Penn State Football

[akh_v2.0]

Wow. That is a scathing piece. They have to take down the JoePa statue. They just have to.

Even as an alumni, I'd have to agree. They cannot celebrate his achievements in that way with these revelations. I would disagree though with removing his (and Sue's) names from the library. It doesn't forgive him for the horrors his inactions caused, but they were genuine in their contributions to the university.

[skypigeon]

I'd say leave the statue intact... except for the feet. Mold new feet for it, out of clay.

[akh_v2.0]

This story isn't finished yet. I am still waiting to see if anything comes of the rumors from back in the fall about Second Mile kids being pimped out to wealthy donors and political connections amongst Penn State folks. In light of the transgressions so far I can totally believe that something like that could have happened.

My personal opinion as a resident of PA is that I'd like to see the university shuttered. This wasn't only about football...this was the PRESIDENT and VP of the whole school involved in covering it up. Corruption at the top makes it likely there is corruption throughout.

I haven't seen anything credible to support those whispers. As horrible as this all is, that sort of widesread depravity could not have survived disclosure.

I understand your (and neshaminy's) anger, but I'd ask you both not to throw the baby out with the bath. Joe's dead, Curley/Schultz/Spanier will pay in court for their roles. Penn State is more than this scandal, more than just the University Park campus. A world-reknowned meteorolgy program, leadership in agricultural sciences, a respected law school, Hershey Medical School, far too many people who had absolutely nothing to do with the Sandusky cover-up would have their lives irrevocably altered.

For anyone interested, here is the letter I received last night via email from the Penn State Board.

PENN STATE ISSUES STATEMENT ON FREEH REPORT

July 12, 2012, SCRANTON, PA - Today's comprehensive report is sad and sobering in that it concludes that at the moment of truth, people in positions of authority and responsibility did not put the welfare of children first. The Board of Trustees, as the group that has paramount accountability for overseeing and ensuring the proper functioning and governance of the University, accepts full responsibility for the failures that occurred. The Board, in cooperation with the Administration, will take every action to ensure that events like these never happen again in our university community.
The focus of all of our actions going forward will be on driving a culture of honesty, integrity, responsible leadership and accountability at all levels and within all units of our institution.
Judge Freeh's report concludes that certain people at the University who were in a position to protect children or confront the predator failed to do so. There can be no ambiguity about that. The defenseless victims and their families are at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply sorry for the failure to protect these vulnerable young boys from the pain and anguish they suffered. At the same time, we are filled with admiration for the bravery shown by the young men and their families who came forward to ensure that justice will be done.
While today's issuance of the Freeh Report provides some level of clarity for our community, it does not undo the pain that the victims of Jerry Sandusky have experienced, and continue to experience. We will continue to offer counseling to Mr. Sandusky's victims, listen to them and take affirmative steps to address the harm they have suffered.
Beyond our campuses, the University is undertaking a number of actions to help build greater awareness of the societal issue of child sexual abuse. We are partnering with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) and have also created the Center for the Protection of Children at the Hershey Medical Center. Penn State University intends to be a constructive leader in preventing, reporting and responding to such abuse. This is a problem that plagues our nation, and we have a special duty to increase awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse.
Judge Freeh's investigation was intended to identify where failures occurred and what changes should be made for the future. As the Freeh report noted, the University has already taken steps to begin addressing some of the shortcomings.
The Board of Trustees acknowledges that it failed to create an environment of accountability and transparency and did not have optimal reporting procedures or committee structures. Beginning in March 2011 and continuing until the publication of the Grand Jury presentment in November 2011, the Board failed to make proper inquiry of President Spanier and others regarding the Sandusky matter. As a result, the Board was unprepared to deal with the events that occurred in November 2011.
The Board has begun taking a more active oversight role and has implemented specific oversight committees, focused on Risk, Audit, Legal, Compliance, Academic Excellence, Governance and Human Resources. Furthermore, the Board is committed to greater transparency and communications with the entire University community.
Additionally, the University Administration has strengthened policies and programs involving minors, child abuse and mandated reporter training; ensuring a process for prompt reporting of abuse and sexual misconduct; hiring a new, full-time Clery Compliance Coordinator and providing Clery Act training for employees; and establishing a position of, and commencing a national search for, a director of University Compliance. Further information can be found here: www.progress.psu.edu.
In the weeks ahead, the University will carefully review and consider each of the report's recommendations. Tomorrow at its regularly scheduled meeting, the Board of Trustees will consider a series of immediate next steps. President Rodney Erickson has appointed three members of his senior leadership team to coordinate and implement operational changes suggested by the Freeh Report.
As the Freeh Report notes Penn State "is an outstanding institution, nationally renowned for its excellence in academics and research." Nothing in this report detracts from the many significant accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. We also remain proud of the accomplishments of Penn State's student athletes over many years, and we reaffirm the fundamental premise that academic excellence and athletic achievement are wholly consistent and complementary goals.
With the release of the Freeh Report we are beginning to correct our failures, promote healing and build a stronger tomorrow for Penn State. We are continuing the process of addressing the most painful chapter in the University's history so that we can heal and move forward.

