Eleven Warriors

My thoughts are this certainly seems worse than players selling gold pants for tats.

This cover up isn't all about the football team. Penn State has a $1.8 billion endowment. The football team is really a secondary consideration to the credibility of the university as a whole.

let the spin begin

Does Delany consider sending PSU to the A-10?

@BREWSTER & DEFENDYOUNGSTOWN - Protecting the university's brand and endowment makes a lot of sense, but I still am steadfast that the NCAA needs to take them to the woodshed.  Like it or not, this began because of a member of the football staff, and perpetuated a coverup to protect the university.  Regardless of intent, this did protect the football team; preventing the grotesque fallout of one of the university's favorite sons' inglorious ouster.  

I feel bad for the fans, but I feel a Hell of a lot worse for the victims: the ones who suffered at the hands of a monster while the guiding hands of the university sat idly by, hoping to save their sacred institution.

Hodge-I guess I just wonder what would be easier to prove? If the football program is to be blamed or is the school as a whole the culprit? Sandusky used the football program as his vehicle but it might be bigger than even PSU football. Tough to say.

"Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury....would my client's pants not be on fire if he were lying? Clearly they are not. Clearly he is not....no further questions".-Joe Amendola.

I'm not saying they shouldn't, for the record. I just wonder if the Federal Government might come in and start tearing up some stuff first and tell the NCAA to proverbally "Move b@#$@3 get out the way"

Pantoni needs to brew up some more propaganda and aim one directly at the fact PSU hides information about SEXUAL assaults on CHILDREN in their facilties to protect their football program...this whole perception that Joe Pa and the Penn State program stood for honesty and honor is turning out to be one giant farce 

FROMTHE18, imo, the staff should not stoop to that level for any reason.  The PSU situation speaks for itself.

No tattoos or memoribilia involved....?

Perhaps you are right BASSPLAYER, but with all the negative recruiting against Ohio State for the recent problems, I almost feel that it is a necessary approach to further shed light on the filth that is the Penn State program/Athletic department... @DMC, I agree with you 100% on the comment about substantial punishments on the University...I almost feel that the parts of the insitution that were involved need to be shreded...ever since this story broke, I have been sick to my stomach just thinking about how a human being could try and hide those "transgressions" or sit back and do nothing, those involved at Penn State University are a disgrace not just to the Collegiate community (both academically and athletically) but to people in general

The cover up is ALWAYS worse than the crime... uh no its not.

I guess my point is that the football team benefitted from an AD (along with university VP, their correspondence is linked in the VP's file) coverring up transgressions made by a former coach.  This is especially damning if they had knowledge of all of this prior to Sandusky's retirement in 1999, which would mean that the athletic director chose to commit a crime by not reporting a suspected child molester.  Now, let's extrapolate this to Ohio State; if it came out that Gene Smith knew about Tressel's violations, it's an institutional conspiracy to protect OSU's football program, punishable by the full wrath of the NCAA.  With Penn State, you have a rogue coach whom the AD had prior knowledge of who chose to cover up his transgressions.  In my opinion, these scenarios are eerily familiar.  The only difference is Tressel committing an NCAA violation, and Sandusky committing a federal crime.  Though intent may never be known, the athletic department (by nature of its head) helped cover up for a known child molester and employee.  I guess what we need to determine is if an AD covering up an employee's federal transgressions is punishable by the NCAA (or if they care solely about their rules).  Personally, I don't think that this would have happened if it was at a place like Stanford, somewhere where football doesn't pay all the bills.  I think maintaining the school's athletic prowess was paramount toward protecting its alumni donations, and in that way the athletic department should be held responsible.

I suppose that I am making assumptions here, but this new file is effectively proving that a coverup--in some form or another--has been in place for a while. Now, I will concede that if they didn't have knowledge of this prior to his retirement, they should merely go to jail for a very long time.

