JOEPA NEEDS TO STEP DOWN........NOW
I was going to write this post last night after reading a 23-page grand jury summation leading to the indictments of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on 40-counts of sexual abuse of a minor plus athletic director Tim Curley & vice president of finance & business Gary Schultz on perjury charges. I can tell you the report was very, very difficult to read, it describes several incidents with four different 10-12 year old boys. It's quite graphic & with each page I read, my stomach got tighter & tighter visualizing what was on the printed page. Imagining the terror these young boys were experiencing, kids who were with Sandusky because they were in "The Second Mile," a program originally for foster children(boys). It grew into a multi-million dollar charity that helped boys from dysfunctional families or with absent parents, boys looking for the guidance of a mentor. Sandusky founded Second Mile, his original intentions are unknown. Did he found Second Mile to help & mentor young boys in need of guidance or was it to facilitate a pedophile?
I'll give you some background on what will become an ongoing story for quite a long time. Sandusky played at Penn State & later coached there for 31-years. He was defensive coordinator for 22-years before he resigned in 1999. I've watched numerous ex-defensive players, guys who played for Sandusky, trusted him, respected him. Matt Millen broke down during a live segment on Sportscenter about two-hours ago. LaVar Arrington, who has a radio show in Washington D.C., talked about the pain he was feeling, the betrayal & most importantly, the total disregard of Penn State officials to not only stop the abuse, but cover it up from hopefully ever seeing the light of day. It reminded me of the Catholic Church's long time scandal, where in the end the church handed out large cash settlements in an effort to make things right. Other people at Penn State knew Sandusky was guilty, powerful people. Rumors circulated in the late nineties he was messing around with young boys, that's why no one tried to stop him from resigning. But Sandusky was allowed to keep an office in the football facility, he used that office right up until his arrest last Friday. He continued to work out regularly in the football weight room, he was there last week.
On Friday, March 1, 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary entered the football facility at about 9PM to put a new pair of athletic shoes in his locker & pick up a recruiting video. He heard "rhythmic slapping sounds coming from the coaches shower room." He went to see who was in the building & came upon a naked Sandusky in the shower with a boy McQueary estimated to be 10-12 years old. Sandusky was having anal sex with the boy. McQueary went to his office & called his father. His dad told him to come to his house. They discussed what McQueary had seen & his father said he had to tell head coach Joe Paterno. He called the coach Saturday morning & was invited to his home that morning where he told Paterno of what he'd seen. The coach called the athletic director(Curley) & they met at Paterno's home Sunday afternoon. That, according to Paterno's own testimony, was the last time he discussed this with anybody. He testified before a grand jury last December. It took nearly two weeks before Curley & Schultz called McQueary in for a private sit-down. Both Curley & McQueary testified the words "anal sex" or any other inappropriate sexual descriptions were not a part of their conversations with McQueary. They decided the incident wasn't as serious as McQueary testified to & all they did was take Sandusky's key away from him so he couldn't enter the facility after hours. Except the grand jury kept hearing testimony from others who knew of Sandusky's after-hours "showers" with young boys. A couple of janitors testified they witnessed Sandusky & young boys leaving the facility with "wet hair, hand in hand."
Then there was the testimony of the boys themselves. Boys & men from age 15 to 28, who claimed Sandusky abused them. All were once members of The Second Mile. This is where the testimony became almost unbearable to read. It made my skin crawl & thru each succeeding page, it sickened me to think such powerful men knew or at least suspected Sandusky was committing such unspeakable acts on young boys & no one stepped in to stop it. Ignore it & it'll go away. Well it didn't, Sandusky was still preying on young men as late as 2009.
When you're a fit 28-year old man like McQueary & you witness another man having his way with a 10-year old child your first impulse is to run away & call your father? If it were me, Sandusky wouldn't have walked out of that shower room, he would've needed paramedics & an ambulance. How can a person's first impulse not be to save the child, I don't care if Sandusky is a superior, there's no amount of justification that can excuse his actions. McQueary is still on the Penn State staff as the wide receivers coach & recruiting coordinator.
