

    As for my other thoughts:

    Sandusky should get his day in court. And I mean 1 day. Then when convicted his victims should be allowed to beat him to death should they choose to do so. They could also decide that he simply be shot.

    McQueary-you see a 10 year old being raped and you don’t say “what the F*&*”, grab the kid, and go to the police? Be glad it wasn’t my 10 year old son pal. Telling Paterno was not enough.

    Paterno-You are told that a former coach and friend raped a child. You don’t call Sandusky and ask “what the f*&*”? Please. You do nothing more than telling your boss? You share complicity with the acts Sandusky committed after that date. As such your reputation should indeed be tarnished. You may have been a great coach, mentor, etc at one point, but your inaction here is inexcusable.

    Penn State administrators-ditto most of the above. You rolled the dice on a coverup and thankfully lost. You deserve everything you have coming to you.

    Rioting Penn State students and fans-Seriously? You are so deluded by your worship of Paterno that it overtakes common sense and morality? You scream and demonstrate for him, but not for the victims? I pity you.