In my humble opinion, this is miles worse than anything any other program has ever done...covering up the sexual assault of a child (children in this case)...now, the NCAA is full of inconsistent and biased idiots so who knows what could/should/will happen, but if it were my decision, I would give them the death penalty, and worse than SMU got...as for the institution, the federal government should harshly punish it as well, set an example, and with something like this, that example needs to be brutal

This story continues to only disgust me more then I thought was humanly possible. These were children being sexually abused by a member of the PSU coaching staff, and people turned a blind eye to the crime, to protect PSU. I don't care about what happens to their football program, I only care about those who commited and covered up the crime, receiving the proper punishment, as well as the victims receiving any help they need. These were young boys who needed help and someone to stop these horrible crimes from continuing to take place, and nobody did because PSU is worth more then the protection of these victims.

The thing that breaks my heart into a million places is knowing that there were adults who could have stepped in and did not. Imagine that poor kid in the shower seeing McQueary and thinking that he was about to be rescued only to have him walk away. How is he to trust anyone again after being failed by so many?

@SHADY - The real messed up thing is that a cop was listening in on that phone call.  Sandusky was investigated in May 1998, and the case was dropped in June.  Ironically, Paterno's schedule shows that the man who never missed appointments or deviated from said schedule actually cut short a trip in mid May (three days after that phone call), and didn't return to his fund raising until June (once the investigation was dropped).  Sandusky--the heir apparent to Penn State football--would then reture in 1999, after Paterno supposedly told him that he would never be the head coach.  I'm not a conspiracy theorist in the slightest, but if this doesn't raise red flags, I don't know what does.

Part of the reason the NCAA has such a massive and ridiculous rulebook is because at some point in time people have exploited the lack of a rule saying they can't do (insert ridiculous behavior here, like buying packs of gum that cost more than 70 cents). But as I'm reading comments about how the NCAA should come down on them, I keep wondering to myself; what rules did they break? NCAA rules, not moral or ethical code. If there isn't a rule that specifically addresses not hiring or immediately firing suspected (but not convicted) child molestors, I don't see how the NCAA can punish them. The only thing I could think of was some failure to monitor charge, but that also implies that they had an atmosphere that allowed breaking rules to happen. Is there some moral authority the NCAA has that I am missing? If not I don't see how they get punished without some groundbreaking "judgement". They may have broken actual laws by not reporting a crime (McQueary, whoever else he told),, but I don't know if they broke any NCAA rules. Because NCAA rules are aimed at sports, not real crimes.

Not sure exactly what NCAA bylaws PSU violated to incur NCAA sanctions against the football team?  I guess (maybe) LOIC?  (b/c of Paterno?...maybe) 

Can the NCAA punish schools for crimes by ADMIN guys now?  What about profs?  Who defines, at what level, the NCAA gets to step in and punish criminals?  That is a slippery slope.

Why should the NCAA punishes the football team?  b/c Sandusky coached football 20 years  ago? Paterno?  Did JoPa commit a violation?   What if JS coached tennis?  This could change the exact nature of NCAA enforcement to a very broad spectrum we should all fear.

I think Brewster mentioned the feds coming in and takin over on this..... I see that happening here... this is getting to the point where it doesnt just look bad for psu but football and american sports in general. I know ppl are going to tell me to step away from the ledge and im overreacting. However this news is going to become global, and its just so f8cking disgusting. These ppl are going to be looked at as monsters, and if this comes out to be true, they are monsters. I think Pam's comment earlier summed that up best

Brewster - How exactly is Paterno a criminal? He did, in fact, report this to his superiors. Could he have done more? Sure. But does that make him a criminal? And Paterno had enough money that if Second Mile crumbled he'd be just fine. Hell, his estate just got 7+ milltion for the university. I'm not sure what this article is even supposed to mean. So what if he did business with Second Mile. You act like the entire organization knew what Sandusky was doing. The only cover up being mentioned is by the admin within PSU...not Second Mile and not the athletic dept.

