[JK37]

Exactly.

A wise man (dad) taught me that one of the best defenses for what a Christian testimony should look like is to just ask non-Christians what they think a Christian would or would not do.

Joe Paterno followed the letter of law in the hopes it would grant him plausible deniability should that particular situation, or any one related to it, should arise in the future. Unfortunately for his job security, a few BOT members used a little common sense (aided I'm sure by media pressure and snowballing public hysteria) in deciding if he really did all he could do in this situation.

[prototype]

Joe surname looked like a guy getting pummeled at his press conference. He could not give a reason why they had to fire him tonite. Couldn't answer ANY questions. I wonder if they will give back the millions he donated to the school since they think he is such a pariah. He was willing to walk at the end of the season and they should have let him retain that and give him some dignity. He deserves that much

You would be the last one on here that I thought would be defending Mr. Paterno....

I think justice was served tonight, by letting everyone know that is is everyone's obligation to stand up for the defenseless... Just because your a coach at a major University, with the most wins, doesn't mean you shouldn't be held accountable for letting an animal hurt innocent children. The Penn State Trustee did a good job with the press conference, because at least he tried to handle questions - he should of just made a statement and left. The one thing I was hoping he would answer was the question about why now... I would have answered -

"Just because we might not know all the facts or how many children have been abused, we all know children have been harmed on our watch here at this University. Mr. Paterno just came out with a statement and didn't deny that fact, but clearly states that looking back he would have made different decisions. It's transparent that Mr. Paterno feels like he is bigger than this University and is trying to protect his own Legacy by wanting to leave on his own terms and have a retirement celebration at the expense of all those children that could have been saved from abuse by just a simple confrontation with a so called close friend. To let all those children affected watch us honor a man who clearly could have stopped this earlier would be a tremendous mistake for this University's leadership. It's now time to move on and try to find a way to reconstruct Penn State's own Legacy and Morality. We wouldn't be sitting here today at this press conference if this situation involved a Science Professor - the same media personnel in this room would be pressing me as to why we didn't move quicker on this when we found out a professor witnessed a horrific crime on a child without reporting it to the police or confronting the individual earlier. Mr. Paterno shouldn't be held to a different Morale standard. Mr. Paterno, even after being approached about the issue in 2002, still allowed Mr. Pedif... I mean...Sandusky to continue to bring small boys into a facility under his authority at Penn State. That's all we will say at this time..."

[NotAJerry]

At least PSU got this part of things right.

[NotAJerry]

There are way too many stupid comments on this thread.

And they all begin with your screen name.

[Purple Haize]

PROTO. If JoPa had not done anything then I would bite and say blame lay at his feet. In the long line of people to blame it starts with Sandusky. Now if you want to assign blame, look at who had the information and what did they do with it. JoPa is the only one who did what they were supposed to do. Of course after reading the indictment he would say he should have done more, who wouldn't.
The press statement you wrote lays 80% of the blame on a person who did not commit a crime. You make one reference to the actual criminal and only in passing.
They would not be here tonite had Mr Sandusky not molested young boys.
They would not be here tonite had Tim Curley the AD pursued the allegations in an appropriate manner.
They would not be hear tonite had Gary Shultz also followed up on the allegations in an appropriate manner.
They would not be here tonite if the Emeritus status of Mr Sandusky had been taken away those making access to the University's facility more difficult
They would not be here tonite in Mr Shultz and Mr Curley had been honest with the grand jury.
ALSO
They would not be here tonite if JoPa had not listened to and supported the account of a lowly GA and PERSONALLY accompanied him to a meeting with the AD thus lending his influence to the credibility of the GA.

Paterno just makes an easier target.

[4everfsu]

Thank God, PSU finally did something right.

[prototype]

HAIZE - I agree with you. Legally he did nothing wrong, BUT let's look at this another way.

