Sex Abuse Scandal Rocks Penn State

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

So I see Penn State had uniform security yesterday evening and through the night guarding the Paterno statue. Amazing to see where their concerns still lie...

I understand where they are coming from, seeing that the statue could attract angry people, but it just sends the wrong message.

They really need to start disassociating Joe Pa. from the school, but I think its going to be a slow process. I'm sure some of you've been there, but State College worships him. Every store, restaurant, building, etc. I doubt that's going to change quickly, although I think it should.

[hooskins]

For the record, the statue needs to come down but its gonna take a while for everyone to get their heads out of the denial sand.

You would think they would remove it over the summer, before the students get back. They should do it quickly, without annoucing it.There will be riots if they did it during the school year.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I understand where they are coming from, seeing that the statue could attract angry people, but it just sends the wrong message.

They really need to start disassociating Joe Pa. from the school, but I think its going to be a slow process. I'm sure some of you've been there, but State College worships him. Every store, restaurant, building, etc. I doubt that's going to change quickly, although I think it should.

Funny that the man that put them on the map is also the one that completely destroyed them.

[SmootSmack]

It's hard to really believe any of the "good" he did was even sincere or true anymore. If he covered (or at least helped cover) this up, why should I believe he was always on the up with smaller things like recruiting?

In many ways it's only symbolic but remove his name from buildings, take down the statue, remove funding for the school, shut the program down. Don't shut it down before 2013 or even 2014 though. Give the players on the roster right now the opportunity to transfer. Waive the one year waiting period to play after a transfer for these students.

I mean I still can't get over the fact that it was 1998 when he first knew about this. 13 years.

[MTK]

It's just so appalling on so many levels.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

The Big Ten Network didn't cover any of the press conference instead showing old Big Ten games. Their reasoning: they are "not and never intended to be a news organization"

That's a bunch of bull. They have to cover this

They should just avoid football all together right now on the BTN. They should just switch over to women's college volleyball until everything dies down.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

So I see Penn State had uniform security yesterday evening and through the night guarding the Paterno statue. Amazing to see where their concerns still lie...

I had been saying they need to take it down and return it to the family before this report.

Now, I think a public destruction of the thing is appropriate.

[HailGreen28]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Funny that the man that put them on the map is also the one that completely destroyed them.

Happens a lot when people put someone on a pedestal, you know.

[hooskins]

It truly is horrible. I do think that this issue didn't occur just because these 4 are bad people. The issue here is the money and power that comes with college football. This could've happened at any school. With all the money involved it was just easier, in their minds, to ignore the issue or minimize it.

I'm not trying to diminish how horrible it is; I just think we need to take a long hard look at what college sports, particular mens football and basketball, have become. Saying its all on Joe Pa., and that's it, is a gross simplification of the entire problem (too much money in college sports). All that being said, its pathetic these 4, and the Board, let something llike this happen.

[NC_Skins]

One of the first things I thought when the scandal broke is that everybody should be cleaned out to get rid of the stench, starting with the Board of Trustees. Their decision to keep Joe Paterno's statue up only solidifies my thought back then.

Joe Paterno's statue to remain at Penn State, sources say - ESPN

I find a few things sickening and disturbing.

"You can't let people stampede you into making a rash decision," a trustee said. "The statue represents the good that Joe did. It doesn't represent the bad that he did."

"It has to stay up," said another trustee. "We have to let a number of months pass, and we'll address it again. But there is no way, no way. It's just not coming down."

But privately, Peetz, board member Ken Frazier and most of the other trustees, whose leadership on the Sandusky matter as a whole was harshly criticized by the Freeh report, spoke adamantly about the need to keep the statue standing, the sources told "Outside the Lines." They said they hoped the passage of time would prove to be an ally, sources said.

The trustees "are hoping they can have more time pass and people will forget about it and then it won't come down," one trustee said.

Some alumni groups have continued to call for resignations of trustees, and one trustee said this about the statue: "We don't want to further upset the alumni."

One trustee said the board is learning from its past mistakes.

