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Opinion by Loren Kopff
Almost two weeks after the Pennsylvania State University football program got hit with “death penalty”-like sanctions from the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal, I’m still in shock. Not because the university was banned from playing in a bowl game for four years, dinged for a monster $60 million fine or had scholarships reduced.
I’m still in shock that the late Joe Paterno, once the NCAA’s Division I winningest coach, is no longer that. Now, don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t defend Paterno remaining silent when he was initially made aware of what that monster had done to those young children. Yes, he had the right to stop the criminal acts of Sandusky a long time ago and I wish he had.
Like most college football fans, I grew up idolizing coaches like Paterno, Barry Switzer of the University of Oklahoma and Bobby Bowden of Florida State University, who now needs 32 wins to become the NCAA’s Division I winningest coach.
But, to vacate the 111 victories from 1998-2011 was not the right punishment. Paterno did not play any ineligible players, either with or without his knowledge. Paterno did not have any players receive gifts, money, bribes, etc. like Reggie Bush of the University of Southern California did not too long ago. Paterno did not have his players cheat during an online exam like Florida State University did in 2006 and 2007. Paterno did not have players receive tattoos in exchange for pieces of memorabilia like Ohio State University did in 2010.
All Paterno was guilty of is not manning up and telling the police that Sandusky had abused children. How does that constitute vacating his victories? In fact, what constitutes the NCAA taking away victories from a coach or a program? Anything and everything? No. I didn’t realize that remaining silent could cost a coach victories.
Now I wonder if every coaching victory is legitimate because there are coaches and programs out there that cheat, but have not been caught yet. There’s that word again-cheat. Paterno did not cheat. He just remained silent. Penn State did not cheat. University administrators just remained silent.
Woody Hayes, who coached Ohio State University from 1951-1978, punched Charlie Bauman of Clemson University during the Gator Bowl in 1978. That would be the last game Hayes coached but he didn’t have any wins vacated for punching a player.
I don’t get it.
Southern Methodist University was placed on the death penalty in 1987 after an investigation revealed, among other things, that players were receiving money. Bobby Collins was the SMU head coach from 1982-1986 before resigning in the wake of the investigation. But all of his 43 victories are still standing and he was never sanctioned by the NCAA. Again, I don’t get it.
A coach remains silent and his victories are vacated but another coach can punch a player or boosters can pay players and all that is done is he gets fired? The NCAA needs to determine what can result in victories being vacated.
My heart goes out to the families and children who were victims of this disgusting crime. At the same time, I’m saddened to see this happen to someone like Paterno, who was adorned by so many fans. I wish he could have done the right thing and I wish he could still be alive to finally speak up and explain himself. I don’t condone his silence but to take away 111 victories was wrong.
Note: Loren Kopff is the Sports Editor for Hews Media Group.
I agree mostly, except Paterno did not remain silent.
He told Curley and Schultz, who told Spanier. Those three then told a lawyer and officials and a lawyer at the The Second Mile, which was the source of Sandusky’s victims.
From McQueary’s testimony that he saw no sexual contact, one could easily believe that all Sandusky did was hug the boy in 2001, exactly what he did in 1998. The DA and PA Dept.of Public Welfare didn’t arrest Sandusky in 1998 because they determined that hugging a boy in the showers was not a state crime.
Big Bill Tilden was a convicted pedophile but he never lost any of his seven U.S. Open tennis titles. He didn’t even get an asterisk.
You Joepologists are at it again, distorting facts in a vain attempt to salvage the tattered remnants of Paterno’s “legacy.”
Paterno’s own Grand Jury testimony reveals, in no uncertain terms, that he was told “something sexual” had occured between Sandusky and a boy.
So when you state that Mike McQueary “saw no sexual contact” you are contradicting your “hero” Joe Pa’s sworn testimony.
You are also wrong in stating that Paterno informed two people. He only told Tim Curley, his hand picked “errand boy.”
Lets wait until all testimonies come out before passing judgment. To pull opinions from the freeh report and use them as facts is absolutely absurd. I’m sick of people that believe in due process being called “joepologists”. It’s innocent until proven guilty…and if you read the freeh report there is not one “FACT” that says joe covered anything up. Not one…just opinions from a former FBI director that has a history of F*cking up investigations and drawing false conclusions.
