In the end... all "our" good will fall short. I think Vito is right in waiting to see what shakes out. Even then, when the dust settles, none of us will likely ever really know the full truth. What we currently know is that sometimes people get wrongfully accused and sometimes guilty people get away with the unspeakable. In the end, I believe a day of reckoning will occur on a forum way bigger than any of us can even begin to imagine.
T, you're killing me here. Sin is sin, is it not? A person is only measured by their worst moment? Forgiveness........mercy......hello? I know you have strong feelings about this, but are you holding him more accountable than others who were given the same chance to step in? I'm not, and I'm not holding him any less accountable either. BUT, I SURELY will not NEGATE all the good this man has done, because of the bad he did by not going further to prevent. Can you even say he actually sinned? Where's the line? You're a good man T, but I'm darn sure you've done some wrong. I'll not take one good away for ALL the wrong you've done.
Seriously though... I keep hearing "all the good" that Paterno has done...what did he do besides coach, win football games and donate money??? There are plenty of coaches that coach for free, for the "love" of it, and there are plenty of people that donate a hell of a lot more money then he ever did, are they considered "legends"?
I really should stay away from this post, for a lot of different reasons, but I just can't. I guess I'm easy to bait in. I have two little children of my own. Ones 3 and the other will be 2 in June. The mere thought of someone doing something to them, horrifies me. I've always said, that if anyone ever decides they are going to hurt my children in any way, the first stop they better make is to the funeral home to pick out their casket. That said, I will stand by my position on this matter. Those holding him to a higher standard, saying he should have done more, are usually the same people standing on a soapbox, looking down their noses at everyone else. You weren't in his shoes at that moment, you didn't hear what he heard, you have no idea how far he went with it. Exactly how far does this allegation need to be taken anyway? This landed on the DA's desk and that DA elected not to pursue it. Should Paterno himself called the governor, or, better yet, the President? If you take something to your superiors, which, I'm sorry, but anyone who says they'd step over their boss or even their boss's boss, is simply blowing smoke and your full of you know what. But if you tell your superiors, they say they'll have it looked into, then, weeks later, you ask about it and its on the desk of the DA, what in the heck are you supposed to say? I'm perfectly fine with what Paterno did in terms of reporting. I think any normal, rational thinking person would do exactly what he did. Now, as I said before, if we come to find out that Paterno was at the heart of a cover up of sorts, then I will be the first to admit I was wrong and want to ride with Vito, pitchfork and torch in hand. But I know I don't need to worry about that. Thats what 60 years of building trust with a university and community will lend ya.
Come on bro -- This statement is just all the more ignorant given that we are in the age of Google :D
Like I said.... besides what I mentioned. Donating money is easy, did you see how much Ndamukong Suh donated last year alone? Google it!
Ah BowhuntingFool... read what everyone else has been saying. He did exactly what was protocol for the state of Pennsylvania in terms of reporting such incidents. Lets not forget, he reported allegations from a second hand source, not something he witnessed personally. I enjoy debating with the holier than thou population I guess.....
He donated most of his salary each year. If its so easy, next year put 80% of what you make and donate it to your charity of choice. It's funny how people rag on guys like Paterno for donating when they themselves aren't putting up nearly the salary-percentages he was At 9:39 I said Google It -- at 9:42 you said you had...did you really read all that's out there in 3 mins?
I googled it before I posted the question. Like I said, besides what I mentioned, you really shouldn't have to google it should ya?
Forget about the money, that's not the good that comes to mind when I think of Joe, heck I can't believe I'm in the thread, I'm a Notre Dame fan. I just can't count all the lives that he impacted for the good and clear them because he could have done more. Their is TON of people that could have done more who are receiving a fraction of the ferocity that this man is getting, if that much.
Ben, IMO, you're right about him being the whipping post in all of this. Of course, what fun would it be for the media whipping up on some average guy like an assistant coach or administrator for the university? Look guys, Joe Paterno was no saint. I'm sure he's done things behind the scenes for the betterment of the football program at one point or another during his career. All coaches do. But the man has stood up for what is right ever since the beginning. I have lived in the State College area my whole life, went to school here and am now working for Penn State. I've met countless football players old and current. I'm even in close contact with a few of the older players to this day. Every single one of these young men echo the same thing about Joe Paterno. When he recruits you and you play football for him, you better believe you'll be going to class and making something of yourself other than just playing football, if he has anything to do with it. he and his wife Sue have welcomed students, staff and others into their home on a regular basis. We've seen this man walking around campus and State College, just like anyone else. He was approachable and very kind to anyone who stopped to say hello. In one sense, he was larger than life, legendary if you will, but in another sense, he was just like anyone else and wanted to be treated that way. He was a victim of his own successes. He hated the spotlight, hated the media and most of all, hated being put on pedestal. He had probably the lowest salary in D1 college football and because he didn't even need that much money, donated it back to the university for a library, scholarship funds, special olympics, etc. He lived in a tiny house, just off campus and walked to his office every day. To us here, he was a legend, not just because of football, but because of what he's stood for all these years and what he's done off the field for so many. Should he have done more? I don't know. Could he have? I don't know that either. The facts are hidden and will hopefully come out in the trial. I think his biggest downfall was entrusting others to take care of something that was above and beyond him. He said himself that he's never dealt with anything like that and didn't know what to do. Maybe he was telling the ttruth. A 75 year old man, blind sided by the likes of something he's never encountered or dealt with before. He took it to people who were better prepared to deal with such things and trusted them to do what needed to be done. The fact that people held him responsible is hard to believe. What did he do? Well, we're not sure. What was he told? We're not entirely sure of that either. Was he told by higher ups it was being taken care of? Not sure there either. Was he told to step back and let "us" take care of it? Not sure there either. But everyone is still quick to judge.....
And you know something else that really bothers me about all of this? The missing DA, Ray Gricar. This case hit his desk back then. He was known for taking cases like this. Going after the big boys so to speak. He "elected" not to take it. Some time later....gone, missing without a trace. WTH?
