Paterno Fired

[JoeyGetherall]

Yes, it's gray. What do you know about the GA who reported it? If Rush Limbaugh tells you that he saw Barack Obama molesting a little boy, you're telling me that you would just automatically believe it?

Look, I'm not trying to absolve Paterno of anything, here. If he broke the law, he should be prosecuted. At the very least, he should lose his job because his recruiting is done. No parent is going to trust their child to this guy anymore. However.......... I'm not about to characterize him as a scumbag, until I learn more facts about the case. It's entirely possible that he legitimately dismissed the GA as being A) mistaken about what he saw, or B) lying because of some beef with Sandusky. I just don't know.

You called someone else out for taking a big leap and than you say this? If that were the case why would McQueary still be on staff? Usually when someone lies or makes false accusations like saying "hey I saw so and so having anal sex with a boy in our showers" and it turns out to be false that person is fired. Not kept on staff for 8 more years.

I'll agree that some of us are assuming things with out knowing the full story (including myself) but so are you.

Where there's smoke there's usually fire and it looks like State College is about to burn.

 

[Pachuco]

After reading that report I am even more sickened. This is going to get a lot worse.

I wish I hadn't read it, but the lawyer in me doesn't like stones that aren't overturned. My thoughts are with the victims.

 

[Woneone]

Yes, it's gray. What do you know about the GA who reported it? If Rush Limbaugh tells you that he saw Barack Obama molesting a little boy, you're telling me that you would just automatically believe it?

Look, I'm not trying to absolve Paterno of anything, here. If he broke the law, he should be prosecuted. At the very least, he should lose his job because his recruiting is done. No parent is going to trust their child to this guy anymore. However.......... I'm not about to characterize him as a scumbag, until I learn more facts about the case. It's entirely possible that he legitimately dismissed the GA as being A) mistaken about what he saw, or B) lying because of some beef with Sandusky. I just don't know.

Automatically believe? No, of course not. But child protection laws are the way they are in their reporting because there is a child's safety and well-being at risk.

Investigations take place to prove such allegations. I'm not saying JoePa should have called up the press and made a statement, I'm suggesting that he should have called the authorities and simply stated that he is currently with a graduate assistant who believes there is a possible child endangerment ongoing.

Being accused through the press (what your example suggests) and reporting to your local authorities are two completely different scenarios. You can actually do such things in a discrete manner, which is the point here. I don't care if others will abuse it, which they do anyway. In this case, the proper reporting to the authorities would have prevented countless counts of abuse.

I'm also confused by your statement:

It's entirely possible that he legitimately dismissed the GA as being A) mistaken about what he saw, or B) lying because of some beef with Sandusky.

I agree. It's entirely possible that he dismissed the GA's claim for any number of reasons.

He was wrong, and children were raped because of it.

How does that not make him a scumbag?

 

[JoeyGetherall]

I wish I hadn't read it, but the lawyer in me doesn't like stones that aren't overturned. My thoughts are with the victims.

The fact that he was allowed continued use of PSU property boggles my mind.

 

[Woneone]

The fact that he was allowed continued use of PSU property boggles my mind.

Although I disagree with KMoose's assessment of JoePa's role in this, I do agree wholeheartedly with him that there are things we just don't know.

Things like this, him still being on PSU property......there just HAS to be so much more to this than has currently been revealed. If not, then saying that there was a "Lack of Judgement" doesn't do this situation justice. It be a lack of all moral and ethical, well, everything.

Things just don't add up. I'm guessing the rabbit hole is much deeper than we currently believe.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

Although I disagree with KMoose's assessment of JoePa's role in this, I do agree wholeheartedly with him that there are things we just don't know.

Things like this, him still being on PSU property......there just HAS to be so much more to this than has currently been revealed. If not, then saying that there was a "Lack of Judgement" doesn't do this situation justice. It be a lack of all moral and ethical, well, everything.

Things just don't add up. I'm guessing the rabbit hole is much deeper than we currently believe.

Agreed. What tips me off though is that it seems like they tried to make it look like they were taking care of things, but in reality they were just moving the pieces around to make it appear that way.