Lets wait until all testimonies come out before passing judgment. To pull opinions from the freeh report and use them as facts is absolutely absurd. I’m sick of people that believe in due process being called “joepologists”. It’s innocent until proven guilty…and if you read the freeh report there is not one “FACT” that says joe covered anything up. Not one…just opinions from a former FBI director that has a history of Screwing up investigations and drawing false conclusions.
Well said!
You appear to have omitted some very important information. through their silence The Great Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz created an environment for Sandusky’s perverted actions to thrive. Without their “silence” many young boys would not have been raped. I am so tired of selfish self center people opening their mouths and letting stupidity flow from within. This issue is about 4 or more men in positions of power within an organization that looked the other way allowing many (I am sure we will never know just how many) young boys to be raped and have their innocence, ability to trust others, their feelings of self worth taken away because of the “silence”
If you need to defend someone, then defend the true victims. Defend the young men who still have nightmares from what the silence did to them
The problem is too many in the media have misrepresented, misreported the facts.
PSU Timeline
http://www.yardbird.com/corbett_sandusky_psu_timeline.htm
http://americanfreepress.net/?p=5131
http://dmnewsi.com/2012/07/26/dmn-in-depth-the-chicken-ranch-sanduskys-second-mile/
http://deadspin.com/5925401/joe-paterno-gave-jerry-sandusky-the-option-to-keep-coaching-as-long-as-he-was-the-coach
1998 Police Report
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/redactedpolicereport.pdf
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/patriot-news_exclusive_psychol.html (added 7/31)
Schultzs file from 98
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/08/schultzs-secret-file-could-exonorate-psu.html (added 8/3)
Ray Gricar
http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/channel.cfm?channelid=2&contentid=9253&page=2
Inside CYS
http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/6/19/3094803/Inside-CYS-Sandusky-Penn-State
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-letter-to-rainn.html (added 8/2)
Who gave Sandusky Emeritus Status
http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/q-a-who-gave-sandusky-office-space-and-emeritus-status/
PSU Police Force is real Police
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/11/penn_state_scandal_should_campus_cops_have_reported_the_allegations_of_abuse_.html
Gary Schultz, SVP for Finance and Business in 2001, was the recognized Police Commissioner
http://www.police.psu.edu/cleryact/documents/116593_PolicySafety_UP.pdf (added 7/31)
Former police chief Thomas Harmon
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/12/twitter_timeline_psu_police_of.html (added 8/1)
http://deadspin.com/5868787/former-penn-state-police-chief-testifies-that-psu-administrator-never-told-him-about-2002-sandusky-shower-incident (added 8/1)
Wendall Courtney
http://onwardstate.com/2011/11/09/current-second-mile-counsel-courtney-previously-worked-for-psu/ (added 8/1)
Who was considered mandatory reporter
http://cumberlink.com/sports/penn-state-fb/article_19416b16-0bd6-11e1-b9f8-001cc4c03286.html
Child Protective Services Law
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_mccann/11/09/joe.paterno/index.html#ixzz22KSTR1dO (added 8/1)
Reporters of child maltreatment often want to know the result of an investigation. Some State and local child welfare agencies will inform mandated reporters of the outcome of a report. 47 In most States, CPS sends letters to mandated reporters and also may call them. A family’s right to privacy, however, supersedes mandated reporters being privy to confidential investigations. Therefore, the reporter may not be informed of the investigation’s findings and may never learn the results from the report.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/childcare/chapterthree.cfm (added 8/2)
Quote: With the benefit of hindsight I wish I had done more
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hindsight
http://www.pennlive.com/specialprojects/index.ssf/2012/01/joe_paterno_a_life_-_he_was_pe.html
Case against Joe Paterno not all cracked up to be
http://WWW.POWERLINEBLOG.COM/ARCHIVES/2012/07/THE-CASE-AGAINST-JOE-PATERNO-WEAK-TO-NON-EXISTENT-ON-THE-CURRENT-RECORD.PHP
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/07/joe-paterno-in-1998-freeh-farce.html
Joe Paterno and Spanier meeting in 2004
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/the_truth_behind_graham_spanie.html
Witnesses may not report
