Joe Paterno Reconsidered: a Fan's Perspective
COMMENTARY | Here is what we know about Joe Paterno.
He has coached at Penn State University since 1966, and has amassed 409 victories and two national championships.
For 33 of those years, from 1966 to 1999, through 317 of those wins and both national championships, he coached with Jerry Sandusky, an accused (and soon to be convicted) pedophile.
Which one do you think people will remember longer?
Any second now, the jokes will start (they probably have, but I'm not going to look for them). Something vile will be made of the nicknames "Happy Valley" and "Linebacker U." There is already no small amount of incredulity over the title of Sandusky's autobiography: "Touched."
One doesn't have to connect too many dots to get from his Second Mile Foundation to Neverland Ranch, by the way, because both were created for one abominable purpose: to get grown men alone with small children.
From now on, it will be impossible to think of Penn State football without also thinking of this. The crimes that Sandusky has been accused of overshadow any good that the university has done in that period, and everything he has been associated with is now forever tainted, including the heretofore pristine record of the coach we thought he'd succeed, once upon a time.
Speaking of that coach, whither Joe Paterno in all this?
It is possible that he knew nothing of Sandusky's execrable proclivities. It's possible, but it's not likely.
Evidence has come forth that suggests Paterno knew that something was dreadfully wrong with Sandusky before Sandusky retired from coaching. Evidence suggests that he knew something horrible had happened on his campus and in his facilities. Yet he never pursued the matter beyond attending to his "C.Y.A." duty of reporting what he'd heard to his superior, and don't think for one second that JoePa wasn't just covering himself, because if he really cared to get to the bottom of the matter, he could have done several things that would have stood out as virtuous.
He could have gone to Sandusky himself and asked the hard questions.
He could have reported his suspicions to the police. Even if they'd lacked any evidence, even if the police were legally unable to act pending an actual complaint from an alleged victim, Paterno's report would have been public record and he'd have been above reproach.
He could have fired Sandusky at the first hint of scandal.
By any standard, it is clear that Paterno did not do nearly enough. A technicality might have saved him from the wrath of the prosecutors, but he owed more than that to those kids and we all know it.
From now on, that will be the first thing we remember about him: not the victories, not the cleanliness of his program, not the great players, not the reputation, but the fact that he coached with a pervert and did nothing about it.
Joe Paterno's entire legacy has been swept away and replaced with one statement: he harbored a monster.
It's not enough, it doesn't feel like enough, but it will have to do.
He has coached at Penn State University since 1966, and has amassed 409 victories and two national championships.
For 33 of those years, from 1966 to 1999, through 317 of those wins and both national championships, he coached with Jerry Sandusky, an accused (and soon to be convicted) pedophile.
Which one do you think people will remember longer?
Any second now, the jokes will start (they probably have, but I'm not going to look for them). Something vile will be made of the nicknames "Happy Valley" and "Linebacker U." There is already no small amount of incredulity over the title of Sandusky's autobiography: "Touched."
One doesn't have to connect too many dots to get from his Second Mile Foundation to Neverland Ranch, by the way, because both were created for one abominable purpose: to get grown men alone with small children.
From now on, it will be impossible to think of Penn State football without also thinking of this. The crimes that Sandusky has been accused of overshadow any good that the university has done in that period, and everything he has been associated with is now forever tainted, including the heretofore pristine record of the coach we thought he'd succeed, once upon a time.
Speaking of that coach, whither Joe Paterno in all this?
It is possible that he knew nothing of Sandusky's execrable proclivities. It's possible, but it's not likely.
Evidence has come forth that suggests Paterno knew that something was dreadfully wrong with Sandusky before Sandusky retired from coaching. Evidence suggests that he knew something horrible had happened on his campus and in his facilities. Yet he never pursued the matter beyond attending to his "C.Y.A." duty of reporting what he'd heard to his superior, and don't think for one second that JoePa wasn't just covering himself, because if he really cared to get to the bottom of the matter, he could have done several things that would have stood out as virtuous.
He could have gone to Sandusky himself and asked the hard questions.
He could have reported his suspicions to the police. Even if they'd lacked any evidence, even if the police were legally unable to act pending an actual complaint from an alleged victim, Paterno's report would have been public record and he'd have been above reproach.
He could have fired Sandusky at the first hint of scandal.
By any standard, it is clear that Paterno did not do nearly enough. A technicality might have saved him from the wrath of the prosecutors, but he owed more than that to those kids and we all know it.
From now on, that will be the first thing we remember about him: not the victories, not the cleanliness of his program, not the great players, not the reputation, but the fact that he coached with a pervert and did nothing about it.
Joe Paterno's entire legacy has been swept away and replaced with one statement: he harbored a monster.
It's not enough, it doesn't feel like enough, but it will have to do.
Published by Van Walker - Featured Contributor in Sports
Just your average 2.03 meter carbon-based life-form, Van has a virtually useless Master's Degree in English Literature and a well-worn Fender Stratocaster. He currently teaches English at a Korean university... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentWow, I like to read the articles after more "truth" comes out. Now that Joe Paterno is fighting for his life, I would suspect that you feel that he has been justly served for not doing the "right thing" as you see it, correct? Is that the next article I will get to read written by you? I would sure hope to not see an article written by you about Joe Paterno after he passes with anything positive as I would have to say your entire journalism career would be swept away and replaced with one statement: hypocrit.
Since we are all supposed to do the right thing I also suspect that each time you see a parent punish their child in public, you call 911 as well because it could be a possiblity of child abuse? Or do you not report it at all?
And the parent who is allowing the other parent to mentally or physically abuse their children and not do anything about it, maybe we should also chastise those individuals for not knowing what or how to handle those situations.
Media is making sad situations in society worse.
Your perspective is indeed a good read, well phrased and not harsh as the majority have been about Joe, the presumed implications of his "participation or lack thereof" throughout the matter, so on and so forth. I offer you and readers something to consider, not necessarily my opinion, rather, something to ponder. While Joe "could have" chosen to supercede his superior after he reported to him what he was told. and had gone to the authorities/police, I find it enigmatic, if you will, that his choice not to override his superior is criticized as not following through to the fullest extent of his "responsibility." To say he is complicit in keeping the matter "hush hush" when he reported the matter to his superior brings to mind an analogy as food for thought. Given the same alleged incident of sexual misconduct/abuse, had it occurred in the military, and it was reported by a high ranking officer equivalent to Joe's position to his superior, at that point he has done what he "should do", by following the chain of command. If he sees nothing is done, and goes beyond his superior to legal authorities, he now puts himself in jeopardy of violating the chain of command and can be disciplined as such. Rather enigmatic to say the least. It seems like we have a double standard, one that allows or expects civilians to freely go to supercede their superiors in matters such as this, and if they don't they are severely criticized, whereas in a different setting such as the military, one is punished for exceeding the chain of command.
Well now this is a truly complicated matter. The only news that I have heard about this is a brief headline on Sportscenter, so I really don't have all of the evidence necessary to make a judgement yet. Hypothetically, if the victim'(s), and any witnesses testify, and can prove it, then I think they should have the trial in Louisanna where he can recieve the death penalty. However, there is a small chance that this may be a scheme to grab some cash, then i think the accusers should get the death penalty. Basically, either way you go there's gonna be more oxygen for me.