tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post591876407193684791..comments2021-02-03T22:00:59.540-05:00Comments on Dinosaurs in F-14s: Penn StateKen Raininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04984158504510512228noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-39591926578010011922011-11-13T07:40:03.285-05:002011-11-13T07:40:03.285-05:00Joe Pa and his supporters can't have it both w...Joe Pa and his supporters can't have it both ways. You cannot be the face of the program, receiving the lion shares of the accolades and not pursue these suspicions further. 2002 was not the first time Sandusky was being investigated for conduct of "sexual nature" with children!!! Any other campus police report before 2002 is coming right to Paterno's desk. That is not an outrageous assumption.<br /><br />Of course more are to blame, more heads should roll but if Paterno gets the majority of credit for the "Grand Experiment" he will be vilified for institutional cover up this as well. <br /><br />Sandusky's actions are tragically reprehensible and as with the profile of most repeat sexual predators he will likely appear criminally insane. Paterno and all these other enablers though are rational actors in this scenario and face criminal, civil, public trial as those who abused their power to protect their own prestige and wealth.<br /><br />I take no joy in this but odds favor that every Paterno supporter will likely rescind their defense in the months to come.ARM 18https://www.blogger.com/profile/04310873525175323257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-71798319481274005632011-11-12T10:26:59.155-05:002011-11-12T10:26:59.155-05:00I don't really follow your line of thinking he...I don't really follow your line of thinking here, Andrew. You seem to be implying that Paterno told the AD not to investigate Sandusky too closely, which we don't know to be the case. Paterno testified to learning about contact "of a sexual nature", which is a far cry from what McQueary stated, but also a far cry from the "horsing around" which the AD and head of campus police claimed their investigation turned up.<br /><br />I don't absolve Paterno of blame, but I don't think he deserves the lion's share of the blame either, which is what he's receiving in the court of public opinion. If you look at this case, there are so many other instances of people failing, investigators and educators who should be much more equipped to recognize a predator then a football coach. Joe Paterno isn't the villain here, Jerry Sandusky is. And, of the people who failed those boys, he's not the most culpable. Far from it.Ken Raininghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04984158504510512228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-43629901049710990612011-11-11T17:12:13.602-05:002011-11-11T17:12:13.602-05:00A quick glance at Ganim's piece and links reve...A quick glance at Ganim's piece and links revealed then attorney general Tom Corbin has investigated Sandusky in 2008?!? I will read the piece in its entirety.<br /><br />I may be blowing hot air as there is obviously so much more to surface but I cannot stand by your comments that Paterno acted appropriately. Please consider the fallibility of the "he passed it on up the chain" logic... <br /><br />Paterno turns it over to his superiors because he believes there is (or not) misconduct to be investigated. His superiors must base their investigation on those involved and who reported it, namely Paterno and McQueary!!! At that point Paterno either "misremembered" or purposely muddied the protocol and process that his supporters say he so diligently followed. <br /><br />The details of the ensuing investigation are based on McQueary's testimony. Joe Paterno had to "sign off" on it and either confirm or deny its accuracy to the school investigation. Asking Paterno to have the firepower of Elliot Ness, no. But the courage of Anita Hill, yes.ARM 18https://www.blogger.com/profile/04310873525175323257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-87058070693498085452011-11-11T09:48:18.877-05:002011-11-11T09:48:18.877-05:00Thanks for commenting, Andrew. The more I read ab...Thanks for commenting, Andrew. The more I read about this (and I advise you to read the story to which I just added a link), the more I'm convinced that Paterno is just a small link in a horrifying chain of neglect. And, I'll say it again: Paterno acted appropriately. He passed on the allegations immediately to the people at the university whose JOB it is to deal with such things. People seem to think he should have formed a posse, like he's Elliot Ness or something.Ken Raininghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04984158504510512228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-38495132611075736192011-11-10T17:18:57.262-05:002011-11-10T17:18:57.262-05:00And can I suggest something to PSU fans? Let this ...And can I suggest something to PSU fans? Let this thing for Joe Pa play out, we have no idea where this is going to go. And if the plight of the victims is too difficult to comprehend or rally for, then support the football team this weekend. I have sympathy for those players, many seniors, that are suiting up and trying to play the game of football they love for the school and program they thought they knew.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with PSU fans wanting them to win this Saturday; it might restore a certain sense of normalcy they rightly miss but, as you say, will likely never recover again...ARM 18https://www.blogger.com/profile/04310873525175323257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2385705533586588469.post-42181718726054560882011-11-10T17:18:19.818-05:002011-11-10T17:18:19.818-05:00We are all still reacting to this situation from a...We are all still reacting to this situation from an emotional standpoint, myself included and I've never even LIKED Penn State. But the insanity that this story was in the last few days is over and a new chapter begins.<br /><br />The school had to immediately sever their connection to any wrong doing out of liability. There will be a criminal lawsuit directed at PSU, the institution, likely by the state of PA. Media circuses at games and pep rallies on Joe Pa's lawn could not continue. Anything Joe Pa would say publicly as an employee of the school would be (and will be) used against the school. The Roman Catholic church is far too sprawling and complex of an institution to close its doors because of similar scandal. Depending on the facts that emerge, PSU as the institution as we knew it to be up until this week, could end. Investigations into Sadusky youth events on PSU satellite campus held after the 2002 incident have begun. The crimes will have likely occurred at more than just State College.<br /><br />Joe Paterno, the public figure, is no longer. His family has hired the appropriate lawyers and a PR firm. As of this moment, we know of no criminal wrong doing on Paterno's part but there will be at least a class action civil lawsuit. Past and current players will all be subpoenaed. Joe being fired not only protects PSU, it likely protects Paterno from himself.<br /><br />Every press conference, decision of the Board, each and every conversation, email and event Sandusky had at that campus will now all be scrutinized by criminal investigators and lawyers. The tidal wave of information and repercussions has really only begun.ARM 18https://www.blogger.com/profile/04310873525175323257noreply@blogger.com