Paterno didn't abuse the children. He reported the story of abuse (abuse he did not actually even witness) to his superior, which is what university policy instructed him to do. Maybe Paterno had an opportunity to be a hero, hindsight is 20/20, but he was not particularly knowledgeable about the issue at large OR the actual events, so he did what he thought he was supposed to do. He was an extremely accomplished and well loved man - merely following protocol is not a reason to take that all away

I know for a fact that my Paterno statue post would cause some commentary.. This one being shown here is among the most innocent, a few others detailed some awful things I should do to myself..Unprintable things. Sandusky things..

And you’re right, anonymous, Paterno didn’t do the wretched deeds that others did.. 

But for some record, I’d like to place a number of news items from the memory hole back into the cyberworld of today:

Penn State’s Rap Sheet Way Longer Than Sandusky Scandal

Why did Penn State hire the president of football-rape-probe-cover-up U? 

And we also cannot forget the Freeh report: Freeh Report Slams Joe Paterno

All of this does not matter to some fans, though.. But it matters to  me.. Just as any group of highly placed people abusing their rights or the decency of their human presence, it bothers me..

Seems like the entire state of Pennsylvania forgot about the crime of children being molested, having their dignity and innocence stolen, and have a head coach who couldn’t care less.. A new poll shows that a vast majority of Pennsylvanians want the Joe Paterno statue to return to Penn State..

Penn State Pride.. Happy Valley.. welcome to the new world

Happy Valley couldn’t be sadder today. Penn State University has been hit with unprecedented penalties by the NCAA.

The ‘death penalty’ was not imposed on the football program, but it may as well have been.

The NCAA ordered:

• No bowl games for four years


• Scholarships reduced from 25 to 15


• $60 million fine


• 14 seasons of football victories from Paterno taken away

The online world.. the cable television world. .the sports world.. the bars of America.. all will be talking about today’s news concerning Penn State. Few will talk about the victims of sex scandals. 

We will.

Jerry Sandusky was accused, prosecuted, and convicted of systematically using a charity to get underprivileged kids into his sex ring. He showered with them, and brought them to his house to rape them. The underage boys were also not helped by the University and Joe Paterno after a cover up ensued because top officials wanted to protect the name and reputation of the school… and now, due to their actions for years, the reputation of Penn State and the football program lays in ruins. Yes, this is why these penalties were imposed. 

This is why.

A tale of one painting. Joe Paterno had a halo after he died, but on July 14, 2012, artist Michael Pilato used his skills to remove that same halo..

Sure, the late Penn State coach is no saint. But now that the Freeh report is sinking in and new facts are being digested, it’s clear that he was no saint either. He was a man who wanted to try to cover up as much as he could to save the reputation of Penn State.. and sordid as it all seems, the children who were abused in this situation always were last on the list of people who were helped. It’s a disgusting and sick story .. one that I can’t really read about much or think about much because of how deplorable it was and is, but also because of how many generations of proud Penn State graduates are shamed for good by the scars of sexual abuse in locker rooms on the campus.

Oh, and yes, the school has decided to re-do those shower rooms.. take away the look … but not the memories. No way in hell will people forget what happened there. And with more and more information trickling out about how much higher ups knew of the situation, the story isn’t dead yet.