How, as an athletic director, do you twist the story in an effort to sweep the entire episode under the rug? Apparently the reputation of a pedophile is more important than protecting children. How do you look yourself in the mirror?
The University president, Graham Spanier, said immediately after Curley & Schultz were arrested "they have my unconditional support." Really? It appears they have perjured themselves multiple times but they have your unconditional support? I understand damage control, but this one's way out of control, better to say nothing than commit yourself to a statement you may have to eat in 48-hours. Unless.........you're involved as well.
And what of JoePa? Is this how Penn State's head coach since 1966 goes out? A man who wouldn't take a pay raise for decades, his wife Sue & he still living in the same house they raised their 5 children in over 50-years ago? JoePa & Sue gave millions to fund a new library on the campus just two years ago. Paterno leads all FBS coaches with 409 lifetime victories against just 136 losses. He's always been thought of as a down-to-earth type & a moral compass. But his legacy will forever be tarnished by this episode. How can you listen to one of your coaches tell you a story like McQueary did & never follow up on Sandusky, a man you worked with for 35-years? Paterno passed the story on to Curley & Schultz & then what, clapped his hands together like a Vegas crap dealer & walk away? You're telling me Paterno didn't know Sandusky had an office in the very same building he works in daily? Sandusky's maintained this office for 12-years, he worked out at the facility as recently as last week. How does this happen? He passed the info up the chain of command & that removes him from any responsibility? Sorry, it does not.
The Pennsylvania State Attorney General said yesterday;
"The failure of the university officials to act on reports of Sandusky's alleged sexual misconduct, even after it was reported to them in graphic detail by an eyewitness, allowed a predator to walk free for years, continuing to target new victims."
I feel such compassion for the young boys/men who were harmed for life by this pedophile. Many will never recover enough to trust again. What about the seniors in this program? Saturday's last home game, Senior Day is ruined. How do parents go on the field, look JoePa in the eye & not think "He could have done something?"
President Spanier should resign like Curley & Schultz did. Since I don't know the culpability of Paterno's staff, I can't make an informed opinion on their future with Penn State. But cleaning house from top to bottom might not be a bad idea if the university is truly looking to repair their image.
I understand the university's desire to keep this at a low boil until season's end when Paterno would be then called upon to retire, but that moment has passed & JoePa needs to step down.....now.
I'll give you some background on what will become an ongoing story for quite a long time. Sandusky played at Penn State & later coached there for 31-years. He was defensive coordinator for 22-years before he resigned in 1999. I've watched numerous ex-defensive players, guys who played for Sandusky, trusted him, respected him. Matt Millen broke down during a live segment on Sportscenter about two-hours ago. LaVar Arrington, who has a radio show in Washington D.C., talked about the pain he was feeling, the betrayal & most importantly, the total disregard of Penn State officials to not only stop the abuse, but cover it up from hopefully ever seeing the light of day. It reminded me of the Catholic Church's long time scandal, where in the end the church handed out large cash settlements in an effort to make things right. Other people at Penn State knew Sandusky was guilty, powerful people. Rumors circulated in the late nineties he was messing around with young boys, that's why no one tried to stop him from resigning. But Sandusky was allowed to keep an office in the football facility, he used that office right up until his arrest last Friday. He continued to work out regularly in the football weight room, he was there last week.
On Friday, March 1, 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary entered the football facility at about 9PM to put a new pair of athletic shoes in his locker & pick up a recruiting video. He heard "rhythmic slapping sounds coming from the coaches shower room." He went to see who was in the building & came upon a naked Sandusky in the shower with a boy McQueary estimated to be 10-12 years old. Sandusky was having anal sex with the boy. McQueary went to his office & called his father. His dad told him to come to his house. They discussed what McQueary had seen & his father said he had to tell head coach Joe Paterno. He called the coach Saturday morning & was invited to his home that morning where he told Paterno of what he'd seen. The coach called the athletic director(Curley) & they met at Paterno's home Sunday afternoon. That, according to Paterno's own testimony, was the last time he discussed this with anybody. He testified before a grand jury last December. It took nearly two weeks before Curley & Schultz called McQueary in for a private sit-down. Both Curley & McQueary testified the words "anal sex" or any other inappropriate sexual descriptions were not a part of their conversations with McQueary. They decided the incident wasn't as serious as McQueary testified to & all they did was take Sandusky's key away from him so he couldn't enter the facility after hours. Except the grand jury kept hearing testimony from others who knew of Sandusky's after-hours "showers" with young boys. A couple of janitors testified they witnessed Sandusky & young boys leaving the facility with "wet hair, hand in hand."
