My Thoughts on Joe Paterno

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My thoughts on Penn State and Joe Paterno. This is the last time that I am going to comment on what happened to Penn State. I loved Joe Paterno, and I still do, but there is absolutely no question in my mind that Penn State’s Board of Trustees made the right decision last night. This assessment does not mean that I think Joe should have been made to be the fall guy. The fact there was a grand jury investigation that led to 40 (40!) counts of child sexual abuse is enough to cause a drastic shake up at the University. Something went wrong – not just with Joe, with everyone. First, to not do something in the face of these acquisitions gives the appearance, correctly or incorrectly, that the school does not care for the victims. I can’t imagine what they went through and must continue to endure. As I told the Board and the Governor, at a minimum-a minimum-there is sufficient substance behind the allegations to reasonably conclude the children were placed in awkward, confusing situations that certainly questioned their trust in adults, even if a crime was not committed. Joe did not ask to wear the moral superhero cape. He did though, and he was expected to do more. I understand the students’ passion relative to the Board’s decision-I don’t understand their reaction. Second, the reputation, and I think even the future, of the school is at stake. The school was directionless, rudderless, and sinking rapidly. To do nothing would continue to show an indecision on the part of the University leadership when it needed to do something. The people who think Joe should be allowed to stay think he is the proverbial scalp. Maybe that is right, but in allegations of this nature there are scalps; lots of them. I agree McQueary should not be allowed to coach. He acted like a coward, and he continues to do so. There is also a perception that Curley and Schultz are in some way riding off into the sunset. In all reality Penn State has Officer and Director’s Insurance-as do all large institutions- to cover acts of senior employees. Firing them or not paying their legal fees in all likelihood violates that policy, subjecting Penn State to additional costs. Curley is not coming back regardless. Schultz may eventually end up being fired. The school has not had a chance to sort through that. It is easy to imagine these events unraveling the University completely. Child abuse, a cover up, and indecision would tell any applicant that maybe they should reconsider. As more applicants and prospective students reconsider, the situation snowballs. The fact that Sandusky is out on bail has nothing to do with this issue. He is the real villain, but the judge said he could be free until trial. The Board cannot control that. Third, Jack Ham, Matt Millen, Todd Blackledge, LaVar Arrington and other Penn State football alums we watched play in person or in highlights all said that the Board’s decision was correct. There is no question schadenfreude involving Joe is contributing to the media’s response to the situation. Americans love to pillory those that somehow appear beyond reproach. Ultimately, though, the ex-football players are the reason Joe won those games. They are responsible for the program’s past success and are the stewards of its, and the University’s, future, more so than I could ever be. Joe always said he would step aside when it was in the best interest of the University to do so. That time was yesterday, not at the end of the season. The decision has nothing to do with what is his legacy. His legacy is great, both on the field (despite not having a truly great team since 1994), and off it. Nobody can question it or detract from it. Fourth, everyone makes mistakes. I have made many, and I continue to do so. Everyone involved in this mess made mistakes, and I’m certain they’d all love to go back to correct past wrongs. Unfortunately, this is not an instance that allows for correction. What McQueary may or may not have said trivializes what he did say. Joe knew 1. Sandusky was in the shower with a young boy, and 2. It was late on a Friday night. What else did he need to know? There is a chance Joe did follow up with Curley and Schultz and they could’ve said they investigated the allegations and everything is fine. There is also the chance Joe didn’t follow up-he admitted as much. The school could not take that risk. The nail in the coffin, regardless of what the Board of Trustees may have said, was Joe’s ill conceived statement yesterday (certainly another Scott Paterno production). He told the Board not to worry about him anymore. As

soon as I read that I knew he was done. That is the same mindset that some say led to this mess-a detachment to life outside the football program. There was no right answer for the Board of Trustees. That is another layer of the tragedy in this situation. They did what they thought was best for The Pennsylvania State University. I love Joe and what he’s meant to Penn State. But, I love Penn State, too. I will always believe the Board did the right thing. Now I’m committed to helping the school repair and restore its reputation.

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