For instance they banned him from using State College facilities to run his camps but let him still use off site facilities owned by the college. That doesn't smell right to me. What's the difference? Seems like they were just trying to show face by saying "we don't let him use the facilities here" but than let's him use the other sites. Very strange.

 

[kmoose]

You called someone else out for taking a big leap and than you say this? If that were the case why would McQueary still be on staff? Usually when someone lies or makes false accusations like saying "hey I saw so and so having anal sex with a boy in our showers" and it turns out to be false that person is fired. Not kept on staff for 8 more years.

I'll agree that some of us are assuming things with out knowing the full story (including myself) but so are you.

Where there's smoke there's usually fire and it looks like State College is about to burn.

Big difference.............I called someone else out for saying that they believed that "X" happened. All I said was that it's possible. I'm not making any leaps. I'm saying let's wait until we see more of the picture, before we go dragging a guy with a stellar reputation through the mud. If it turns out that he's not who we thought he was, then he'll get what he deserves.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

Sounds like he's at a f*ckin pep rally! "Cheer them on to beat Nebraska!" smh

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[SBjandy7]

Absolutely awful what's happening at Penn State. I always respected JoePa even though he has a public distaste for Notre Dame. Sad to see his career end like this but he had it coming from what has been released. It is/was/always has been HIS program and school, so you have to put blame on the guy at the top. Atrocious news from State College. Prayers go out to the victims and their families

 

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

I live in Central Pa and this is getting uglier by the hour. Anyway I think there could be more chargers against some PSU adminastrators. I talk to a PSU fan last night and told me that Al Golden has an opt out cause in his contract at Miami and can go to Penn State when ever he wants.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Al Golden has an opt out cause in his contract at Miami and can go to Penn State when ever he wants.

Even if PSU doesn't want him?

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Sounds like he's at a f*ckin pep rally! "Cheer them on to beat Nebraska!" smh

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[JoeyGetherall]

Big difference.............I called someone else out for saying that they believed that "X" happened. All I said was that it's possible. I'm not making any leaps. I'm saying let's wait until we see more of the picture, before we go dragging a guy with a stellar reputation through the mud. If it turns out that he's not who we thought he was, then he'll get what he deserves.

Sorry man I just don't see it as that big of difference. You are offering up scenarios that McQueary has some agenda against Sandusky and Paterno. There is zero proof of that and makes zero sense. And now with over 20 alleged victims coming forward this is just getting worse and worse.

 

[irish1958]

Mr. Paterno testified to the grand jury that he didn't know the details or the extent of the observations made by the GA and his father in their meeting at his house. He said he reported to his superior (the athletic director) in a day or two that he was told that Sandusky had inappropriate behavior with a child. (see the grand jury report).
Does anyone believe that if one of your employees told you that, you wouldn't ask him what was the inappropriate behavior to which he was referring?
Especially if you were next to god as the supreme football coach.
Don't you think Kelly or Holtz or any head football coach would ask the GA what are you talking about?
I find the testimony reported in the grand jury report impossible to believe.
He had to know and he had to know the details alleged.
At that time he should have picked up the telephone and called the juvenile authorities with the GA and his father in the room.
I am a retired pediatrician and I have had a lot of experience with child abuse, both physical and sexual. When I have heard about any abuse or have suspected it on examination, I have called immediately the proper authorities, and have even called the Juvenile Court Judge directly when I thought there was an immediate chance of (further) harm.
When Mr. Paterno learned that one of his former coaches had sodomized a young child IN HIS FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM! the night before (while physical evidence of the occurrence could be easily obtained) and didn't immediately call the proper authorities, he lost all credibility in my opinion.
I don't give a damn what the lawyers say to do.

 

[irish1958]

Reports say that the number of victims has passed 20 as of tonight.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

This makes me sick...there are bigger things in life then football. sick to my stomach

 

[micks60]

The rally outside Paterno's house sickens me. How do these students not understand what has happend and that he did nothing to stop it.

 

[kmoose]

Sorry man I just don't see it as that big of difference. You are offering up scenarios that McQueary has some agenda against Sandusky and Paterno. There is zero proof of that and makes zero sense. And now with over 20 alleged victims coming forward this is just getting worse and worse.