[Gomer Simpson]

Penn State is more than this scandal, more than just the University Park campus. A world-reknowned meteorolgy program, leadership in agricultural sciences, a respected law school, Hershey Medical School, far too many people who had absolutely nothing to do with the Sandusky cover-up would have their lives irrevocably altered.

Yes, like the person that changed the channel at the student center.

[midtown]

Yes, like the person that changed the channel at the student center.

At least he kept it plugged in this time.

[akh_v2.0]

Yes, like the person that changed the channel at the student center.

Given the way the students reacted the night they fired Joe, it may have been a good idea. The ones who want to know will find out soon enough on their phones, iPads, etc...and the ones that just want to cause trouble may be tamped down until campus security is in place to control a possible scene.

[Neshaminy]

Given the way the students reacted the night they fired Joe, it may have been a good idea. The ones who want to know will find out soon enough on their phones, iPads, etc...and the ones that just want to cause trouble may be tamped down until campus security is in place to control a possible scene.

I'm not sure the night time crowd (and as they look back, aren't they feeling foolish?) and the early morning crowd will be the same group.......morning fuel-coffee, night fuel-everclear (PA is an everclear state)

[skypigeon]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/07/12...ate-sport.html

Kansas City Star columnist. States the obvious for the first few graphs, then suddenly turns into a very good read.

[Truth Detector]

Yeah, that's a well written piece.

[Mindervillain]

Apparently Penn State has gotten to the heart of the problem:

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...ed-boys-071312

Everything should be fine now.

[Neshaminy]

Apparently Penn State has gotten to the heart of the problem:

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...ed-boys-071312

Everything should be fine now.

Renovate? Just blow it up.

The Amish did it right. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...oolhouse_N.htm There should be no shrines to pure evil.

[Gomer Simpson]

Given the way the students reacted the night they fired Joe, it may have been a good idea. The ones who want to know will find out soon enough on their phones, iPads, etc...and the ones that just want to cause trouble may be tamped down until campus security is in place to control a possible scene.

Sorry, but that shows me the university still does not want to deal with this issue. The optics of this are absolutely terrible. So much so that this single incident has taken me almost 180 degrees from 'don't punish everyone for the indiscretions of a few' to believing the death penalty is completely appropriate. What you have is a situation where everyone from the top (Paterno/Spanier) all the way down to the person that controls the televisions in the student center are/were more concerned with the university then they are dealing with this issue. It is the definition of an institutional problem. It's completely indefensible.

[Truth Detector]

I have to say that the arguments for the death penalty are pretty compelling.

[Neshaminy]

If I read this right, Joe negotiated a $3M golden parachute at a very odd time.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=8736464

[Gomer Simpson]

I have to say that the arguments for the death penalty are pretty compelling.

I'm not necessarily advocating it, but I'm certainly not going to be upset if that were to come down. In business people tend to hire folks that think like themselves. Spanier and Paterno's mentality apparently trickled all the way down to the janitor that saw the abuse and did nothing and the person who has his/her finger on the button of the televisions at the student center. I don't know how you fix that. You can't fire everyone at the university. All you can really do is be extremely heavy handed and make an example of them.

