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photo by: SI)
When the story broke about Penn State, no one was more shocked and surprised than I was. I'm not a fan of Penn State, or Joe Paterno, but there is no way something like this could take place on a college campus, right? Well, now we know the horrifying truth. Jerry Sandusky committed one of the most DISGUSTING acts that an adult of sane mind could commit. But there's no way Joe Paterno could have known about it, right? WRONG.
The day former FBI director Louis Freeh released the findings of his investigation, an investigation that Penn State officials agreed to, everyone knew the awful truth. Not only did Jerry Sandusky commit this horrible crime (several times) but, there was proof of a cover up and "Joepa" (dumbest nickname ever) was right in the middle of it.
Fast forward to the day NCAA president Mark Emmert handed down their punishment. The reaction of the students and fans was, for lack of a better word, shocking. Students crying, fans grieving, not over the victims either. No, their reaction was over the fact that Joe Paterno had some wins taken away from his record, 14 years worth to be exact. Really?... REALLY? you're crying over having to miss bowl games for four years, and having 100 some odd wins vacated while the victims and their families may never be the same. Some fans were quoted as saying, "Joepa didn't deserve this", "Joe was a good man", or my personell favorite "This was like watching 9/11 all over again". So your comparing this to the worst act of terrorism this great nation has ever seen? Interesting to say the least.
Now let me tell you why Joe Paterno's legacy got what it deserved. When the Freeh report was released, in it was evidence that Paterno was heavily involved in the cover up for Jerry Sandusky. When interviewed by the Washington post in January of this year Paterno said "
I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was. So I backed away and turned it over to some other people." So let me get this straight, he didn't want to go against university procedure over (at the time) accusations of child abuse. If the university procedure is anything other than alerting the authorities, than there is more wrong at Penn State than we know. Also, when he "turned it over to other people" don't you think he might want to and see what's being done about it?
The report goes on to mention an incident that occurred on May 19th 1998, of a woman confronting Sandusky, and asking him if he had touched her sons "private parts". Sandusky's response.. "
I don't think so... maybe. Maybe? Is this not something you would remember? Joe Paterno had DIRECT knowledge of the allegation, and investigation but DID NOT report it to the board of trustees, or even discuss it with Sandusky.
This is the man "fans" and students are defending. I wonder if it was THIER child if they would say "Joepa done all he could do about it, but I hope they don't vacate victories from his record". If this countries priorities are this far out of whack, I dread to see the future.
