A few quick thoughts on Penn State...

[Hair of the Dawg]

<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">I've been traveling for business the last few days and have had lots of time to think about this...particularly since it was the only thing on the radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My conclusions:</font></p>

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<font face="Calibri"></font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">Penn State is done, I honestly believe they will have a long, long recovery process.</font></p>

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</p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">1. Mike McQueary is a liar and a coward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He allowed a child to be raped in front of him, which he told the grand jury under sworn oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He has now released an email 10 days after news of this broke claiming that he stopped the incident....lying bastard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> How could you walk the same hallways as that monster and look at him everyday knowing what you knew? </span>I believe that he reported to Paterno what he saw then kept his mouth shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The one time I've ever agreed with Doug Gotlieb was in his opinion of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By keeping his mouth shut, McQueary became a made man within the PSU program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He was untouchable because he protected the program.
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<font face="Calibri"></font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sandusky, if you can't look at that testimony and his interview and know this guy is guilty...then you are not a reasonable person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How is it that this guy could be such a great defensive coordinator, well respected for his knowledge of football....and retire at an early age with no job offers to be a head coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finally heard this question asked today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I've been wondering for a few days how this could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No other school ever looked at this guy as head coaching material?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it because there were rumors about him in the college football world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe that to be the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If others outside Happy Valley knew, then you know that the admins did as well.</font></p>

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<font face="Calibri"></font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">3. Penn State students/alumni/admin are basically a cult. Far more than any other school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who in the hell goes to a coach's house and prays at the doorstep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the south we go to the coaches house to put for sale signs in the yard or throw bricks through the windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No other school could fall under the control of one person like they have with Paterno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Coaches are basically turned over ever 3-5 years at other programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Bowden is the only coach that I can think of that had a tenure like Paterno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The FSU people forced him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The admin at PSU met with Paterno toASK him to step down, he simply told them no, he wasn't ready...which leads to my next point.</font></p>

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<font face="Calibri"></font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">4. Joe Paterno is nothing more than a megalomaniac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don't let that appearance of being a sweet little old man fool you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have an 84 year old that is still a VP in my company, <17> with him and see what happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don't care what his form players say about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This just builds more into my theory of that place being a giant cult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Have you heard one former player speak ill of him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not one person has a negative thing to say regarding this man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t doubt the man has done good in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But that doesn’t mean he isn't all about number one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe that he allowed this to occur attempting to protect his program and his legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Joe Pa was the shot caller around that campus, this issue was handled in the manner Joe wanted it handled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></p>

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<font face="Calibri"></font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">While I'm not sure that the NCAA can really do anything, other than use "loss of institutional control"....am I the only one that finds it odd that you have a player get suspended for a year and a half in basketball for nothing, but possibly have nothing happen after your administration covers up something like child rape?</font></p>

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[Count Istvan Teleky]

Good points. My initial thoughts were:

The timing oddly coincided with Joe Paterno getting the record for most wins. How does this happen to pop out of the justice system at such a moment?

Second, there is no way this is 'unknown' within the program. Joe Paterno has to be made to answer questions about why this did not come to light instantly, as it should have been. Had this occurred to one of his children or grand children would he have reported it and then not followed up? Either way he answers that, he's sleaze.

The program is bigger than I realized. I was in northeast Ohio last week when this story got hottest and - even there - it was like entire towns of people were standing around, looking at the train wreck on television, and worrying more about Nebraska than the families affected.. Still, this series of events has got to either result in an entirely cleaned house of administration and coaches or the penalties have to be draconian. Hopefully, both.

Joe Paterno's legacy was more important to him than any person or place.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri">
</font></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><font face="Calibri">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sandusky, if you can't look at that testimony and his interview and know this guy is guilty...then you are not a reasonable person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How is it that this guy could be such a great defensive coordinator, well respected for his knowledge of football....and retire at an early age with no job offers to be a head coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finally heard this question asked today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I've been wondering for a few days how this could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No other school ever looked at this guy as head coaching material?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it because there were rumors about him in the college football world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe that to be the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If others outside Happy Valley knew, then you know that the admins did as well.</font></p>

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just a fyi, but pretty sure sandusky turned down several HC vacancies to stay at penn st, and many assumed he'd be joe pa's successor. then suddenly he retired in '99 with prime coaching years still ahead of him. at the time it was weird, but now it makes sense.

 

[kimmer]

Only time will tell that one. Sure doesn't look good for them though. No major disagreement with what you said. I suppose sandusky will have his day in court to determine is guilt or innocence but looks bad for him. Paterno is definitely has an high opinion of himself but I don't know if I would say he is a megalomaniac. I think he definitely stayed about 10 years longer than he should have.

Regarding the NCAA, they have no dog in the fight here. This is a matter for the criminal justice system. PSU will definitely pay the price because every recruiter in the country will use this to blast them for years to come. Honestly, I think I would rather face NCAA probation than a mess like this one.

