DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Penn State should be ashamed of themselves, Jo Pa included.

Penn State/Joe Pa weekly presser cancelled about 40 minutes before it was supposed to take place.

Things are getting worse. Seems like Joe Pa is on his way out the door.

Really disappointed in him, I'm not a Penn St fan but it hurts to see one of the most respected and beloved people in the world of college football as a coward.

It's just about over for Joe Pa.

Joe Paterno’s tenure as coach of the Penn State football team will soon be over, perhaps within days or weeks, in the wake of a sex-abuse scandal that has implicated university officials, according to two people briefed on conversations among the university’s top officials.

The board of trustees has yet to determine the precise timing of Paterno’s exit, but it is clear that the man who has more victories than any other coach at college football’s top level and who made Penn State a prestigious national brand will not survive to coach another season. Discussions about how to manage his departure have begun, according to the two people.

Paterno was to have held a news conference Tuesday but the university canceled it less than an hour before it was scheduled to start.

At age 84 and with 46 seasons as the Penn State head coach behind him, Paterno’s extraordinary run of success — one that produced tens of millions of dollars for the school and two national championships, and that established him as one of the nation’s most revered leaders, will end with a stunning and humiliating final chapter.

Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator under Paterno, has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys across a 15-year period, and Paterno has been widely criticized for failing to involve the police when he learned of an allegation of one assault of a young boy in 2002.

Additionally, two top university officials — Gary Schultz, the senior vice president for finance and business, and Tim Curley, the athletic director — were charged with perjury and failure to report to authorities what they knew of the allegations, as required by state law.

Since Sandusky’s arrest Saturday, Penn State — notably its president, Graham Spanier, and Paterno — have come under withering criticism for a failure to act adequately after learning, at different points over the years, that Sandusky might have been abusing children. Newspapers have called for their resignations; prosecutors have suggested their inaction led to more children being harmed by Sandusky; and students and faculty at the university have expressed a mix of disgust and confusion, and a hope that much of what prosecutors have charged is not true.

On Monday law enforcement officials said that Paterno had met his legal obligation in alerting his superiors at the university when he learned of the 2002 allegation against Sandusky. But they suggested he might well have failed a moral test for what to do when confronted with such a disturbing allegation involving a child not even in his teens. No one at the university alerted the police or pursued the matter to determine the well-being of the child involved. The identity of that child remains unknown, according to the Attorney General.

Paterno has not been charged in the matter, but his failure to report to authorities what he knew about the 2002 incident, in which Sandusky allegedly sexually assaulted a young boy at Penn State’s football complex, has become a flashpoint, stirring anger among the board members and an outpouring of public criticism about his handling of the matter.

In recent days Paterno has lost the support of many board members, and their conversations illustrate a decisive shift in the power structure at the university. In 2004, for instance, Paterno brushed off a request by the university president that he step down.

Paterno came to Penn State in 1950 as a 23-year-old assistant coach making $3,600 a year. He planned to stay for two seasons, to pay off his student loans from Brown University, where he earned a degree in English literature.

He became the head coach in 1966, and he has been widely credited with helping spearhead the Penn State football program and the rest of the university from a local enterprise into a national brand. Along the way, Beaver Stadium grew to 108,000 seats from 29,000 and Penn State’s endowment grew from virtually nothing to more than $1 billion.

What separated Paterno from many of his coaching peers until this week was that he did this with few questions about how he grew the program. Penn State’s lofty graduation rates and education-first ideals, known as Paterno’s Grand Experiment, became as synonymous with the program as its plain uniforms and dominating defenses.

Paterno led Penn State to national titles in the 1982 and 1986 seasons, and he complemented the on-field success with the reputation of a throwback sideline professor, whose tie, thick glasses and black Nike coaching shoes became as predictable in Northeast autumns as the changing foliage.

Paterno’s reach on campus extended well beyond the football program. He and his wife, Sue, have donated more than $4 million to the university. On campus, everything from an ice cream flavor at the Creamery to a library now bears his name.

“There’s no individual in the entire 120- or 130-year history of the university that has had a greater impact on the institution than Joe Paterno,” Larry Foster, a former trustee and a president of the alumni association, told The New York Times in 2004. “He’s just reached into so many areas.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/sports...tml?_r=1&hp

Great that they're planning on Paterno's exit, but the people doing that need to get the hell out too.

This is the most sickening sports story I've ever heard. If I had a kid going to Penn State, I'd yank them out right now. Athlete or just a plain student. Unacceptable.

I didn't know he actually had an autobiography out.. and I certainly didn't know what it was called...

