The latest on Penn State, Jerry Sandusky and the firing of Joe Paterno
Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno talks to supporters Wednesday night after his firing.
Associated Press
Allegations of child abuse. Allegations of a cover-up. Firings. Student riots.
The many layers of the Penn State scandal that start with former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky are covered in full by our partners at PennLive.com, including the announcement today of Tom Bradley taking over as interim head coach. Here's a link to the days of coverage, including the firing of football coach Joe Paterno on Wednesday night.
Sports columnists across the nation are weighing in on how Penn State officials have handled the investigation and its building aftermath.
PennLive.com columnist Tom Flynn writes that Paterno "confused his place in college football and in the university."
More opinions and news:
- New York Times: Who is Mike McQueary? He's a football lifer
- SI.com: Andy Staples on Penn State: "For too long, the school and the athletic department have felt they didn't need to answer to anyone."
- Yahoo Sports: Columnist Dan Wetzel says the rebuilding at Penn State needs to start as soon as possible
- Fox Sports: "Not an ounce of joy" in the Paterno firing, columnist Bill Reiter writes
- AOL FanHouse: Columnist David Steele writes that "Penn State took its time, but on Wednesday night, it did the right thing."
- NCAA.org: The NCAA is monitoring the Penn State scandal
- CBSSports.com: Dennis Dodd writes that it's time for schools to take back their athletic programs
- New York Daily News: Columnist Mike Lupica says maybe someday Joe Paterno will properly explain why he didn't do more
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 3:49 a.m.
THE ART OF TOUCHING : Football is a game in which there is extensive body contact and that is one reason we enjoy watching this sporting event. We have beeen spending millions of dollars to upgrade the facilities and most of the coaches enjoy a celebrity status apart from lucrative payments and perks. The role of the coach is important and there is prestige and monumental recognition for the job performed. If the players need a coach, could I inquire if the coach needs a person to train him in the 'Art of Touching'. When a baby is crying, the simple act of lifting the baby makes the baby to stop crying. The baby recognizes the fact of being touched by mother, and the act of touching provides the comfort, care, and reassurance that the baby needs. Touch is an important human function and a coach could be instructing his players to use the human body contact in an effective manner to win the game. Touch is a neuro-muscular function and it is the medium that man uses to convey his moods, feelings, and emotions. I have trained myself in the art of touching. When I touch another person, I can easily exclude feelings of sexual desire or sexual attraction towards that person. In the art of healing people, it is important that we must touch people without getting sexually aroused by that act of touching. The person who is touched immediately recognizes the nature of touch and instinctively responds for the comfort received. While fighting a battle, we use much more aggression than while playing football. By simply touching a wounded victim, I let the victim feel my presence. It gives a very enjoyable feeling. It is gives a greater sense of happiness than when I touch person to experience sexual arousal. Having learned the art of touching, it becomes difficult to touch others in an inappropriate manner. If the coaches understand the concept of touching, they would not use their position, or occupation to touch others for inappropriate reasons.
swcornell
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
I find it interesting how we, as a society, handle the rape of a boy. I'll bet if Sandusky had been caught in the showers with a 10 year old girl, he would have been taken away in hand cuffs and still be in prison. And that was not a riot! Detroit and LA have had riots. That was a handful of drunk students wrecking someones vehicle.
Stephenb1707
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.
Forgot to add that if Joe Pa loved Penn State that much he should have gone to where the students were rioting and told them to go home. My guess is they would have listened. I wish PSU the best and hopefully when all that had knowledge and did nothing are gone they will get back to what made them great.
Stephenb1707
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
You are responsible for your own actions. If you read the Grand Jury report you will be appalled. Joe should have banded him from Penn State and demanded he get help. Whether he realizes it or not he put his football program and good friend ahead of what was right. As far as the people around Joe goes, if Joe did nothing about it than who was going to go over his head. Sad but true and not just at PSU but all colleges. When are people going to learn the cover ups only make it worse. I can only pray to God that if I would find one of my best friends doing something that terrible I would call 911 as quick as I could get to a phone. Joe and the rest deserve what they get.
15crown00
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 5:43 a.m.