http://personalinjury-california.com/sexual-abuse/why-witnesses-may-not-report-sex-crimes-against-minors
Facts Most People Still Don’t “Get” About the Jerry Sandusky Scandal
http://www.johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=215 (added 8/1)
Mike McQueary testimony
http://media.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/other/Curley-Schultz-Hearing-Transcript.pdf
http://abcnews.go.com/US/questions-raised-accuracy-penn-state-sodomy-allegation-key/story?id=15133834#.TuW9BGNR6dY
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/07/let-mikey-try-it-or-mm-dilemma.html
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/06/3042396/lawyer-witness-timeline-wrong.html (added 7/31)
http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/11/17/why-did-mike-mcqueary-play-in-a-2nd-mile-golf-fundraiser-organized-by-jerry-sandusky-just-one-year-after-witnessing-the-alleged-shower-rape/ (added 7/31)
How you think you’d react in child abuse situation
http://www.livescience.com/21566-sandusky-cover-up-why-people-look-the-other-way-in-child-sex-abuse.html (added 8/1)
Jack Raykovicz role with 2ndMile
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/second-mile-knew-of-abuse-allegations-323046/
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/01/jack-raykovitz-and-second-mile.html
http://deadspin.com/jack-raykovitz/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1201908/12/12/index.htm
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/psu/agency-for-at-risk-youths-had-inklings-of-trouble-in-1998-322919/
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7368256/ex-second-mile-board-members-level-blame-jerry-sandusky-scandal
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/jack-raykovitz-second-mil_n_1092555.html
2nd Mile role
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-second-mile-involvement-suspicion.html
http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/11/16/second-mile-chairman-was-political-donor-to-judge-who-reduced-jerry-sanduskys-bail/ (added 7/31)
http://www.thesecondmile.org/pdf/AnnualReport2010.pdf (added 7/31)
Tim Curley
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2012/07/attorneys_for_tim_curley_gary.html
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/05/penn_state_officials_say_part.html (added 7/31)
Dr. Dranov Testimony
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/06/20/defense-rests-sandusky-chooses-not-testify
http://onwardstate.com/2012/06/20/day-7/
John McQueary Testimony
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/13/3227480/john-mcqueary-father-of-key-jerry.html
http://onwardstate.com/2012/06/13/day-three-off-to-a-quick-start/
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/jerry_sandusky_trial_john_mcqu_1.html (added 8/1)
Gary Schultz testimony
http://cnninsession.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/schultz-curley-preliminary-hearing-transcript.pdf
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/06/secret-files-bot-vice-chair-masser.html
http://articles.mcall.com/2012-07-31/sports/mc-penn-state-abuse-freeh-files-2-20120731_1_freeh-report-maribeth-roman-schmidt-sandusky-case (added 8/2)
Cynthia Baldwin
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/penn_state_legal_counsel_cynth.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Baldwin
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/05/26/3208686/ex-university-counsel-baldwin.html
http://bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/20120727penn_state_counsels_role_in_sandusky_inquiry_called_into_questionhttp://www.centredaily.com/2012/07/27/3274899/baldwins-role-in-scandal-questioned.html
http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202562838746&slreturn=20120629205334
http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/7/2/3131816/joe-paterno-penn-state-jerry-sandusky-coverup
Spanier
http://espn.go.com/pdf/2012/0723/espn_otl_spanierletter.pdf
Credibility of Freeh
http://www.businessinsider.com/penn-state-investigator-louis-freeh-accused-of-heading-a-massive-cover-up-as-director-of-fbi-2012-7
http://abcnews.go.com/US/penn-state-hires-fbi-director-louis-freeh-investigate/story?id=14999351
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1265466-ex-fifa-presidential-candidate-has-ban-annulled-and-how-it-connects-to-penn-st
http://nicholasstixuncensored.blogspot.com/2007/10/fbis-war-on-richard-jewell.html
http://americanfreepress.net/?p=5136 (added 8/1)
http://lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson344.html (added 8/1)
Credibility of Freeh Report
http://chronicle.com/article/Freeh-Group-Member-Criticizes/133213/
http://no tpsu.blogspot.com/2012/07/who-is-liar-joe-paterno-or-louis-freeh.html?m=0