Your the youth leader at your church and a trusted member comes to you, someone you know wouldn't make something up, and told you that they came by church the night before and saw your good friend, who is a deacon, naked in the church shower with a 10 year old and the child was being raped. You have also started to put other things together about your friend - he is always the first one to volunteer to help out at children's functions, the one who always seems to be alone with individual boys on church retreats, functions, and you have heard rumors before that just didn't seem all that right. You then go to your Pastor and tell him what is going on. The Pastor does nothing!! Just seems like he doesn't want to deal with the confrontation... The next Sunday - you see the deacon in questions signed up to lead the boys overnight retreat.... And you watch this man still being active in your church for another 10 years. You wouldn't do anything? You would be alright with just saying - "I told my Pastor, my hands are clean...", "I've done all I am legally responsible for and am in the clear...".

I know you personally and know that you wouldn't take that approach - In fact - I think you would have made sure that deacon was never in your sight again (at least standing up)...

The Youth Pastor might not be in control of the whole church, but is the one the Parents expect to protect their children... Mr. Paterno protected himself and that is why there had to be a change NOW.

[jbock13]

There are way too many stupid comments on this thread.

And they all begin with your screen name.

Oh don't worry, if you even knew what people thought about you.

[thepostman]

HAIZE - I agree with you. Legally he did nothing wrong, BUT let's look at this another way.

Your the youth leader at your church and a trusted member comes to you, someone you know wouldn't make something up, and told you that they came by church the night before and saw your good friend, who is a deacon, naked in the church shower with a 10 year old and the child was being raped. You have also started to put other things together about your friend - he is always the first one to volunteer to help out at children's functions, the one who always seems to be alone with individual boys on church retreats, functions, and you have heard rumors before that just didn't seem all that right. You then go to your Pastor and tell him what is going on. The Pastor does nothing!! Just seems like he doesn't want to deal with the confrontation... The next Sunday - you see the deacon in questions signed up to lead the boys overnight retreat.... And you watch this man still being active in your church for another 10 years. You wouldn't do anything? You would be alright with just saying - "I told my Pastor, my hands are clean...", "I've done all I am legally responsible for and am in the clear...".

I know you personally and know that you wouldn't take that approach - In fact - I think you would have made sure that deacon was never in your sight again (at least standing up)...

The Youth Pastor might not be in control of the whole church, but is the one the Parents expect to protect their children... Mr. Paterno protected himself and that is why there had to be a change NOW.

great analogy. I think this really sums the whole situation up and why what was done HAD to be done. Penn State fans think of JoePa as a god and so do many college football fans which doesn't lead to rational thought. I still feel a little bad for the man, because I think people are focusing more on him then the real monster, but I do believe what Penn State did was the right move

[R i]

There are NCAA violations that you can just move up the chain to your superior.Then there are issues that a man must be held responsible for knowing. In my opinion, the punishment does not fit the crime. Joe is a victim of media hype, and public hysteria as stated earlier in this thread.

[R i]

Has Rocco had any type of reaction to the situation?

[flamehunter]

I think Penn State BOT did what they did for one reason - damage control. They felt they had no choice. They did not get this right for the right reason, but rather it is their own version of self-preservation. I can not praise them for that. It should not have taken this long for them to reach that decision if they were doing it simply because it was the right thing to do.

It is sad to see such a respected institution fall like this because of the evil that started with one perverted animal. But that is what sin does. When it is not dealt with properly and swiftly it can eventually destroy anyone. I hope that we can all take that lesson from this.

[bigsmooth]

HAIZE - I agree with you. Legally he did nothing wrong, BUT let's look at this another way.

Your the youth leader at your church and a trusted member comes to you, someone you know wouldn't make something up, and told you that they came by church the night before and saw your good friend, who is a deacon, naked in the church shower with a 10 year old and the child was being raped. You have also started to put other things together about your friend - he is always the first one to volunteer to help out at children's functions, the one who always seems to be alone with individual boys on church retreats, functions, and you have heard rumors before that just didn't seem all that right. You then go to your Pastor and tell him what is going on. The Pastor does nothing!! Just seems like he doesn't want to deal with the confrontation... The next Sunday - you see the deacon in questions signed up to lead the boys overnight retreat.... And you watch this man still being active in your church for another 10 years. You wouldn't do anything? You would be alright with just saying - "I told my Pastor, my hands are clean...", "I've done all I am legally responsible for and am in the clear...".