Look, I am absolutely NOT condoning anything that happened here, But it's kind of hypocritical ,for OSU fans especially, to talk about how another coach is really a scumbag hiding behind a clean image seeing as how that's how most of the country now views Tressel.

@CINCYOSU -

Anyone who allows children to be raped is a criminal in my mind.

Cicny, did you read the linked report in the article? It goes into more detail. Moreover-for a guy who told the BOT to pound sand everytime they wanted to make a change at head coach, he alone could have crushed this Sandusky thing when allegations were brought to his attention. No one carried more power at Penn State than Joe Paterno-don't kid yourself. It took this entire scandal to come to a head before the BOT had enough to drop Paterno. He could have told Sandusky to stay clear away from Penn State and no one would have said a word otherwise. He did the bare minimum required of him when he and he alone was in a position to end the entire thing. More importantly, these allegations get brough to his attention in 2002. Sandusky is around Penn State for a decade after-Paterno didn't go into work thinking "What the heck came of those allegations" when this guy was still around HIS program? Put yourself in his shoes. You are king of Penn State Football. An assistant tells you what he sees in 2002 and you see that accused man for 10 years in and around YOUR facilities and YOUR program and you don't ask a follow up question to anyone? Orrrrr did you maybe not have a reason to pursue it harder....for ten years.....

Joe was part of the cover up. There is enough out there to show that. He, Schultz, Spanier, Sandusky, the whole lot of them.

Paterno did the bare minimum. You have to assume with common sense that all or most of the assistants during Sandusky's tenure had to have known about this. They are cowards, too.

I cant believe some of you are calling Joe Paterno a criminal. Sure, the meaning of criminal is a person who commits a crime but then I would imagine not a single one of us wouldnt have that label attached to us in one way or another. Jerry Sandusky is a criminal, Richard Nixon is a criminal, Eminem is a criminal (ha), not Joe Paterno. I dont believe he's a greedy scumbag like Brewster claims, he made what? less than a million a year and also donated MILLIONS in his lifetime. He was also an old man and was fooled by his friend who had a knack for misleading people into thinking he had "a heart of gold."

Poor Joe. He was such a good guy! Shady, if you are willing to give Paterno a pass, then you haven't read what is out there about this entire situation. If you have read the facts of this situation and don't find any blame in Paterno's actions, then there is nothing I can do to change your mind. No. He isn't a "Criminal" in that he committed a crime. He's a child rape enabler. I guess I should have specified.

I can say without hesitation that I see no hypocrisy at all claiming a coach, a man with 17 grandchildren, who did the bare minimum (and I mean bare) in reporting what he knew, is a scumbag when compared to not reporting the selling/trading of trinkets. 

Did someone really compare what JoePa covered up to the Tressel situation...my head just blew up.

CINCYOSU and SHADY:

I applaud JoePa for telling someone that he had info about Sandusky. But he let that info die in inner office communications. For anyone to say that JoePa did what he was supposed to is reprehensible. Do either of you have kids? If so, and it was your kids that Sandusky abused, you would want anyone who knew to immediately call the police, FBI, whatever. That man let a child rapist walk free for at least a decade and provided continued access to the PSU facilities where most of the abuse happened. JoePa couldn't have arrested Sandusky himself, but he knew how to use a telephone to bring in the people who could. The law may not call him a criminal, but I sure as hell do.

@the dude -  I assume you are talking to me. No, I am not saying it is the same thing. I compared the situations and the rush to judgement in tearing apart their character.

Thank you JD. I find myself getting more and more mad about this, and therefore less and less capable of putting my thoughts together. You were able to put my thoughts into words much better than I currently can.

