OT- RIP Joe Paterno

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by bosoxfan

Joe was so powerful, nothing happened on that campas without him knowing about it. He himself admits to not doing enough, but it's a little too late now. How many kids could he have saved? I believe he was an enabler. What's pathetic is that he asked to finish the season when all this became public. What's horrible is he allowed it to continue to the present. The man did a lot of good for a lot of people, but how can anyone turn a blind eye to the whole story. He didn't go far enough. Not even close.

Rich

I cant believe I agree with a Bosox fan!!! The man had more power than the Governor of Pennsylvania and he did NOTHING!!! He was an enabler and I dont care how many people he smiled at and what he did for the University! When he had a chance to really do something significant, he failed miserably!!!!

[sbfinley]

None of us know the entire story, and none of us ever will. I have no affiliation to Penn State other than being a sports fan, but I still choose to remember the man by the 99.9% of his life of which he should be. RIP Joe Pa.

Originally Posted by YankeeCollector

I cant believe I agree with a Bosox fan!!! The man had more power than the Governor of Pennsylvania and he did NOTHING!!! He was an enabler and I dont care how many people he smiled at and what he did for the University! When he had a chance to really do something significant, he failed miserably!!!!

[jg8422]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

None of us know the entire story, and none of us ever will. I have no affiliation to Penn State other than being a sports fan, but I still choose to remember the man by the 99.9% of his life of which he should be. RIP Joe Pa.

All anyone needs to know is that he knew Sandusky was sodomizing children and that they people he told did nothing about it. He then decided to go about his everyday life w/o doing or saying anything about it. He put football and "the program" over doing what was right and needed to be done to protect innocent children. Not to mention he allowed Sandusky back at PSU and even game him office space and allowed him to used the football facilities for his Second Mile charity.

[Kenny Cole]

I'm not a Penn State alum, don't root for them in football or any other sport, and am appalled at the whole Sandusky situation and how it was handled. That being said to focus solely on that and ignore everything good that Paterno did in his life, particularly at this moment, shows a complete lack of class IMO.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

I'm not a Penn State alum, don't root for them in football or any other sport, and am appalled at the whole Sandusky situation and how it was handled. That being said to focus solely on that and ignore everything good that Paterno did in his life, particularly at this moment, shows a complete lack of class IMO.

If it were recruiting violations and selling jerseys and memorabilia, you are right! But, Im sorry when it comes to 10 yr old children being sodomized on campus and especially in the locker rooms, I dont care if hes the Pope!!!!I dont care what he did for 60+ years! He had a chance to protect innocent children and he failed!

[howard38]

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[drc]

Football is a kid's game and how it can exert so much influence and power at what is supposed to a be an institution of higher learning is ridiculous. That applies to beyond Penn State of course. And, for the record, I went to a Big Ten school and do root for their football team when they play-- so I'm not beyond enjoying a good Division I football game.

[BleedinBlue]

Integrity is often defined as doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching. In the case if Joe Paterno we are left to question his integrity. This is very unfortunate because in life he touched a great many people and is a legend to hundreds of his players. But, when he had the choice to truly make a difference in this life he chose the easier path. I admire the coach but lost respect for the man. RIP JoePa. I'm sure the last two months hastened the end and am disappointed you had a hand in letting it end this way. Your pain is over. For others it will never end.

[Wite3]

John et. al.

Being a teacher and working with children for the last 25 years, I was appalled at what went on with Sandusky and Paterno until one of my good friends asked me how I would have handled the situation.

I have made that call a few times in my career and each time it was on suspicion of abuse, not proof. And each time it was VERY difficult. I know teachers and staff that were unable to make the call even to possibly save a child. It is a difficult thing to confront. I am not excusing Paterno's actions at all and he had a responsibility to go further and he failed. But how many of you might have made the same calls in his situation. It is not an easy thing to believe, confront, and then take action against.

Before people roast Paterno, take a second and ask yourself how you would have handled it if a close friend/co-worker was possibly caught hurting a child and how would you handle all the implications to follow.

Joshua

[powderfinger]

I too am a school teacher. Until very recently, teachers were told not to confront parents, fellow faculty members, etc., they suspected of abuse or neglect. Protocol dictated that if you suspected someone of these transgressions, they should be reported to your supervisor (principle, dean, etc.). That person was to act on that information by taking it to people who make decisions about hiring and firing and who have access to the legal machinery of the institution. This policy was instituted to protect teachers and others from legal action resulting from what might turn out to be false accusations. This is exactly what Paterno did.

Where he failed was in not questioning why Sandusky was still on the sideline with him after he had reported what he knew to his superiors. It's very hard to believe that his actions in what would become a national scandal ended there. Was there no follow up? Didn't anybody get back to him to let him know what any type of investigation determined? Was there even an investigation? Regardless of what his superiors did or didn't do, Paterno had the ultimate responsibility for his program and his staff, and even if Paterno thought a hint of what Sandusky was accused of might be true, Sandusky should have been fired. That was Paterno's failing and his downfall.

