The Penn State Scandal

Allegations
          Serious charges have been filed against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky regarding his sexual abuse of at least nine children over the span of 15 years. In addition, Penn State’s athletic director has stepped down. This case will most likely rock the State College campus in a way that it may not be able to bounce back from, which is a shame considering the history and tradition of the football program and its legendary coach.

Jerry Sandusky was the man who made Penn State into Linebacker U., his defensive schemes helped lead the Nittany Lions, under head coach Joe Paterno, to two national championships in 1982 and 1986.

Shake Ups

The troubling thing is these allegations happened during the reign of Joe Paterno. Reportedly, Paterno was told by Penn State wide receivers coach John McQueary in 2002 that McQueary had witnessed Sandusky partake in sexual abuse of a child inside a Penn State football building and the act went unreported to the police. What that means is Joe Paterno, needs to go. If he knew anything about this, even if there was the possibility of sexual abuse happening, especially within Penn State grounds, and he did not report it to the police then he must step down as head coach of Penn State’s football program. Since Paterno has been head coach there for 46 years then that means he has close connections with everyone involved not only in the football program but also higher up such as the president of the school. Penn State is Joe Paterno’s school, not just the football program but also the entire campus. That is why if he goes, everyone does. The Athletic Director has already stepped down, now it is time for everyone else to. Penn State just needs to clean house and start over, distancing the school from all the allegations being brought about. Everyone, starting at Joe Paterno, to the President and all through the football coaches, needs to be removed from Penn State connections.

What makes this case different from problems we have seen in the past is that here the NCAA has no jurisdiction in terms of punishments. This is a criminal case, not an NCAA violation. There were no recruitment violations nor was memorabilia sold or anything of that nature. What we have is obviously much more serious, but don’t look for Penn State to be put on probation because Mark Emmert, NCAA President, has no right to take any actions, this is a police matter. The only legal reason I could see the NCAA being able to intervene is if the some sexual abuses, as reported, really did take place on campus property, in which case the NCAA may have their own penalties to dish out.

It really is very unfortunate for the school that this had to happen, especially at this time, considering that this year Paterno broke the FBS record for coaching wins with 409 and his team was a favorite to make it to the Big Ten Championship game and possibly make it to the Rose Bowl, as of November 9 the Nittany Lions are undefeated in Big Ten play at 5-0 in addition to being 8-1 on the season with their only loss coming against an Alabama team that is currently ranked third in the country. Joe Paterno spent 62 years at Penn State, both as an assistant and head coach. The school is his and everyone there adores him, but unfortunately for all of college football one of the greatest coaches of all time will have to leave because of his actions (or lack thereof) and the actions of those around him that took place off the football field.

The Students/Players

This has got to be a tough pill to swallow if you have anything to do with Penn State football, whether you are a student or alum. You’re team is surprising everyone this season and is atop the Big Ten. Although this seems to be no time to talk football, it is difficult to avoid how it will impact the football team and its fans. The team has a very tough end of the year: vs. #19 Nebraska, @Ohio State, and @#18 Wisconsin. It is going to be very difficult for the players on the field for Penn State, who look up to and adore their legendary coach, to be able to go out onto the field at all and not have this in the back of their mind.

Sports are supposed to let you separate yourself from the outside world and, for the time span of a game, let you forget about what is going on around you. However, a criminal case involving sexual abuse of children is heavy stuff and you cannot expect professionals, let alone college students, to go out their and be able to play to their full extent without this weighing heavily on top of them.

As for the students and fans, you want to obviously show support for Joe Paterno and all that he has given to Penn State, which goes far beyond football, but withholding information like he did is inexcusable for anyone. The fans will show support for their coach, and especially their players, but not knowing what is to come in the future for the Nittany Lions football program is tough. We thought Ohio State and USC fans had it rough having a legendary coach centralized in NCAA violations and a team being put on probation for years, respectively, but this is a much more serious case. The hue of these criminal charges and the involvement of everyone around are going to waft over State College, PA for much longer than any NCAA violations would have.

One Final Comment

As I was watching Sportscenter this morning I heard something that absolutely disgusted me. Reporters were scrambling around Joe Paterno’s son, Scott, asking about the future of his dad and the football team. Although Scott refused to answer most questions that he was asked, he did slip one comment in before he left. He said to all the reporters that if they wanted any information “you’ll have to follow me on twitter.” IS HE SERIOUS? He is going to use something like this to try and get twitter followers!!?? I understand if he does not want to make a comment about his father or the situation, but to try and use information about your father with regards to a sexual abuse case involving one of his former assistants to attempt to get more twitter followers is sickening. If you are going to make the comments on twitter, why not just make them in person in front of reporters? Is he too cowardly to show his face as he speaks about such a serious situation or is he just that desperate to be followed on twitter?

I understand that in the grand scheme of things, trying to get followers on twitter is nothing compared to the sexual abuses charges that have been brought up, but trying to use that information for the individual purpose of furthering your social network resume is very inappropriate. That is was total disgrace of a comment and made me absolutely sick to my stomach when I heard him say that.