JD - Again, you are assuming that he KNEW what happened. To this point, the ONLY instance the Paterno knew about was the McQ incident. Isn't it possible that after he told his bosses, that they in fact told him it was an over reaction and did not happen? Why didn't McQ then continue to push the situation(told to by those above Joe)? It's possible here that JoePa was in the dark and let it die becuase he assumed everything was OK. To be clear, I am NOT saying this is how everythign transpired but there is too much unknown to call the man a rape enabler. As I stated before, if FACTS come out then I will admit I was wrong and join "your side" but I will choose to wait unitl tearing apart his life.

And again, I never said they were they same thing. The rush to judgement is the same however.

CINCYOSU - so you're assuming that the 1998 investigation somehow slipped JoePa's notice? The McQ incident was the SECOND time that Sandusky's actions were brought to light. That means JoePa knew this was a repeat incident and still let it go.

It's a fact that JoePa admitted McQ came to him and it's a fact that there was an investigation of Sandusky in 98 which led to him leaving the team following that season. No one ever mistook JoePa for stupid. Smart people know how to connect the dots between child abuse incidents/reports.

Did they tell him that though? Because they did say Sandusky can't bring kids around PSU facilities anymore. That should have told Joe that perhaps the allegations had some teeth-at least it would have told me that perhaps the allegations had some teeth. His ignorance is bliss defense isn't working for me. Not for a guy of his stature. He had to do more. He didn't do enough.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hard-hits/post/i-wish-id-paid-more-attention-to-one-young-mans-pain/2012/06/12/gJQAkgviXV_blog.html?hpid=z1

LaVar Arrington's take. Seems like a real good guy

1. It's Pennsylvania law to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement authorities.
2. Don't say that Paterno did enough by reporting to his "superiors", one of whom was the head of PSU's campus police, yet once JoePa saw that nothing was done, why did he not inform a law officer?
3. Why was Sandusky abruptly fired yet given complete access to all PSU facilities?
4. It's really simple folks, Paterno, McQueary, Curley, and Schultz are all pieces of shit that should've been tossed in a tire fire with Sandusky himself. To allow such acts to occur by "sweeping them under the rug", and never ensuring that Sandusky was apprehended they allowed for the proliferation of child rape by a former PSU employee on PSU's campus and in the surrounding area. 
5. How can someone even believe that Paterno did what he could to the utmost degree? The man allowed for a former colleague to rape little boys folks, if you deny that, you clearly haven't read all of the verified reports that have come out.
6. I feel sorry for the students, alumni, and fans of PSU, but how can they not be disgusted with what took place on their very campus?
7. Food for thought: Jim Tressel resigned (fired), so in a show of unity OSU students marched to his house and sang Carmen Ohio with him. Joe Paterno is fired and PSU students riot across their campus. Stay classy State College.

William your post is not accurate. What is with all of the conclusion jumpers?? 

For the final time, reporting to your superiors is what Pennsylvania law requires. The law may require more for those who witness child abuse (ie McQueary), but Joe Paterno did not violate the law by simply telling his superiors. 

I believe many of us don't question joe pa in terms of the law, but in terms of morality. He may have not broke any laws, but it's incredibly inhumane to let that happen and know about it without notifying the police

Life in prison is not a long enough punishment for child molesters

It is ALL of our jobs as human beings and adults to protect children or those that can not protect themselves. Joe, McQueary, ALL of them that even had a hint of something improper should have been shouting it from the rooftops and drawing attention to the situation to get it to stop by all means necessary. If in this case you can live with yourself for doing the minimum, I would have to wonder what you would want done if this was your child. Most would want more than the minimum required by law.

AGAIN.....You are assuming Paterno knew beyond a doubt that those allegations(at the time) were true. Twice, he was ACCUSED, and both times nothing came of it. Is that Paterno's fault? Was he supposed to ignore the fact that his superiors AND the police basically said there was nothing to see and just assume his lifelong friend was a scumbag?  What if one of your close friends was accused of something horrific, yet he/she was never charged or had the incident proven...would you turn your back on him/her? You act like Joe himself witnessed these crimes. You are making way too many assumptions and unfortunately we will never get to hear Joe's side. You can say my "head is in the sand" all you want, but I choose to think rationally and wait unitl facts come out before judging Joe. I've said all along that if PROOF comes out I will glady change my opinion. The vast majority of the JoePa haters have made their own inferences/assumptions and "connected the dots" to fit their own opinions. Focus your hate where it should....SANDUSKY.