Philadelphia Enquirer reports the the coach or a representative of his phoned a high priced and famous Washington D.C. on Thursday.do u suppose they talked about the weather? report:Joe Pa contacts defense lawyer
15crown00
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 5:26 a.m.
Joe Pa knew about this and did no more than he legally had to do.what about the morality issue.shutting up and hoping things would go away i think triumphed over what should have been done by Joe Pa. The WHOLE cast of characters needs to be removed from PSU Forever.
treetowncartel
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 3:05 a.m.
I agree about the scope of the story, this is the Katrina of sports scandals, so many layers.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
For a town like Ann Arbor... that is so rooted in academics and football... and constantly has MEGA guides on Football and other stuff.... I find it rather odd, that the Ann Arbor news did not cover this a bit more. You talk about all sorts of sports stuff, but this topic seems to be off-limits to you, or something. If you were the marketing or PR arm of the university, then I would understand your silence. But, you are not the marketing portion of the university. Even the Michigan Daily spoke more about this matter than you. From a journalist standpoint, I have to wonder and ask the question.... Ann Arbor news, why was your coverage of this huge event so small? The outcome of the investigations could have implications on new procedures/policies/rules across all universities.
Kai Petainen
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
I agree... Naaaaaah. Ah.... your answer is most logical and it would make sense for almost any other type of national news story. But... this is football, and the Ann Arbor news regularly talks about other teams and football stories.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 11:05 p.m.
Maybe because A2.com is a local news source, not a national one; they have limited resources; and they provided links to national media who have reporters on the spot and in-depth coverage? Naaaaaaah Good Night and Good Luck
Kara H
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Shakes head sadly. I know people are concerned about Joe Paterno. He's has a storied career and always seemed like a stand up guy. But in all this, I can't stop thinking of the kids and the responsibility all the adults in this story had to them and failed to render. I wonder about the boy in the locker room and if he heard the door open and thought he was saved, only to hear it open and close again.
treetowncartel
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
As i said, earlier, Paterno and others at the university kept letting the fox back in the hen house when he left with feather in his mouth the first time. That is reprensible behavior in and of itself, regardless of the reporting defense. The fox's resignation in 1999 bought a cover up for his misdeeds in that same locker room in 1998. here is a very good read on the subject. <a href="http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2011/11/the-mystery-of-cowardice" rel='nofollow'>http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2011/11/the-mystery-of-cowardice</a>
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
From above: "PennLive.com columnist Tom Flynn writes that Paterno 'confused his place in college football and in the university.'" Mr. Flynn is exactly wrong. Coach Paterno understood EXACTLY where he stood on the PSU campus and the place of college football on that campus. He and it were more important than anything. Football trumped everything. The reaction of PSU's students last night confirms this judgment: even after the heinous charges and Paterno's failure to do what any human being ought do were made clear, the students were rioting that Paterno had been fired. There could be no better evidence of the skewed priorities at PSU and in Happy Valley where college football is concerned. And A2 and the UofM are not immune to these skewed priorities. Witness Lloyd Carr's shabby treatment by so-called "fans" for whom the only goal is "the crystal" and their willingness to put up with just about anything out of his predecessor in its pursuit. Dennis Dodd on CBSSports.com has it right. Speaking of Paterno's statement yesterday that he would step down at the end of the year, Dodd writes: "It was one, final controlling gesture from a man who had installed himself as president-for-life over a small Pennsylvania hamlet that had come to resemble M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. The real world in State College was outside of the city limits." The rest of the column can be found at: <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/16056344/now-is-the-time-schools-must-take-back-their-athletic-departments" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/16056344/now-is-the-time-schools-must-take-back-their-athletic-departments</a> Nope. JoePa was not confused about his place. Quite the contrary. Up until last night, he understood EXACTLY where he fit in on the PSU campus. He and his program were more important than anyone and anything else. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
And if there'w one thing those who have man crushes on the past coach cannot drop, it is their turning every issue into the defense of the indefensible. Nowhere in the above did I critcize the WCiMFH. I criticized the so-called "fans" whose hatred and vitriol toward Carr are a good example of the misplaced priorities in college football today. Good Night and Good Luck
aawolve
Fri, Nov 11, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
If there's one thing that springs to Ed's mind when considering the tragedy at PSU, it's his hatred of Rodriguez. I'm guessing his Rorscharch test answers are pretty consistent.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 8:32 p.m.