I don't feel bad for PSU fans that were unmerciful towards OSU during the whole tatoo thing.

If I'm a PSU fan, I'm finding another team to watch on Saturdays.

If it were Ohio State? Same thing. I just don't want any part of that. You could kick every suit out of that AD all you want but I would never want to associate myself with a place that tolerates that.

I would burn all my apparel Lebron style, and start over fresh with a new team.

Other than I'm disgusted by everything I've read, I don't even know what to say about this story.

Throw'em all under the jail and make Penn State pay reparations and hit those pockets as deeply as possible.

I look at the jail system....and the guys in prison BEAT THE CRAP out of these monsters. Even convicted felons don't want their name tarnished by having these demons under their roof. I think that says it all.

If this is true about Sandusky, I hope he burns here AND in Hell. Literally, burn him at the stake. Shoot, that still wouldn't be brutal enough. Behavior like this, no matter how sick in the head the person is, should be punished with force. I don't care what anyone says.....it's a crime against children, that breaks the code of all human beings.

I would be surprised if JoePa survives the month. IF he knew and did nothing, he should be fired now. To knowingly let this man ruin more and more lives and families....ugh, I can't even think.

This is the same crap the Catholic church did. If you find this, bring it to light and prosecute. PSU sounds like they did the same thing, tried sweeping it under the rug or handle it internally. The cover-up is ALWAYS worse than the crime....but when the crime is this bad, that makes the cover-up unforgivable. You could have all been hero's, "we discovered this and we have to call the cops, even if it brings heat on the university."

Man we live in a sick society!

Not much else I can say about what has happened, nothing more ill then doing what this man did to those kids...if it is true and it appears it sure is.

I always loved watching sports for one main reason, to forget about all the bad crap that happens in the world for a couple of hours if not for a day.

This is just way crazy....

I just can't get past the fact that not only did the AD, Paterno, and probably others in the athletic department and football know about it, but they just let him openly come in and around their program for 10 years after what that assistant saw and reported.

and I said before that maybe he was afraid of what could happen to him (McQueery) but no I take that back. You do one of two things and only those two things. You either call the cops or you intervene and get that child out of there.

I don't think I fully grasped that whole thing when I said that.

This is just so amazing to me. It is so sad. Sports are supposed to be fun, I totally agree. This is supposed to be our go-to from the horrible stuff in the world.

This is my question.. The Grad Asst that witnessed this, why didn't HE stop it? Why didn't HE pull Sandusky off the kid?

After Joe told the AD and a coupla weeks go by and no investigation why didn't JoePa go back to the AD and say "That was important information I gave you.. what did you do with it?" Failing to follow up with a huge moral failure by JoePa.

It appears that so many people did exactly the wrong thing in this situation, it's just mind boggling....and sickening.

BrownsBabe,
The answer to your question is that JoePa and the Grad Assistant stuck their heads back in the sand and did nothing!!.. And for anyone else, if you look at the Grand Jury Report, if JoePa/Grad Assistant atleast call the police, they could have stopped Sandusky from attacking atleast 6 other kids. That is the true tragedy of this saga!

online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Presentment.pdf

I do not know what Jo Pa can think about saying that will make him look like he did the right thing!

Damn.

Babe is fired up!

Bad subject for me...

In some cases, maybe, but it's Joe Paterno. He let that thing turn into what it is. He has absolute power there. They've been terrified to even try and force that guy into retirement!

I can't even wrap my head around this. If he coaches Saturday, how can any of those kids even look at him the same?

BrownsBabe,

Quote:

---

In one fell swoop, JoePa destroyed more than his legacy

---

And that is the undercurrent stench of this entire situation. All those men thought about the Penn St name, their own legacies and their own standings. Not one of all those men who knew what was going on thought about those kids. PERIOD!!

And for anyone else who does not think that is true, again I say look at the report. That report has the testimonies of Joe Pa, the grad student, the AD and Pres. So there is NO GRAY area to who did not call the police!

Ballpeen,
Unfortunately, you are flat wrong. And the reason I can say this with a 1000% conviction is because of a challenge that I will give you or anyone else on this board.

You ask any principal of a elemenary, Junior, Senior High on what is the procedure when abuse is SUSPECTED of a child? All of those principals, no matter where they are at will say a sentence about alerting the authorities.

Then, ask any nurse or doctor or health care provider what are there procedures when they suspect ANY ABUSE of any type occurs to a person in their care?

So how is it that you have all these people who have to call the cops/authorities when something like that happens and JoePa calls the AD when the grad student comes to his house to report that?? Then to make matters worse, he NEVER followed up! He never questioned why Sandusky was using Penn St. Facilities or allowed on campus.

