The Cowardly Lion
Nov 10, 2011
It is fashionable in some places to make excuses for the legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno, whose exit from the school he loved is now being spun as a sad but understandable error in judgment, given his status as an “old school” athletic leader.
That is bullshit.
Old school, new school, or middle school, Paterno should have called law enforcement the minute he came across evidence of child abuse. Period. College football fans who want to see grey areas in his decision not to do that need to get a better grip on reality. If the Heisman authorities can take away a trophy from an athlete for taking a dollar, what is the price for taking away an entire life’s dignity?
Paterno built, and has now destroyed, a great brand at Penn State. He was supposed to be the coach who cared about his players as human beings. His explanation that, in hindsight, he “could have done more” to protect this abuse victim sounds like he still hasn’t quite grasped the stakes here. It’s as though Joe Pa came close to winning a big game, but concedes now that he should have pushed his team a little harder. By not taking any real action for someone regarded as a “leader among leaders” is anything but brave…it was cowardly.
This is no game. Considering what victims of child abuse actually go through, we all need a high-profile reminder that not acting fully to defend kids is the same as not acting at all. The end of Paterno’s career has become that reminder, and that is, as it should be.
Not only that, just like the child was stripped of his dignity, Paterno should be stripped of every victory he ever earned as a coach. No matter how much you win, winning at the expense of human dignity should always count as a loss.
JZ, very well said…and couldn’t agree more!!
Jordan – very well said. I have been arguing with my friends from up North who went to Penn State and actually defended Joe Paterno. No excuses – he needed to step up and do something! By doing nothing – he put the brand over the kids!
“If the Heisman authorities can take away a trophy from an athlete for taking a dollar, what is the price for taking away an entire life’s dignity”
Beautifully said!
I agree 100% Jordan!
The people supporting Penn State and the “men” involved in this highly disturbing situation really need to read the “Sandusky Grand Jury Presentment” pages 6-12 will or should open eyes as to how people knew about the severe abuse and made the conscious and thought out decisions to not call police. They should all be charged with child abuse for each and every victim beyond victim #2 which was the poor child that someone saw being raped. #2 was when people knew it was going on and didn’t do anything. This is so disgusting.
Well put – period… Joe should have gone the full distance, beyond notice to the Penn State AD, and straight to the end zone (Law Enforcement). It is unfortunate that so many will be harmed by not doing the right thing at the right time.. Cliche, but there will be much “Arm Chair Quarterbacking” on who should have, could have…. done what, but the fact remains, Joe and Other senior officials didn’t act in part to protect a legacy – I suspect…but so terribly wrong!!
Not sure he should have all of his college wins taken away, but some sort of punishment should be metered his way.
And what will be done to the real evil, sick culprit, Sandusky ?
Or the graduate assistant who witnessed the attack on victim #2…I understand he is STILL employed by Penn State.
Maybe they ALL should spend a year or two working at mental rehabilitation centers where sodomized children are treated, so they can truly see the consequences of their (in)actions.
Truly a sad day in America…I pray that the victims are healed, one day…
Jordan– Wonder what Joe Pa would have done if the kid in the shower happened to have the last name “Paterno”???
Well said..its unbelievable how these students are demonstrating! What is the cause that they are fighting far?..I only wish I would see the faces of the other perpetrators as often as I see Paternos face. They all need to do jail time
Well said! I wish primetime tv would let JZ speak to all!
Well said Rick! Everyone that knew about this abuse should have been thinking the same thing.
I agree 100% , his wins, his lfe along with any medals, plaques, or trophies of distiction should all be stricken from the halls , walls and archives of Penn St. for all eternity …… The bastard. In fact, seems to me he is an accessory to a crime punishable by jail time. Should we assume that Pa didnt know this was going on, or , did he come forward only when the whistle blew !!
And for those of you showing any support or empathy, your sick TOO> a child has been scorned for life, for life, for life , for life and for life. Dont you freaking get it. I sincerely hope if you have a son or daughter 10 years old , they are not violated as these children have been . I can not even begin to imagine what I could do as a parent to help a child overcome a lifetime of mental anguish . Put them both in jail with a can of Crisco and them experience what its like to be violated !! Bastards.
I want to know how it is a coach who is successful in a combat sport like Football cannot find it in himself to go “complete spider monkey” on any person raping a 10 year old boy in a shower? How can this coach posture to his players to “charge the punt returner,” “blast through the line,” etc…but walk away from another man at the expense of a little boy….McQ has no standing to be a coach as he does not have the ability to back up what he coaches or the role model a coach must play. Same for JoPa
I agree that this molestation of children is sooo wrong but WHY NOW is it coming out….It’s just werid…..now the families come forward!!!