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/13/what-the-freeh-report-on-sandusky-says-about-the-failure-of-police-who-investigate-sex-crimes/
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/07/15/opinion/doc50022e6ab0246499824761.txt
https://ch1prd0410.outlook.com/owa/?ae=Item&a=Open&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAD05qdDl0m4RZw1xaJn5GIFBwCj%2fPHaiMKSTrqCkH%2fh9quAAAAFQNYeAAAE1w60cr5pQJ3CFVwyOcrRAAIxkl8iAAAA&pspid=_1343591531325_632938270
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/attorney-amendments-to-penn-states-freeh-report-disconcerting-646047/
http://notpsu.blogspot.com/2012/06/summary-of-leaked-emails.html
http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/abc-and-corrupt-media-distort-freeh-report-on-sandusky/
http://www.johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=220
http://www.johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=219
http://www.businessinsider.com/did-the-freeh-report-overstate-joe-paternos-role-in-the-penn-state-cover-up-2012-7
http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/
http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/2012/07/red-flags-and-personal-fouls-dishonest.html
http://www.thesportsnotebook.com/2012/07/an-alternative-to-the-standard-media-narrative-on-joe-paterno-penn-state/ (added 7/31)
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/07/penn_state_sex-abuse_scandal_a.html (added 8/2)
Errata Sheet
http://www.thefreehreportonpsu.com/Louis-Freeh-Report-on-Penn-State-ERRATA-SHEET.pdf
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/penn_state_freeh_report_update.html
PS4RS
http://www.ps4rs.org/docs/press-release_07-26-12%20questions1.pdf
http://www.ps4rs.org/freeh.html
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/psu-alumni-group-questions-hiring-of-freeh-group-646962/ (added 7/31)
Paterno Family Letters
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8157919/penn-state-nittany-lions-text-joe-paterno-letter-december-2011
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/12/paterno-familys-statement-on-freeh-report/
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/23/2224316/statement-from-paterno-family.html
http://ps4rs.wordpress.com/category/joseph-vincent-paterno/
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/04/05/3152378/family-releases-statement-from.html (added 8/1)
Joes Speech to board in 1983
http://fortheglory2012.com/joe-paternos-speech-to-trustees-1983/
PSU Football #1 in academic Bowl
http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/07/paternos-revenge-penn-state-football-is-no-1-in-academic-bowl/#ixzz22Jhvjc6u (added 8/2)
Joe Paterno Supporters
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/16/coach-k-penn-states-firing-of-joe-paterno-horrible-a-real-mistake/
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/backpage/james_media_not_paterno_responsible_kt7sBXL64DK1Sn5iLbStRJ#ixzz20n6uuif6
http://www.nesn.com/2012/07/franco-harris-argues-against-penn-state-sanctions-still-hoping-to-clear-joe-paternos-name.html
http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2012-articles/july/brent-musburger-s-comments-show-complexity-of-penn-state-situation.html
http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2012/July31/LennyScapegoatStory.html (added 8/1)
http://www.johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=221 (added 8/1)
http://rockyhill.patch.com/articles/former-penn-state-player-still-backs-paterno-1ccc88f3 (added 8/3)
Kevin Slaten
http://player.streamtheworld.com/liveplayer.php?callsign=KFNSAM
http://www.chirbit.com/kingscourt590
http://chirb.it/y3Hx73 (John Ziegler from Framingpaterno.com) (added 8/3)
http://chirb.it/AN1BDd (Barb Kelly, PSU Grad and Writer for KC Star 7-31) (added 8/1)
http://chirb.it/LJ2cyt (Sara Lampe, Missouri state representative, 7-19)
http://chirb.it/sA91IP (Agent and former college and pro football player Ralph Cindrich 7 -26)
http://chirb.it/PLgy2B (Pittsburgh radio 93.7 Vinnie Richichi 7-24)
http://chirb.it/zFhG5f (PSU trustee Anthony Lubrano 7-23)
http://chirb.it/q5BsB1 (Former NCAA invenstigator Chuck Smrt 7 – 23)
http://chirb.it/CaFkt8 (Yael Abouhalkah of the KC Star, attempting to defend Sara Lampe 7 – 20)
Corbett Role as Attorney General
http://www.yardbird.com/Freeh_report_ignores_Corbett_inaction.htm
http://www.yardbird.com/tv_town_officials_cant_stop_pedophile_sex_ring.htm
http://canon-mcmillan.patch.com/articles/lawmaker-wants-feds-to-investigate-state-ag-s-handling-of-sandusky-case/media_attachments/edit?upload_started=1340806556
http://casablancapa.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-thing-you-do-not-want-to-do-as.html
http://m.delcotimes.com/delcotimes/pm_110068/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=YiKYJBqK
http://protecthersheychildren.org/documents/Essays/the-lambs-and-the-wolves.pdf (added 7/31)