These quotes tell me that they indeed haven't learned. They are still idolizing a man who covered up child molesting, they are still putting the football team before the sake of people's well being. They are worried about alumni's and donors. Does anybody actually believe these people are going to shut the football system down?...lol No, and they were a huge part of what happened at PSU. Most of the BoTs and high ranking PSU officials ran in the same circles. My guess is the BoT heard the whispers and knew, but didn't really care as long as that endowment grew and the cash cow kept mooing.

I told my parents today that if PSU doesn't take down that statue, I'll drive my jeep down to college state and take it out myself. It's a crime shame that the alumni and fans haven't done this very thing, but they are part of the reason Joe and crew did what they did. They put football before all else. JR, you want to represent me bro when I do?

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's hard to really believe any of the "good" he did was even sincere or true anymore. If he covered (or at least helped cover) this up, why should I believe he was always on the up with smaller things like recruiting?

Well, we do know that all this good he's done was not sincere, but yet a mere ploy to raise his legend and status among humanity. You only need to look at Jerry Sandusky to understand this. Many in PA believe that Sandusky was a bigger "saint" than Joe. His relentless work with the 2nd Mile charity and his time giving/helping to all those children in need. Much greater than Joe's effort to say the least. However, we also know that Jerry's work wasn't sincere either, and probably a ploy to help cover his guilt of the crimes he's committed.

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

In many ways it's only symbolic but remove his name from buildings, take down the statue, remove funding for the school, shut the program down. Don't shut it down before 2013 or even 2014 though. Give the players on the roster right now the opportunity to transfer. Waive the one year waiting period to play after a transfer for these students.

Nike has already followed in the direction you suggest with their removal of his name from their Child Development Center.

Nike removes Joe Paterno’s name from its child development center | Dr. Saturday - Yahoo! Sports

Not sure how you can have his (or any of them) name on anything connected with PSU and go forward.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by hooskins

It truly is horrible. I do think that this issue didn't occur just because these 4 are bad people. The issue here is the money and power that comes with college football. This could've happened at any school. With all the money involved it was just easier, in their minds, to ignore the issue or minimize it.

I'm not trying to diminish how horrible it is; I just think we need to take a long hard look at what college sports, particular mens football and basketball, have become. Saying its all on Joe Pa., and that's it, is a gross simplification of the entire problem (too much money in college sports). All that being said, its pathetic these 4, and the Board, let something llike this happen.

You'd like to think (perhaps naively) that, even as far as coaches/institutions will go to test the limits of what's acceptable behavior, there's a line that any decent human being knows should not be crossed.

[mooby]

The fact that the BoT is letting a statue of a child molester enabler continue to stand after the fact tells us everything we need to know. I still hope the NCAA gives the football program the death penalty. Their continued support for Paterno because of all the "good" he's done just shows they still aren't taking this seriously enough. Just put the hammer on them NCAA, and let it be a lesson. Because if they don't, it's a victory for other pervs taking advantage of their positions elsewhere.

[Chico23231]

Where will the money come when PSU is sued? It shouldnt be the taxpayers who pick up the bill. School should have to reach into all its donations and atheletic fund.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Where will the money come when PSU is sued? It shouldnt be the taxpayers who pick up the bill. School should have to reach into all its donations and atheletic fund.

Maybe that's why the statue is up still? To not upset the trustees who give the donations that the payments for civil suits will come from? Just speculating

And as gung ho as I was last week on the death penalty, it does not need to be carefully vetted out. There needs to be a plan in place that won't punish current players and the rest of the conference as well

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Maybe that's why the statue is up still? To not upset the trustees who give the donations that the payments for civil suits will come from? Just speculating

And as gung ho as I was last week on the death penalty, it does not need to be carefully vetted out. There needs to be a plan in place that won't punish current players and the rest of the conference as well

I dont know about "death penalty", but I would think at the least the football team should be suspended at least 1 year and all football activities and multiple sanctions there after (multiple loss of bowls, 10+ scholarship yanked for several years, etc.). Its unfortunate for the current players, but my head cant get pass the fact the protection of the football program was more important than the protection of kids. I just cant let that go, and neither should the NCAA.