Just pointing out what I see as trouble for a lot of the JoePa haters.. Same post

it is proven that he knew of at least one instance

We have FACTS that JoePa suspected something

My point is that we don't KNOW what JoePa knew.. 

Yes, JoePa did know that SOMETHING was going on between Sandusky and little boys. If he didn't, he wouldn't have reported it up. Even JoePa himself claimed he screwed up by not telling the police. There's simply no way to remove all blame from him as you guys are trying to do. 

We know JoePa knew something fishy was going on. That is KNOWN. He suspected it was child molestation which is what he reported up. Even if it's just a suspicion, if you don't report that to the police it's just flat out wrong

I suggest people take the time to read this article discussing What Paterno Knew and When He Knew It. 

It is factual and largely unbiased (there are times where it is clear he is a Paterno supporter). After reading that article, my response to JAdams would be that if you're going to impute knowledge of the 98 investigation on Paterno, it's only fair to impute knowledge of the results of that investigation, which was that there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

The funny thing is that I'm not even defending Paterno.. I'm just asking people to withhold judgment.

I think you should read the article I posted, it details the efforts of the campus police and the district attorney in the prosecution of Sandusky. 

I read it. Doesn't change my opinion. Someone told him a kid was raped. He called his AD instead of the police.

I was cool with "Tats for bling" from the get-go. It was their shit to sell.

To be honest, my hope that the Feds get involved is based largely on the foundation that I don't want the NCAA to screw something up if they get involved. 

 @ Brewster'smillions: I don't think the "Feds" should be investigating anyone. They(the Feds) should be investigated first. Which Fed should do this? The US Attorney General is currently under investigation himself.

DMC & Cincy - There are many articles that you can cite on both sides of this.  To me the most telling evidence against JoPa are the revelations of Vicky Triponey former PSU VP of Student Affairs.  She has vivid details of how JoPa bent university rules to keep his players out of trouble with the law.  She tried to have football players held accountable for their actions, but was constantly over ruled and criticized by JoPa.  He did everything he could to discredit her to the administration and the student body, and in the end it forced her out of her position at PSU. 

Make no mistake about it, JoPa was a very powerful individual at PSU.  He held her future in his hands, and when she tried to hold football players accountable for crimes that ranged from bar fights to SEXUAL ASSAULT her fate was sealed.  Go ahead and google her - there are some very interesting facts that you will learn about how JoPa operated. 

This is probably one of the reasons why there are so many posters on here who just can not believe that JoPa is not at least partially to blame for this whole mess or knew more than has been reported.  The circumstances of the first investigation with JoPa uncharacteristically taking time out of his speaking circuit to the abrupt resignation of JS shortly after make many scratch their heads.  The "he told his superiors" rational of the McQ incident is laughable when indeed we find out from Vicky that JoPa was in essence calling all the shots when it came to discipline for any football related matters. 

Yes, JoPa was one hell of a coach, but that is where my praise will end.  I don't know what he knew about all of this or when he knew it.  But, the picture painted about JoPa by anyone connected with PSU football or with access to cover PSU football is that of a senior dom who knew quite a bit about everything that went on within that system - one who really had no one to answer to because he controlled the show.  Much of the dirt that happened while Triponey was on campus will never come to light.  Just as I suspect many facts (as they relate to PSU football or the university in general) about this whole JS fiasco will never see the light of day.  That is the way JoPa operated.  And there are enough JoPa supporters/admirers at PSU to insure that.   And there will never be a public records request that will produce anything - JoPa did not use a computer - no emails - no typed messages.  He conducted business the old fashioned way - face to face - and was very effective with it. 

