Penn State and Joe Paterno: Are Both Going to Get What They Deserve?

Previously, I wrote an article supporting Joe Paterno and Penn State, only to the extent that I thought Joe Paterno needed to be heard on the subject of this incredible child abuse case. I stand by the statements I made that the media appears to be sensationalizing the whole ordeal, and not sticking to the facts. I also think it’s bad public policy for the media to try someone or some institution before they’ve had their day in court in the “court” of public opinion. I wanted to recognize Joe Paterno for his sixty years of service to Penn State, even though I’m not a fan. Of college football, I’m a fan and a self-confessed addict. I admired the record Paterno had accumulated at Penn State, becoming the winningest coach in college football and for staying loyal to an institution like Penn State during a time when coaches regularly quit their positions in search of greener pastures all the time. But there comes a time when you have to set aside your enthusiasm for college football and look at the big picture.
At first, I was convinced Penn State was merely making a scapegoat out of Joe Paterno by firing him before his last home game as coach and insulating themselves against future lawsuits, all of which yet may still be true. But it’s clear that the whole sex abuse thing had been going on for a long time, perhaps as long as eighteen years, and there’s no indication Paterno ever questioned Jerry Sandusky about any of this, or followed up on the matter to see how it was resolved. Paterno has hired a high profile Washington, DC attorney to handle his defense. Supposedly, this was done to “bring out the truth.” If this matter concludes without anyone knowing anything more than that a bunch of fines were paid and some victims were compensated, then we can safely assume Paterno knew about all of this and chose to do nothing about it.
I also wondered why it took so many years for this matter to come to the surface. I can’t help but wonder if there was some sort of cover-up going on, that has kept the voices of these victims silent for so many years. A big question that ought to be asked is why Jerry Sandusky, who’s been accused of all these horrendous child abuse incidents, at last count at least eight, is free on $100,000 bail without any of the $100,000 being secured. It’s as if the judge in this case, who was a contributor to Sandusky’s Second Mile Foundation, is treating the whole matter as if it’s a parking ticket. In effect, Sandusky was released on his own recognizance. That judge should have recused herself due to the obvious conflict of interest. And the bail should have been more like $1,000,000 with the usual 10% that’s secured. In other words, Jerry Sandusky should be behind bars, not giving interviews to NBC.
I’m willing to wager that if you or I had been charged with the kind of crimes Sandusky had been charged with, we wouldn’t be doing interviews with NBC and be out on bail. If this wide receivers coach, Mike McQueary witnessed the child abuse incident between Jerry Sandusky and the boy in the showers, he should have gone directly to the police. Instead, we’re to believe he told Joe Paterno that he “witnessed some horsing around in the showers between Sandusky and a young boy,” or words to that effect? Now, there are stories circulating in the New York Times that there may be even more victims tied to Jerry Sandusky than the eight victims we already know about.
What concerns me now is whether we’ll ever know the truth about what happened, or whether everyone’s silence will be bought off. You’ve got the son of Arlen Specter, former senator of Pennsylvania, representing the victims, known for winning a multi-million dollar settlement against college footbal for a player who suffered a concussion, and Joe Paterno hiring a well-known Washington. DC lawyer to defend his interests. Unlike what happens on some of the TV shows like Law and Order, we’re probably never going to know the truth, and some backroom deal is likely to be struck, with promises that “steps will be taken to ensure this sort of thing never happens again.” That’s typically what goes on with courts. Can’t you just see attorneys for Penn State and Joe Paterno contacting the attorneys for the victims saying, “How much do you want in order to make this go away?” I would love to believe that courts are all about justice and making sure the guilty are punished, but with Sandusky out on a $100,000 recognizance bond, I don’t think the courts are off to a good start.


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