Shakespeare, speaking through Mark Anthony in "Julius Caesar" wrote: "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones."

Unfortunately, he could have been writing about Joe Paterno.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Wite3

John et. al.

Being a teacher and working with children for the last 25 years, I was appalled at what went on with Sandusky and Paterno until one of my good friends asked me how I would have handled the situation.

I have made that call a few times in my career and each time it was on suspicion of abuse, not proof. And each time it was VERY difficult. I know teachers and staff that were unable to make the call even to possibly save a child. It is a difficult thing to confront. I am not excusing Paterno's actions at all and he had a responsibility to go further and he failed. But how many of you might have made the same calls in his situation. It is not an easy thing to believe, confront, and then take action against.

Before people roast Paterno, take a second and ask yourself how you would have handled it if a close friend/co-worker was possibly caught hurting a child and how would you handle all the implications to follow.

Joshua

Well-said, Joshua. One of the down sides to the internet is all the discussion forum preachers. I don't think any more or less of Paterno because of their speeches. The self-righteous pulpit is what Facebook's for.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Wite3

John et. al.

Being a teacher and working with children for the last 25 years, I was appalled at what went on with Sandusky and Paterno until one of my good friends asked me how I would have handled the situation.

I have made that call a few times in my career and each time it was on suspicion of abuse, not proof. And each time it was VERY difficult. I know teachers and staff that were unable to make the call even to possibly save a child. It is a difficult thing to confront. I am not excusing Paterno's actions at all and he had a responsibility to go further and he failed. But how many of you might have made the same calls in his situation. It is not an easy thing to believe, confront, and then take action against.

Before people roast Paterno, take a second and ask yourself how you would have handled it if a close friend/co-worker was possibly caught hurting a child and how would you handle all the implications to follow.

Joshua

Is this a joke? I wouldnt want my kids anywhere near you!

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

I'm not a Penn State alum, don't root for them in football or any other sport, and am appalled at the whole Sandusky situation and how it was handled. That being said to focus solely on that and ignore everything good that Paterno did in his life, particularly at this moment, shows a complete lack of class IMO.

Is this not heinous enough for you? The only thing worse to do to children is to murder them! Cmon man!!

[Kenny Cole]

Yeah, it's all JoePa's fault. Even though I suspect that neither you nor I know even half of what transpired or how, good, bad or indifferent, you are in a better position than anyone else to determine that. It must be wonderful to know so much more than the entire Pennsylvania criminal justice system combined. I wonder why none of them have asked you what they should do.

So let me ask you this: If a serial rapist saves a bunch of kids from a burning building, is he a bad guy or a hero? Rather clearly unlike you, my answer would be both. The good deed doesn't cancel out the bad, nor does the bad negate the good. That's the same way I think about JoePa and his legacy. And, as I mentioned before, I think you have absolutely no class to mention the bad without ever considering the good, particularly at a time like this. Have a good day.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

Yeah, it's all JoePa's fault. Even though I suspect that neither you nor I know even half of what transpired or how, good, bad or indifferent, you are in a better position than anyone else to determine that. It must be wonderful to know so much more than the entire Pennsylvania criminal justice system combined. I wonder why none have them have asked you what they should do.

So let me ask you this: If a serial rapist saves a bunch of kids from a burning building, is he a bad guy or a hero? Rather clearly unlike you, my answer would be both. The good deed doesn't cancel out the bad, nor does the bad negate the good. That's the same way I think about JoePa and his legacy. And, as I mentioned before, I think you have absolutely no class to mention the bad without ever considering the good, particularly at a time like this. Have a good day.

Im basing my information only on facts. Joe admitted that he should have done more but he chose the football program and the university over the safety of 10 yr old boys. He was a great football coach and thats it, but I dont want to hear about any of this integrity stuff!!

[trobba]

Most people are remembered for what they did in life, a few for what they did not do...for me, I will remember the latter when I think of Joe Paterno.

[packs]

I agree with the post above. I know a lot of people think what happened to Joe the last few months is "sad" and "not fair" but what if those kids were your kids? What if these things didn't have to happen to them if only he did the right thing? He was a great sportsman but to me the scandal and tragedies that occurred under his watch outweigh anything that happened on a football field. I have no sympathy for him in terms of how he is remembered. And think this scandal should tarnish his legacy and not be forgotten or set aside in favor of inconsequential championships.

Its strange to me that people defend him. That people say it wasn't his fault, that he was just there. It is hard for me to understand that just because a man coaches a football team people will blindly defend him. The things he did not do for children, things that cannot be undone and will destroy their lives FOREVER, far outweigh anything he did do in a sports arena. We're all adults. We understand the consequences of sexual abuse. I can't imagine saying "Yeah but..."

[Runscott]

This had to happen eventually, but he will really be missed - regardless of your thoughts regarding the recent issue that got him fired, he was a college football (and sports) institution and also showed us that there's no need to roll over and die when you get old. It sucks the way he went out.