I agree, and the NCAA death should be self-imposed.

Only once they realize the University can survive and still thrive with out football can the neccessary changes take place.

To me that’s why the statue has to come down, and why it’s at least worth considering the death penalty for the program, because it IS a football problem, and it was caused by a an entire population of people that basically made their college athletic system and its leaders into religious figures. Perhaps it would be best if a severe culture shift can be implemented instead of a permanent shutdown (a voluntary couple of years out of football might really help there), but at the least I think the idea should be discussed, to help drive home how serious everyone’s failure was by creating and supporting that sort of culture.

http://chrisross91.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/joe-paterno-trapped-by-legacy/

Geo444 I feel your pain and would love to clear paternos name as much as I did not learn a whole lot of new facts

Now we have, “Sure the Freeh Report came out, but it had the wrong kind of facts so you shouldn’t use that as a basis to form an opinion on JoePa!”

Anyone who was aware of and in a position to bring to the surface what Sandusky did and did nothing about it will pay a steep price for their inaction. Having said this, let’s not bury Penn State University with these scoundrels. I think the entire BOT need to submit their resignations and some high profile, successful Penn State alumni need to step up. They are the ones who need to be on the NEW BOT that run PSU. I know many PSU graduates, fine and successful people, who need to come back and take a leadership role. Every year in my community, there are PSU undergrads collecting money for worthwhile charities like kids with cancer and other horrible diseases. They are out in the freezing cold, rain or shine, doing community service. I have no affiliation with PSU but I see what some of their students do and they are fine citizens trying to make a difference on a grass roots basis. Let’s not bury those students and the University as a whole for the lack of leadership / courage to do the right thing at the top.

This is where you make a mistake. Right or wrong PSU’s future will be determined by public opinion, as will JoePas legacy.

I loved PSU! I believed in Joes ways. I believe they were better then other colleges and football programs. As more facts come out I realize it is all a lie. Typical “do as I say, not as I do”

It is my opinion that Joe knew everything that went on with this case. I believe Sandusky was forced out in 99 because of what happened in the 98 incident. I believe PSU was going to notify child welfare and then changed their mind after talking with Paterno. I believe Paterno convinced administration that it was in the programs best interest to keep it quite. I believe that after all the years building and protecting his football program he would have done almost anything to continue protecting it. I believe nothing important happened on campus with out Joes knowledge and approval. I believe McCrearey was given the WR coaching position over a more quailified Kenny Jackson as a reward for not making more noise about what he saw Sandusky doing.

This will be played out in the court of public opinion going forward because the millions following this case can not all be selected on the jury.

I believe overall Paterno was a good man and he did great things for the University… but he put himself and his beloved program before children being raped and molested.

For me this changes everything about him. Because of the beliefs I stated above, I for one would like to see the statue taken down. His grievous non-actions in this incident do not allow him the honor anymore.

sighs….where do I begin? Yes, technically, JoePa alerted “authorities” in 2001 when McQueary told him about the shower incident. But in his grand jury testimony, he denied knowing anything prior to that (which was found to be a lie). There were email transcripts in 1998 that shows there was a concerted effort to not let that information get out, which led the way to Sandusky being able to retire with honors and gain emeritus status on campus.

All of that being said, there were 12 years between 2001 and before JoePa’s death that are NOT accounted for. If he knew what McQueary had witnessed and alerted the proper authorities, why on God’s green earth was that MONSTER allowed to conduct activities involving kids on Penn States campus? Why did Sandusky still have keys to the building? Why were there still ceremonies, and charity functions and everything else still being attended by JoePa after alerting “authorities” in 2001 about the heinous acts perpetuated by Sandusky?

Either it was a cover-up in the highest order, or JoePa have a severe case of selective amnesia.

This case and outcome has more to do with the gross negligence of power than it does with anything else. JoePa had the POWER & STATUS to evoke change if he wanted. THESR WERE INNOCENT CHILDREN!!!!

JoePa (along with the others in charge) wanted no ripples in the river, so they swept it all under the rug at the expense of these innocent VICTIMS.

The result of these findings are clear, and there should be punitive damages as will as criminal charges. Unfortunately, JoePa’s reputation and legacy was the thing he tried most to preserve, yet his selfishness and lack of contrition has damaged it for ever!

Geo4444 says: “I thank you for all the (negative) responses. I wish I could say they were thoughtful, but I and so many other people, can see you clearly did not read what I wrote &/or you did not retain it.”

Of all the people who have read your comments on this board 127 have disagreed with you, while ONLY 7 have agreed with you (at last count)—where are all of these people who can see your position so clearly???

Geo4444 says: “I am not defending person or organization X, Y, or Z.”

Geo4444 also says: “The absence of Joe Paterno will be heavily felt this coming season, but he and so much of what he stood for will live on for decades and even centuries, if we are so lucky. Joe Paterno and so many like him have advanced, promoted and benefited so much for and to our society.We need more like you, Joe.”

It won’t work! Now, tell me you are not an attorney, or a law
school student at PSU, or just a PSU graduate……

But I am talking about facts. Not groupthink, not public opinion (thank God).

I am talking about the parts of accusations that are unfounded (as in have no basis on fact or evidence…at this time anyway).

I am not defending person or organization X, Y, or Z. I thought I stated that multiple times. Where do I defend the BOT, or anyone else for that matter? By the way, I am not defending Paterno, just TRYING to show you folks where some of your analysis is unfounded.

I supply information and evidence. Most recently from within the actual Freeh report. I have asked anyone that disagrees with my analysis to show me otherwise. Seriously you people that are calling me out. Prove me wrong. Show me the results from within the Freeh report that “show Paterno held up or tried to cover up” Sandusky. …just reference the original email.

I don’t care if 99% of the world disagrees with me, that doesn’t make the 99% correct.

I am not making any excuses for Paterno, I am asking for proof. Who has it? Freeh hasn’t supplied it. Not yet, anyway.

Many of you are putting words in my mouth. You do it for your own arguments that you then “argue” down. At least jimmy53 has actual words. Too bad even he can’t seem to recall them until he attempts to make them suit his needs or takes them out of context.

Some of you reference what Paterno “let happen”. Visit the timeline. TRY TRY TRY to consider what he “let happen” and when. Consider what he was legally allowed to do. Consider what he had a hint of with or without levels of “facts” (true or not at the time…especially in hindsight) available to him.

It is clear in the report, the Freeh report itself, that Paterno did notify authorities, his superiors, did follow-up multiple times, DID NOT want to puck up an investigation to which he had no skillset.

A lot of this involves multiple and compound thoughts, interwoven timelines and conjecture. Including Freeh’s assumptions on Paterno.

Again, please, look into the most complete report we have available at this time and show me where Paterno attempted to stop or hide this from happening. I can clearly show you(within Freeh’s own report) where he notified multiple people including the head of the police and followed up for additional information.

You people see me NOT BASHING Paterno and you stop reading or digesting what I have written. I am not hiding anything. Put that anger into reading his report and the points I made.

I think DAVERECKON’s passage is the most accurate and eloquent explanation of what a PSU fan might be going through.

The only problem is with the idea that this type of loyalty (as displayed above) is commendable. It isn’t, it’s flawed and sad. Loyalty to a football team, a school, or a coach should not be acceptable grounds to blindly fight against the tragic realities of situations such as this. It is this type of blind loyalty that enables future tragedies.

Football is just a sport. Paterno knew and did nothing. It’s time to start scraping his name from everything. As for Penn State, after the firings and the lawsuits, there will be a lot of tough years there moving forward.

+1