I offered up a possible explanation of why Paterno may not have believed, or (in his mind) had reason to believe, that there was any abuse taking place. There's zero proof that McQueary has any agenda, that's true. There's also zero proof that Paterno violated any laws, as some people have tried to infer.

 

[phork]

Man the whole cover up conspiracy is too juicy to let go. McQueary sees this, tells his Dad then tells Paterno the next day. Paterno passes it on. Sandusky is told in private that he will not succeed Paterno at PSU, he retires into obscurity at the peak of his coaching age, never to be heard from again. McQueary is promoted from GA to WR Coach and now to recruiting director.

Frankly if thats me seeing this happen I'd go kick the hell out of the guy then call 911. And if reports are true that say up to 20, good God, there is no escaping this for JoePa.

No to mention Sandusky still had access to school facilities long after this happened. Did anyone think to ask "Errr what happened with this incident and why is this tool still on campus?".

 

[JoeyGetherall]

I offered up a possible explanation of why Paterno may not have believed, or (in his mind) had reason to believe, that there was any abuse taking place. There's zero proof that McQueary has any agenda, that's true. There's also zero proof that Paterno violated any laws, as some people have tried to infer.

So are you inferring that Joe Pa could of misheard or misunderstood what McQueary was saying or that McQueary's story was different at the time? I guess that's possible but still doesn't excuse the lack of action. Even more McQueary's testimony in the Grand Jury papers are pretty graphic and detailed and Authorities say he is extremely credible.

I wouldn't say, nor have I seen many of the others posters say, Joe Pa committed a criminal act and should be legally charged. What I believe is that as morally, in his position as the head coach and the face of that university he should of made sure the matters of this case were brought to the highest order. He should of gone to the police right away for one, but once he learned his "superiors" did nothing, he should of acted and went to the police along with McQueary. He owed it to the alleged victim. He also owed it to the program and university, which now, along with his legacy, will be ruined for ever.

For that he should be punished and forced to resign as the head coach. You want the title? You want the wins? Want the glory and the praise? Well that's fine but also means you have to accept all other responsibilities under your watch.

The innocence taken away from the children who were attacked by Sandusky after the locker room incident will forever be on those who failed to act in 2002, including Joe Pa.

 

[IrishLax]

It's laughable to me that they covered this up just long enough for him to get his records.

What an absolute fraud. Everyone knows that a CRIME gets reported to the police. This isn't like a coach texting a recruit too many times.

 

[Pachuco]

The rally outside Paterno's house sickens me. How do these students not understand what has happend and that he did nothing to stop it.

This is mind blowing. I am not saying cast stones at the guy, but don't throw him a frickin' party either. Geez. Did anyone in the crowd read a paper or do they think this is some kind of conspiracy against Paterno? This made my stomach turn.

 

[kmoose]

It's laughable to me that they covered this up just long enough for him to get his records.

What an absolute fraud. Everyone knows that a CRIME gets reported to the police. This isn't like a coach texting a recruit too many times.

That makes no sense at all. Initially, Paterno did what he should have........ he informed his chain of command of the allegations. They could have referred the matter to the police, and Paterno's hands would have been clean. They didn't cover it up to protect Paterno, they covered it up to protect their own backsides.

 

[pkt77242]

That makes no sense at all. Initially, Paterno did what he should have........ he informed his chain of command of the allegations. They could have referred the matter to the police, and Paterno's hands would have been clean. They didn't cover it up to protect Paterno, they covered it up to protect their own backsides.

I completely disagree with this. You call the ****ing police. This isn't someone taking supplies from work or using the work computrer for personal use. Call the ****ing police.

 

[kmoose]

I completely disagree with this. You call the ****ing police. This isn't someone taking supplies from work or using the work computrer for personal use. Call the ****ing police.

You're entitled to disagree, and react completely emotionally without any regard for what might be an established policy of reporting possible criminal acts in a specific workplace. But it doesn't change the fact that, had the AD reported the matter to the police, Paterno's job would not even be in question. Hence, there would be no need for a coverup.