Then there was the testimony of the boys themselves. Boys & men from age 15 to 28, who claimed Sandusky abused them. All were once members of The Second Mile. This is where the testimony became almost unbearable to read. It made my skin crawl & thru each succeeding page, it sickened me to think such powerful men knew or at least suspected Sandusky was committing such unspeakable acts on young boys & no one stepped in to stop it. Ignore it & it'll go away. Well it didn't, Sandusky was still preying on young men as late as 2009.
When you're a fit 28-year old man like McQueary & you witness another man having his way with a 10-year old child your first impulse is to run away & call your father? If it were me, Sandusky wouldn't have walked out of that shower room, he would've needed paramedics & an ambulance. How can a person's first impulse not be to save the child, I don't care if Sandusky is a superior, there's no amount of justification that can excuse his actions. McQueary is still on the Penn State staff as the wide receivers coach & recruiting coordinator.
How, as an athletic director, do you twist the story in an effort to sweep the entire episode under the rug? Apparently the reputation of a pedophile is more important than protecting children. How do you look yourself in the mirror?
The University president, Graham Spanier, said immediately after Curley & Schultz were arrested "they have my unconditional support." Really? It appears they have perjured themselves multiple times but they have your unconditional support? I understand damage control, but this one's way out of control, better to say nothing than commit yourself to a statement you may have to eat in 48-hours. Unless.........you're involved as well.
And what of JoePa? Is this how Penn State's head coach since 1966 goes out? A man who wouldn't take a pay raise for decades, his wife Sue & he still living in the same house they raised their 5 children in over 50-years ago? JoePa & Sue gave millions to fund a new library on the campus just two years ago. Paterno leads all FBS coaches with 409 lifetime victories against just 136 losses. He's always been thought of as a down-to-earth type & a moral compass. But his legacy will forever be tarnished by this episode. How can you listen to one of your coaches tell you a story like McQueary did & never follow up on Sandusky, a man you worked with for 35-years? Paterno passed the story on to Curley & Schultz & then what, clapped his hands together like a Vegas crap dealer & walk away? You're telling me Paterno didn't know Sandusky had an office in the very same building he works in daily? Sandusky's maintained this office for 12-years, he worked out at the facility as recently as last week. How does this happen? He passed the info up the chain of command & that removes him from any responsibility? Sorry, it does not.
The Pennsylvania State Attorney General said yesterday;
"The failure of the university officials to act on reports of Sandusky's alleged sexual misconduct, even after it was reported to them in graphic detail by an eyewitness, allowed a predator to walk free for years, continuing to target new victims."
I feel such compassion for the young boys/men who were harmed for life by this pedophile. Many will never recover enough to trust again. What about the seniors in this program? Saturday's last home game, Senior Day is ruined. How do parents go on the field, look JoePa in the eye & not think "He could have done something?"
President Spanier should resign like Curley & Schultz did. Since I don't know the culpability of Paterno's staff, I can't make an informed opinion on their future with Penn State. But cleaning house from top to bottom might not be a bad idea if the university is truly looking to repair their image.
I understand the university's desire to keep this at a low boil until season's end when Paterno would be then called upon to retire, but that moment has passed & JoePa needs to step down.....now.
I read the grand jury summation, too. Utterly heartbreaking. I'm with you. I think they need to clean house if they're going to get beyond this. So many people's reputations will be in ruins, and rightfully so. When will these powerful men ever learn?
Reply to this