The incident in the shower occurred the night spring break was to begin. Coach Paterno was not told it was “rape”, he was given a sketchy description by the graduate assisant, whom I do not see being cursed by name here, but who also did not contact police. Coach Sandusky was not present on behalf of the football program but was rather a guest of the University. Coach Paterno immediately notified the _appropriate_ authority to report information that was not clear. Remember that Sandusky had not been a member of Joe’s coaching staff for three years. Child abuse gets everyone’s emotions going. As a coach, I looked up to Sandusky and had his book on linebackers on my shelf. Sadly, I cannot even bear to have it there any longer, and it is gone. I will not be able to think about him ever again without remembering that he’s traumatized and possibly ruined these kids. But the blame for that does not belong with Joe Paterno. Joe Paterno had a rather vague description of one incident that occurred in the locker room. That’s it. Also bear in mind that rumors were around in the late nineties and Sandusky, at the top of his career really, retired rather suddenly, it seemed to me. Having followed his career and knowing the character of the man, it would not surprise me if it became known Coach Paterno was influential in Sandusky’s retirement, a quiet prod to retire and get him seperated from the football program while avoiding public humiliation. Maybe he didn’t. He did work with him for how many years? And they worked in an insulated University environment; my own first thought, given an unclear description, would have been to refer the matter to University administration, especially if I were no longer the man’s boss. So why _was_ Coach Paterno even involved, anyway, by the graduate assistant?
John…. Shame on you…. We all have children and the minute Coach Paterno heard that something had happened he should have vetted the situation and asked lots and lots of questions….. but most importantly he should of called the POLICE…… Reported whatever he heard…. Shame on you for wanting to give this man any break……. How would you feel if that was your son in the shower or better yet YOU when you were a young boy….. This kind of irresponsibility must stop now and Coach Paterno not only had to be let go but should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law…. By the way where did you get your facts???? FROM THE JOE PATERNO FAN CLUB….. John this stinks from the coach down and just because Joe was a great coach does not give him permission to break the law ( not reporting a felony) or put him above it……. I am really surprised by your blog……
Joe was not aware of a felony. Read the Grand Jury report, like I did – which is where I got my facts. It is not Joe Paterno’s job to “ask questions”, it was the administrations. It was the job of the police. You are one more person who seems someone with a big name and feels they should take blame and punishment. Tell me, how do you feel about the graduate assistant who witnessed something happening and went to a _football coach_ instead of the police or administration? About an AD who did a lot of nothing? I don’t hear you mentioning them by name. Again, read the report.
Since Sandusky did not confess to Paterno and Joe did not witness anything, he could not be charged with not reporting a felony. His knowledge was secondhand, and as you know would not be considered evidence by any court. Joe Paterno could only testify to what the graduate told him. What the graduate told him was muddled.
Contrary to my “Fan Club” status – what concerns me is whether Paterno had a _credible_ reason to believe anything like this had happened inside or out of the University, and kept Sandusky on his staff. If that is the case, I would lose all respect for this man, too.
Sorry, in the above post I am referring to the time Sandusky was still on the staff, 1999 and prior.
JZ— Michael Vick went to jail for abuse of pit bulls, Paterno had to give up coaching for turning his head and sweeping under the rug the horrific abuse of children……?????
Jordan is right, and yes the Grand Jury report may be factual with regard to this incident and up to this point . I dont look forward though to what has possibly been swept under the carpet for many years and will most likely surface as this case opens up. It is my opinion, and just my opinion, there has been a major cover up that he is in the middle of and there will be a lot more information coming forth than what we are exposed to at this time.
I sincerely hope I am, wrong. .
John, you make some excellent points here. Perhaps Joe Pa comes from a generation where you report things through channels and wait for the investigation. I ask myself, would my Dad have reported it to the police….my conclusion is he would not have. He would have reported it up the chain. Maybe this says more about a world where that has spun off its axis when something happens to a child. Like Megan’s law and Jessica’s law….no longer is anyone who is suspected of harming a child entitled to rights, to innocence, to a trial with a jury of their peers….no longer is anyone who is told anything allow to report it and let an investigation happen…today you have to judge them guitly, no matter what the facts and scream and holler until everyone believes the suspiciion and do all you can to destroy the person no matter what the facts….remember how we all did this to a not guilty Micheal Jackson…now we want to punish Joe Pa because of something we “suspect” Jerry Sandusky may have done…….let’s get back to some balance and if the facts are as they seem, then punishment will be applied…..and we can sort out the facts. Let’s put the burning torches down and recognize that in our country, everyone has rights, and they do not eminate or center around those of you who have young kids…Please don’t misunderstand any of this to a) support abuse, b) think this is anything but terrible, and c) hope the punishment on finding for guilt should be anything but extreme….
I agree. Take away the wins, the championships and shut the football program for 2 years. We need to send a message to kids that we do respect them and will punish those who hurt them or fail to protect them.