Child sexual abuse has a way of destroying legacies.

I'm done with this discussion. DMC, Cincy, you have your opinions and I'll have mine. If you choose to believe JoePa was not at fault whatsoever, that's your opinion. Never would I wish something like this to happen to one of your loved ones, I just wish you could possibly understand what the loved ones of these kids feel. I can't begin to imagine their pain, but I can promise nobody is giving JoePa "the benefit of the doubt" because of his past accomplishments.

All this "good ole boy" bullshit makes PSU look like a pathetic high school.  Sad and disturbing. 

Sorry for the long winded post - this subject gets me riled up.

Good post, Poison. 

Very good post Poison. Hopefully that will shut up all the JoePa apologists.

@DMCDOUGAL24 - I see your point, but I think what Poison and others are trying to say is that the coverup doesn't matter; his moral failing as a human being may not be a crime in the legal sense, but it's almost on-par with the cover up because of his inaction.  I happen to agree with this sentiment; everyone who knew anything about this situation and failed to act is culpable.  If Paterno participated in the cover up, then he's even more culpable; but as it is, he still failed to take any meaningful action on the subject.  Sure, he forwarded it up the food chain, alebeit after waiting so as "not to ruin anyone's weekend."  Perhaps McQueary didn't accurately explain the situation to him, but I can think of no other reason to explain his relative indifference to the subject.  I'm not buying his excuse of not understanding "rape and a man," especially when he referenced thinking that he also mentioned being under the assumption that they were "horsing around."   His foggy recollection tells me that this conversation didn't really have much impact on him; if it were me, this would haunt my thoughts for eternity.

To the NCAA question. I'm not sure how they could come at the university since they regulate athletics only and this appears to be outside their scope. Unless they have additional regulatory power over its members (like nfl fining players for off-field conduct). Anybody with knowledge of this?

What PSU commits would we want if they we're to start losing kids ?

When you look back at the situation it actually boggles my mind that Sandusky never worked in coaching again.  55-years-old and nationally respected as a defensive guru.  Seems to me that  the entire coaching community knew something wasn't right with Sandusky.  To me there is no other explanation for the abrupt end of his coaching career.  It's as if he was black-balled.

Now how about we talk about the thread?:) think they will lose any of their current commits?

I don't think they lose any existing verbals because of this latest revelation.  However, if the NCAA does get involved before NLOI day there is a possiblity a few will go else where.  I know that it is a stretch that the NCAA will actually get involved, but they do have it within their bylaws to do so:

2.4 THE PRINCIPLE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT [*]
For intercollegiate athletics to promote the character development of participants, to enhance the integrity of higher education and to promote civility in society, student-athletes, coaches, and all others associated with these athletics programs and events should adhere to such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation, but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program. It is the responsibility of each institution to: (Revised: 1/9/96)

(a) Establish policies for sportsmanship and ethical conduct in intercollegiate athletics consistent with the educationalmission and goals of the institution; and (Adopted: 1/9/96)
(b) Educate, on a continuing basis, all constituencies about the policies in Constitution 2.4-(a). (Adopted: 1/9/96)

This is their catch-all bylaw for conduct unbefitting a member institution.  People may view this differently, but it is certainly within their bylaw rights to get involved. 

The problem as I see it for Penn State is, how do you convince a parent that their kid is safe at the football facility? Now that two kids have testified to being assaulted in the locker room and each having a seperate assist. coach see the act with anything ever done to Sandusky. Combined with the fact that Sandusky was still using the facility until the day he was arrested (after both Joe and Mike submit GJ testimony).... Why weren't they ever contacted by the staff? How many other times did this happen?

All those questions have to go through parent's mind... Let alone how do you convince a recruit that's the shower you are going to use....

Sorry for the downer first post...