 

[TnRebel.sixpack]

<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoPlainText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; ">While I'm not sure that the NCAA can really do anything, other than use "loss of institutional control"....am I the only one that finds it odd that you have a player get suspended for a year and a half in basketball for nothing, but possibly have nothing happen after your administration covers up something like child rape?</span></p>

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USC is on a bowl ban because they paid Reggie and OJ, and SMU got the death penalty for paying players... but Penn State isn't getting in any trouble for this? That's awful. They should get a more severe penalty than even SMU got. I don't care if it "kills a traditional program". Life is bigger than just sports, and they're screwing with peoples lives.

 

[was21]

system matter. And, the alleged victims may not have a legal recourse to file suit since it's a state institution and it may be protected from lawsuits and no, I'm not a lawyer..just guessing.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

one is violating ncaa rules regarding fair play. another is dealing with crimes committed by some people associated with the program. i know baylor got some ncaa punishment for the whole murder thing when lawrence transferred to msu, but it wasn't completely crippling. and if i remember right, the coach didsomething, telling the players to lie to the investigators or something.

 

[Shmuley]

but congratulations Penn State, you have managed to ooze beneath what was undoubtedly the most corrupt athletic program on the planet.

 

[Count Istvan Teleky]

[No message]

 

[thunderclap]

at the game Saturday, they collected for a child abuse charity. They raised $22,000.

There were 105,000 people at the game.

 

[MedDawg]

Penn State has raised over $386,000 for RAINN with a goal of $500,000. http://www.rainn.org/ProudPSUforRAINN<div>
</div><div>Since 1977, through their dance marathon called "Thon", Penn State students have raised over $78 millionto fight children's cancer. http://www.thon.org/whatisthon/4dLast year alone they raised over $9.5 million.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/21/thon-2011-penn-state-stud_n_825860.html</div><div>
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</div><div>P.S. It is ridiculous to blame Penn State students and fans for Jerry Sandusky's pedophilia. There were 4-5 Penn State people involved, and all were fired within a week of the news breaking out. I'm glad they are gone. This is a horrible thing that Sandusky did, and those who knew should have done more. </div>

 

[boomboommsu]

i've read the bylaws, and PSU violated several if they participated in a cover-up, which is highly likely at this point.

like Watergate and Martha Stewart, it wouldn't be the crimes that gets them (re the NCAA anyway), but the cover-up.

and besides all that, the GJ indictment indicates major recruiting violations (buying weed for a recruit by a former coach).

 

[thunderclap]

those numbers you give are obviously much more impressive. And, no, I'm not blaming PSU students for anything other than acting like morons when Paterno was fired.

 

[misipi]

to cover this up for 13 years....<div>
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">" There were 4-5 Penn State people involved, and all were fired within a week of the news breaking out. I'm glad they are gone. This is a horrible thing that Sandusky did, and those who knew should have done more."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I agree with the statement that this deserves the SMU treatment, I mean, he's been allowed back on campus, and the showers, in the last few years. This isn't about Sandusky, that's what will be handled in the courts. The cover up by the athletic department and administration is what gets them the penalties by the ncaa, because it's all done in the name of football, precious Penn State football. Shut em down. Make them hire Houston Nutt, that ought to do it.</span></div>

 

[Rutherford B Hays]

That makes more sense than Free Shoes University. The NCAA screwed Bowden out of the record to give it to Joe Paturdno.</p>

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

For Germany to be re-admitted to the family of nations and have a standing army, they essentially had to be shut down and controlled by other countries for 10 years....then, when came back, they had NONE of the traditions they had when they were one of the most monstrous regimes in history.<div>
</div><div>Any German military "traditions" either only go back to 1955, are dated back to the early 19th Century, or honor Klaus Stauffenberg and the Officers who plotted to kill Hitler. The German government is one of the most liberally democratic governments in the world, and have shown themselves to be good neighbors for the past 60 years.</div><div>
</div><div>Even the "antisemitism" that occasionally flares up is from Turkish immigrants.</div><div>
</div><div>Penn State football is going to have to be shut down in the same way, and maybe for about as long. Condoning homosexual pederasty to on campus is far worse than "buying players" or a college coach telling a recruit "good game", or borrowing a charge card for buying tires before paying the guy back (charges that got Miss. State the "neo-death" penalty by hiring Croom). To me, Penn State is going to have to completely clean house and change the entire campus culture.</div>

 

[thatsbaseball]

that they should voluntarily shut it down for two years and establish who they are and what their priorities are. Symbolic jestures by them at this point are hollow and superficial . These people lost their "moral compass" decades ago and have apparentlly (FROM THE PRESIDENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE STUDENTS) no clue of what a university should be about. This is a bigger problem in my mind than just a blackeye for the athletic department at that school.