 

[pkt77242]

Yes, it's gray. What do you know about the GA who reported it? If Rush Limbaugh tells you that he saw Barack Obama molesting a little boy, you're telling me that you would just automatically believe it?
Look, I'm not trying to absolve Paterno of anything, here. If he broke the law, he should be prosecuted. At the very least, he should lose his job because his recruiting is done. No parent is going to trust their child to this guy anymore. However.......... I'm not about to characterize him as a scumbag, until I learn more facts about the case. It's entirely possible that he legitimately dismissed the GA as being A) mistaken about what he saw, or B) lying because of some beef with Sandusky. I just don't know.

Seriously, you are comparing a GA that Paterno hired and trusted to help with the team to Rush Limbaugh, even if you had a credible arguement this point is crazy.

 

[kmoose]

Seriously, you are comparing a GA that Paterno hired and trusted to help with the team to Rush Limbaugh, even if you had a credible arguement this point is crazy.

When did I ever compare the GA to Rush Limbaugh? The answer is that I didn't. I used Rush Limbaugh as an example. An example of someone who's credibility would be in doubt, because he has an obvious bias against the hypothetical "accused". It's not my fault that you can't follow that.

 

[pkt77242]

You're entitled to disagree, and react completely emotionally without any regard for what might be an established policy of reporting possible criminal acts in a specific workplace. But it doesn't change the fact that, had the AD reported the matter to the police, Paterno's job would not even be in question. Hence, there would be no need for a coverup.

Agreed, but why report it to the AD, he can't do anything. You report these things to the police. If JoePa heard about a woman being raped on campus, should he call the AD or the police. Right, you call the police.

and for emotional writing read this article.

Penn State must fire Joe Paterno amid Jerry Sandusky sex scandal - Andy Staples - SI.com

 

[pkt77242]

When did I ever compare the GA to Rush Limbaugh? The answer is that I didn't. I used Rush Limbaugh as an example. An example of someone who's credibility would be in doubt, because he has an obvious bias against the hypothetical "accused". It's not my fault that you can't follow that.

So you choose an extreme example and say you aren't comparing. That is fine but you purposely chose something absurd to use as an example (straw man arguement). You are just a JoePa fan, deal with it. yes he probably didn't break a law in the PA (though in a lot of states he did) but he still made the wrong decision. You can't argue that.

 

[kmoose]

Agreed, but why report it to the AD, he can't do anything. You report these things to the police. If JoePa heard about a woman being raped on campus, should he call the AD or the police. Right, you call the police.

and for emotional writing read this article.

Penn State must fire Joe Paterno amid Jerry Sandusky sex scandal - Andy Staples - SI.com

Here's the thing:

Let's say you are the manager of the IT Dept at work. You work for the Operations Manager. On Tuesday morning, one of your workers informs you that they observed one of your Supervisors, in the copy room, molesting a young boy(on Monday afternoon). The young boy is not currently in the process of being molested, so making your first call to the police is not going to save him from being further abused. With this in mind, if your Manager finds out that the first call you made was to the police, and not him? I wonder if you can imagine the trouble you would be in? What you should do is call your Manager, tell him what happened, and inform him that you will be calling the police, as soon as your conversation with him is done. You don't blindside your boss with something as legal and morally reprehensible as this. You inform him of what is going on, make sure he understands that you intend to pursue the situation, and allow him to get out in front of it. He will then call his boss, who will call his boss, who will call his boss, etc., until the HMFIC knows what is about to happen. Perhaps the Operations Manager tells you not to contact the Police, that he will do it himself? The proper thing is to allow him the opportunity to do that. If he fails to follow up? THEN you can make the call to the authorities. It may not appease your hot-headed, emotional, angry reaction to hearing the news in the first place, but it's the right thing to do.

Paterno is gone. Even if he did the "right" thing, all along (which he didn't), no parent in the world is going to trust him with their kid. His days of coaching are over. He'll be lucky to be able to sign Pat Dillingham, at this point.

But get off of your sanctimonious high horse. Paterno is a guy with a LONG, verifiable history of being a good, principled man. He spit the bit on this one, and it only takes one "oh sh1t!" to wipe out a thousand "Attaboys", but it's not like he's an actual predator. Save your outrage for Sandusky.