Corbett Role as BOT
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/07/20/3266906/corbetts-role-under-scrutiny.html
Corbett role as Governor
http://www.yardbird.com/DA_seeks_FBI_probe_of_Corbett_security_contractor.htm
http://www.yardbird.com/joe_paterno_takes_the_fall.htm
http://www.yardbird.com/Corbett_governorship_imperiled_by_spin.htm
http://www.freindlyfirezone.com/national-news/item/232-corbett's-response-on-sandusky-fails-to-answer-questions
Corbett and 2nd mile
http://deadspin.com/5859802/past-and-present-board-members-of-the-second-mile-gave-a-combined-20178364-to-gov-corbetts-2010-campaign
http://casablancapa.blogspot.com/2011/11/building-relationships.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/24/1102757/-Should-Gov-Corbett-Be-Investigated-for-In-Action-in-Sandusky-Case
http://americanfreepress.net/?p=5335 (added 8/1)
BOT donating to 2nd Mile
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/11/17/BOT_donating_to_second_mile.aspx
Lance Shaner
http://politicker.com/2012/07/sandusky/
Joe Paterno never tampered in Justice System
http://www.statecollege.com/news/columns/district-judge-never-once-any-sign-paterno-tampered-in-justice-system-988524/
Vicky Triponey credibility
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/penn_state_official_denies_rep.html
http://safeguardoldstate.org/the-vicky-triponey-timeline-of-terror/
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/08/31/process_for_groups_defies_student_rights.aspx
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/psu?before=1322068631
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/09/16/a_year_later_triponey_resignat.aspx
http://www.kingwoodunderground.com/topic.jsp?topicId=11735271
Mark Emmert
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018791158_guest30kenarmstrong.html (added 7/31)
http://mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20110112/Accuser%27s-father-speaks-out-about-UW-rape-investigation/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004177723_uwrapecase12m.html
“As always, criminal justice proceedings, if any, take precedence over any NCAA actions.”
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/11/ncaa-says-it-is-monitoring-developments-at-syracuse/1 (added 8/2)
“A head coach is not required to investigate wrongdoing, but is expected to recognize potential NCAA violations, address them and report them to the athletics administration.”
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/story/2012-07-31/ncaa-sanctions-central-florida-postseason-ban/56608682/1#.UBhKeo0Q0LM.mailto (added 8/2)
Other University Scandals Opening Pandoras Box
Does the NCAA now go after The Citadel for their child abuse cover up?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/the-citadel-faces-child-a_n_1092348.html
Or Notre Dame football for putting a kid into harms way that lead to his death?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5736851
Or University of Virginia for the lacrosse death.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/yeardley-loves-mother-sue-lacross-coaches-daughters-death/story?id=16279118
Victim doesn’t agree with sanctions
http://www.wgal.com/news/susquehanna-valley/state/Victim-No-4-s-attorney-talks-about-PSU-sanctions/-/9758860/15655368/-/t4e8fgz/-/index.html#ixzz21YPBNUrJ
What a backwards opinion. The only reason for the cover up was to protect the football program. Had Paterno made sure Sandusky was punished, the man who designed the winning defense, the program would have been rocked and the top recruits would go elsewhere.
By hiding Sandusky all that time the program’s reputation remained intact and gave them a direct on the field advantage by keeping the top recruits coming. The cover up, by Paterno, gave him some of those wins.
Stop saying Paterno told his bosses. He HAD NO BOSSES. He threw them out when they asked him to retire.
Paterno told them NOT to report Sandusky in 2001 and that is what they did, followed Paterno’s orders.
“All Paterno was guilty of is not manning up and telling the police that Sandusky had abused children”. Seriously? All Joe Paterno did was choose to protect HIS football program rather than tell the police that Sandusky abused children. All Joe Paterno did was choose to protect HIS legacy rather than tell the police that Sandusky abused children. How can you trivialize these choices- they were were wrong on every level- PSU is a University not a football team and PSU was not instituted to serve Joe Paterno- rather Joe Paterno was paid to serve PSU. Sadly Mr. Paterno is dead and cannot be questioned or charged for his part in the crimes he supported through his coverup. I applaud the NCAA for taking this very meaningful step of removing the fruits Joe Paterno criminal behavior.