I know you personally and know that you wouldn't take that approach - In fact - I think you would have made sure that deacon was never in your sight again (at least standing up)...

The Youth Pastor might not be in control of the whole church, but is the one the Parents expect to protect their children... Mr. Paterno protected himself and that is why there had to be a change NOW.

well said Proto! this is all about morality and doing the right thing, not just what is "within the bounds of the law". Mc Queary needs to go as well. People need to put their love of JoePa aside and realize this is not about football, its about people. JoePa said it best " i wish i had done more".

[JK37]

The BOT decided to not allow Paterno to go about his duties any longer. How does McQueary go about his job on Saturday?!

[prototype]

There are NCAA violations that you can just move up the chain to your superior.Then there are issues that a man must be held responsible for knowing. In my opinion, the punishment does not fit the crime. Joe is a victim of media hype, and public hysteria as stated earlier in this thread.

I guess you don't have any children... Do you? This isn't about him knowing someone stole a computer from a computer lab, this was knowing that the man standing beside you was Anal Rapping children... I guess if you've done your part legally to protect yourself - you can live with it... I can't.

[ALUmnus]

Our society needs to make up its mind whether morality matters or not, it's all so very confusing to me. Imagine what our kids must think.

[lynchburgwildcats]

If you stand by Joe Paterno, you are supporting people being unethical. Simple as that.

Check this out:

Sportswriter Mark Madden went on WEEI in Boston and reported a rumor that alleged child molester Jerry Sandusky would pimp out boys to rich donors.

"I hear a rumor that there will be a shocking development from the Second Miles Foundation ... That Jerry Sandusky and Second Mile were pimping out young boys to rich donors."

Madden claims it's being investigated by "two prominent columnists."

We'd say this is ridiculous, and that you should take it with a grain of salt. But Madden actually wrote about Sandusky for the Beaver County Times six months ago — long before the scandal blindsided everyone else this week.

Madden also claimed Sandusky was forced out of Penn State in 1999.

"I think you'll find out that Jerry Sandusky was told he had to retire in exchange for a cover up."

Sandusky retired at 55 in 1999, a year after Pennsylvania police investigated (but did not prosecute) him for alleged molesting a boy.

http://www.businessinsider.com/jerry-sa ... z1dJbuT3VG

[NotAJerry]

In 2002 Joe Paterno was told by an eyewitness that his former assistant coach, who had be investigated for molesting children in 1998, and had smoke around him from an incident in 1994, was raping a boy in the team showers. Joe Paterno told his boss and never followed it up despite being the face of PSU and being the most powerful person associated with the football program. He knew what happened that night, he knew the history that Sandusky had, and he did the bare minimum.

Joe Paterno is the scum of the Earth.

[4everfsu]

http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/s ... f6878.html

[BJWilliams]

This is a bad situation, that is very apparent, but Im not exactly seeing Mark Madden as a bastion of journalistic integrity and broadcast professionalism at this point.

[jcmanson]

What are you guys' thoughts on Mike McQueary?

[Schfourteenteen]

There's no logical reason for McQueery to hold a position at Penn State if Paterno's conduct was deemed inexcusable.

[4everfsu]

Everyone in this chain of events needs to be fired, including the WR asst coach.

[flamesfan30]

agreed. fire everyone involved. i don't care if that means forfeiting their remaining games.

[pbow]

What are you guys' thoughts on Mike McQueary?

I would gladly beat him with a rusty pipe. I hope that there is some way that he can see jail time. How any person can see what he saw and do nothing is completely beyond me. He is a coward in the worst possible way.