Correction to above. A line ought read (correction in CAPS): And A2 and the UofM are not immune to these skewed priorities. Witness Lloyd Carr's shabby treatment by so-called "fans" for whom the only goal is "the crystal" and their willingness to put up with just about anything out of his SUCCESSOR in its pursuit. GN&GL
81wolverine
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Penn State has been one of the textbook schools where the tail (college football program) wags the dog. There's not even a debate that King Paterno had more power in State College than the University President. Now that his specter is gone from campus, maybe rationality will return to PSU. College football coaches should report to the AD. And the AD should report to the President. Ultimately, the latter needs to be in control. Penn State is now the ultimate example of what can happen when the money and power created by the athletic department supercedes rational decision-making and doing what's morally right. I'd guess that the this horrible scandal, as bad as it is, is going to get worse once details come out of the investigation. The best thing PSU can do is clean the slate and start from the ground up re-building the football program leadership. All vestiges of the stained Paterno regime need to be removed after the season. It's the only way they'll be able to restore trust in their great university.
Mark
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
I have a feeling that when more investigation is done, and more sordid details come out, people will wish that Paterno had retired many years ago. Paterno was treated as though he was a god, not as a public employee. In a place where all things football determine the prestige of a school, and a lack of integrity of top officials to do the right thing -- well, this is what can happen, and it's going to be ugly for a while. To paraphrase someone... Football is the opiate of the masses.
Roadman
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
The firing of Joe Paterno, one of the greatest coaches in football history, is irresponsible. Penn State boosters are rightfully outraged. The coaching icon comitted no crime, reported suspected abuse to superiors in the administration. Paterno is a scapegoat.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 8:29 p.m.
"The coaching icon comitted no crime" 1) That is a VERY low bar. 2) It is more correct to say that he has not yet been charged with a crime. This is not yet over. 3) As the person in charge of a multi-million dollar enterprise that is the public face of the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, his standard of behavior ought be significantly higher that doing what merely is required by law. 4) And then there is the moral obligation we have toward one another. That he did not pursue this vigorously, that he did not use his position as the most prominent figure in the entire community to make a clear statement about unspeakable behavior that simply would not be tolerated makes him--not a tragic figure--but one who has permitted despicable behavior. And for that he deserves all the condemnation he has received . . . and more. Other than that, a typically thoughtful post, Roadman. Good Night and Good Luck
MRunner73
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
No, it was a very bold move by the Penn State Board of Trustees. Joe-Pa could have done the right thing back in 2002, at the latest. Jerry Sandusky is the villan. Joe-Pa should have outed him in the late 1990s when this was hitting the fan. This will be the focus of national crime investigators as well. I feel for Joe-Pa on an emotional basis and his health does not fail.
dotdash
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
If someone had reported seeing a murder to Paterno and Paterno subsequently saw the murderer walking around free, would he have felt okay about not doing something more? Not at all! The rape of child is a serious crime and Paterno should have done everything he could have (not just the minimum required by law) to see the rapist put away.
Kara H
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
Paterno was a highly-paid CEO-level executive who was notified of a significant crime and morally indefensible act committed on his turf by one of his men and he did as little as possible to resolve the issue or ensure justice for the boy (but it's always boys--multiple) in question. Even he says in hindsight it was a terrible error. He's not the criminal, but he's no scapegoat. If he had hoped to save the program and University embarrassment with his near silence, see how well that worked out.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
Penn State statment here.. <a href="http://live.psu.edu/" rel='nofollow'>http://live.psu.edu/</a> "This is one of the saddest weeks in the history of Penn State." .... .... "Through your conduct every day, you can play a role in restoring the integrity, honor, and pride that have always characterized Penn State. I share your anger and sadness in this time, but always remember that your actions reflect on the entire Penn State community. Please set an example that will make us all proud. Moving forward is the only responsible course to take in the coming months. I ask for the full support of our faculty, students, staff, and alumni, and in return I will do my best to lead this institution through the challenges ahead."
Kai Petainen
Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
its a sad day. the student rioting was quite irresponsible. (just as a item of journalistic observance -- i was wondering if the ann arbor news would even mention this topic today)