Naw Peen, JoePa is just as guilty as the rest of the Admin staff who knew and did nothing. Again, he testified to what he did or did not do last year!

Legally that's a very different story - school principals, councilors etc. are known as mandatory reporters, and must report allegations of abuse to the police - Joe Pa is not a mandatory reporter. The University President was, and the difference in charges is noted in the report.

Paterno to retire at season's end.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...tire-end-season

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has decided to retire at the end of the season, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Paterno will announce his retirement later Wednesday. The Associated Press reported on Paterno's pending retirement, which has been confirmed by ESPN sources.

Sources have told ESPN that Paterno is planning to coach the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions in Saturday's home game -- their last home game of this season -- against No. 19 Nebraska.

Paterno has been besieged by criticism since former defensive coordinator and one-time heir apparent Jerry Sandusky was charged over the weekend with molesting eight young boys between 1994 and 2009. Athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz have been charged with failing to notify authorities after an eyewitness reported a 2002 assault.

Though Paterno is not accused of any wrongdoing, he has been questioned over his apparent failure to follow up on a report of the 2002 incident, in which Sandusky allegedly sodomized a 10-year-old boy in the showers at the team's football complex. A witness, Mike McQueary, is currently receivers coach for the team but was a graduate assistant at the time.

McQueary told Paterno about the incident the next day, and the coach notified Curley and Schultz, who in turn notified Penn State president Graham Spanier. Curley and Schultz have been charged with perjury and failure to report the incident to authorities, as required by state law.

Both men, as well as Paterno, testified that they were told that Sandusky behaved inappropriately in that 2002 incident, but not to the extent of McQueary's graphic account to a state grand jury.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

What a crock.

Just when we thought you couldn't look any worse.

J/C...

One thing that bothers me more as this week has gone by is this McQueary thing.

He wasn't some 22 year old, he was 28 if I'm correct when he witnessed the incident in the shower. He called his dad first, understandable I guess, then went to the head coach. All correct IMO, assuming he at least didn't just say something like "man that was weird" and walked away from Sandusky that night... then what. It's been a decade - you mean to tell me he didn't do anything about the issue in that decade? Why's he get a free pass because he was a "scared kid" or whatever?

He's noticeable on the sideline - he's the WR coach - it's my understanding he's the recruiting coordinator... he's become a very recognizable part of PSU and he's kept going about his business as well. He too, IMO, is in a "got's to go" situation.

Lyuokdea,
Legally, JoePa gets off the hook because he notified his superiors.(As noted in the report) Morally, Joe Pa has to make that call. He did not go the extra "half-inch" which was needed. And you and I both know in Happy Valley, JoePa's word is better than the govenor's. And he decided at some point not to use it!!!!! - For 8 years!!..please!

Peen,
As a human being, JoePa, probably the most recognized man in the State of Pa should have said something. So after 8 years and 6 molested kids later, we find out and he admits to doing nothing. And its not a witch hunt when you admit you did not go the extra "Half Inch"!!!

JoePa's statement

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/joe-paterno-statement-announcing-retirement-110911

Quote:

---

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.
The following is Penn State coach Joe Paterno's statement that he'll retire at the end of the season.

I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.

I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.

That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.

My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.

---

I understand the emotion and understand how morally one might feel more could have been done. I think the same way.

He did what was required. As his initial level he didn't know if the rumors, report was true or not.

I think at some point people didn't press to find out. Not so much to cover up but more to just hope it went away...and people do act that way. I just don't think the pressing for information should have come from Paterno's level. I think it would need to be from a higher source. The GA who claims to have seen the two in the shower doing the deed would have been the one who needed to go to the police. He witnessed it.

Let's wait and see what happens. At this point these are just allegations. Nothing has been proven, though as do most everyone else, it seems pretty well documented.

Once Sandusky has his day in court, then we can try to sort out where, if anywhere things broke down and who if anyone should be held to some degree of culpability.



Oh....good seeing you NDC....it's been a while since we have chatted....hope all is well.

Lyuokdea,
I disagree - re-read the report and the police statements/articles. Since JoePa told his superiors, he did what was required legally as far as knowning about a potential crime and letting his superiors know.
Legally, Joe, the janitor, the grad assistant did what was legally required of them.
MORALLY - They all failed!! And the reason Joe Pa takes some of this hit is because he is the head guy/ face of the program and school / of the football program. As the head guy, MORALLY he should have done more!! PERIOD!!
When you are in a leadership position, you are held to a higher standard. JoePa always talked about standards, but when it came time, he chose to bury his head!