Hodge,

Agreed. I honestly can't believe anyone who knew used those showers ever again... It's mind boggling.

I kinda wish this thread would just go away, but I wanted to bring up Ray Gricar who went "missing." I find it VERY suspicious that the district attorney who refused to file charges back in 98 all of a sudden went missing. It's like something out of Goodfellas or some other mob movie. Im still kinda on Joe Paterno's side but from what I read I would say clearly someone murdered Ray Gricar and that person was in some way affiliated with Penn St. Much like everything else with this story, we will probly never know what happened.

Much like everything else with this story, we will probly never know what happened.

Huh? Much? There is more that we know than we don't. Other than the exact fate of said trooper, what more would you like to know that you don't? That higher ups knew and did nothing? Nope. That Joe was told twice that his trusted LT was a pedo? Nope, know that too. Want to find out how invested Paterno was in the whole thing and why he had a reason to keep things hush? (Like say, the contents of his sealed will)....its out there. Anyone towing the "Not enough info" line is out of their damned fool minds.

That's not at all what I was insinuating.

I don't mean you. I'm not saying the Gricar situation isn't suspicious, but it's a point of speculation so far beyond everything else in this thread. To say he disappeared because of THIS case, despite the fact that he had likely investigated many cases in his career, is a stretch. Especially since this case didn't even turn into an indictment 

Okay you didn't insinuate Paterno, but you did insinuate his disappearance was linked to this investigation. Nothing personal shady

Count me with those who think it's just too much of a coincidence that Sandusky "retired" following the end-of-season of the 1998 investigation. He was only 55 years old and the much heralded defensive coordinator of "linebacker u"*. There's not a doubt in my mind that he was forced out because of that investigation. When that becomes public knowledge -- and I think it will by one of these three: Tim Curley, Gary Shcultz, or Graham Spanier -- that's when Paterno's legacy gets officially unraveled. Paterno knew that Sandusky was a pedophile back in 1998 and was part of the coverup.

Everyone else with knowledge of the coverup is towing the company line and keeping their mouths shut. But one of these guys is going to decide he isn't taking the fall for the others and is going to come clean.

BTW, I'm with Pam when she asserts that Paterno was in charge at State College. The fact that he was able to get the provost in charge of student conduct fired because she wouldn't play ball as far as player infractions. The fact that he was able to tell Spanier and the BOT to get bent when they requested a retirement plan from him in 2004. Who the hell does he report to then? The answer is no one. He's in charge.

* Sarcasm intended. How PSU has earned that moniker is beyond me.

You think Joe Paterno or Penn State had anything to do with the media discovering about a Federal investigation? That's crazy

I honestly can't answer why Jerry was still on campus, but I think in general people need to remember innocence until proven guilty. 

Mike testified now because he was likely subpoenaed. 

Hubby had a good buddy before we moved here that played for PSU during the mid/late 70's. Had some interesting stories about his life and times there. One of the things he told us was how JoePa knew everything about his players, including their privates lives, which blew our friend away at first. He also said that JoePa ruled campus-one (either PSU admin or State College authorities) did not mess with him or his football program unless one enjoyed being squished like a bug. Considering how zealously he guarded his program, I cannot believe that he hadn't heard rumblings about his friend Sandusky, or that Sandusky's retirement was entirely voluntary. Of course when Sandusky retired, it was easy for those who had heard the rumors to sweep all the ickiness under the rug. I wonder why Joe didn't press for more info from McQueary when he came to him with his damning information-wouldn't you if you had built up this program and were now looking at how your legacy would be viewed? Perhaps it was because he had already heard these allegations years before and did not want to deal with it-he was old and ailing. Regardless, it was a huge moral failing on his part to not be more proactive. Period. And if this was covered up by PSU officials, PSU should be smacked by the NCAA. Yes, it would hurt those who had nothing to do with it, but the institutional culture allowed it to continue for years, there has to be some consequence to the institution.