[Gomer Simpson]

I'm not necessarily advocating it,

You know what, yes I am advocating it. Give them the death penalty.

You know what seals it for me? The fact that the statue still stands and there is even a debate over whether or not it should be taken down. That's pathetic. It should have been gone the morning the investigation was made public.

[Gomer Simpson]

If I read this right, Joe negotiated a $3M golden parachute at a very odd time.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=8736464

The Times article that is linked is worth the read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sp...agewanted=1&hp

[Neshaminy]

The Times article that is linked is worth the read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sp...agewanted=1&hp

Blood money, can his legacy sink any lower? And his family are looking more like real schlubbs.....that money should be returned for the damage the guy did to so many young lives, he's looking more like a conniver than anything now.....and the board are looking bad in this article, some were acting like they were going to end his career at the end of the year, but his firing was absolutely the best decision......and now things are coming to the light of day. What's next?

[akh_v2.0]

One of the talking heads on ESPN proposed something that I think makes some sense. If the NCAA is intent on punishing the Penn State football program, consider a different tack than the death penalty. The university receives a sizeable payment from the Big 10 each year as their share of bowl proceeds. Punish the program financially, don't punish the student athletes and coaches that had nothing to do with the scandal. For some period, 3-5-8 years, ALL the bowl money goes to charities working to help victims of child abuse, or some other worthy charities working with children. Something to consider...

[Neshaminy]

One of the talking heads on ESPN proposed something that I think makes some sense. If the NCAA is intent on punishing the Penn State football program, consider a different tack than the death penalty. The university receives a sizeable payment from the Big 10 each year as their share of bowl proceeds. Punish the program financially, don't punish the student athletes and coaches that had nothing to do with the scandal. For some period, 3-5-8 years, ALL the bowl money goes to charities working to help victims of child abuse, or some other worthy charities working with children. Something to consider...

.....and how does that punish the program? They will simply divert money from other areas to keep feeding the football, and since our illustrious governor is on that board he can not be trusted to not increase our tax support to "help"........athetics should never come ahead of education......kill the program for a year, do it now, allow any "student-athlete" who wishes to transfer that ability, or allow another year of eligibility even if a red shirt......start over, start clean, clean house.....and still have any bowl money go to charities for a decade.......it will be PSU footing the bill for their entire program out of pocket, oh, and state money is frozen at 2011 levels for that decade.......what was done was despicable, and that deserves more than a slap on the wrist.

[Mindervillain]

I remember that when SMU had its program shut down the players were permitted to transfer to other Unversities without penalty. Does anyone recall whether SMU was also required to honor their scholarship (and benefits) committments for athletes who chose not to transfer? I realize that may be a dumb question, but we're talking NCAA here - no assumption is so dumb that it might not also be accurate.

[midtown]

I remember that when SMU had its program shut down the players were permitted to transfer to other Unversities without penalty. Does anyone recall whether SMU was also required to honor their scholarship (and benefits) committments for athletes who chose not to transfer? I realize that may be a dumb question, but we're talking NCAA here - no assumption is so dumb that it might not also be accurate.

I don't think any of the SMU players with eligibility stuck around, if I remember the 30 on 30 documentary correctly.

[mstove]

One of the talking heads on ESPN proposed something that I think makes some sense. If the NCAA is intent on punishing the Penn State football program, consider a different tack than the death penalty. The university receives a sizeable payment from the Big 10 each year as their share of bowl proceeds. Punish the program financially, don't punish the student athletes and coaches that had nothing to do with the scandal. For some period, 3-5-8 years, ALL the bowl money goes to charities working to help victims of child abuse, or some other worthy charities working with children. Something to consider...

Again - this is exactly the kind of argument most schools use when busted by the NCAA. "don't hurt the athletes who are here now". It is ridiculous but it shows that alums and fans still don't really understand just how terrible their school looks these days.

I agree with Gomer - I wasn't for a death penalty at first but it seems nothing less is going to really make the point to the faithful. I'm sorry that some players picked the wrong school but tough. They can leave and go elsewhere - whether or not they have to wait a year to play. PSU doesn't deserve any better.

[SoundMan360]

Even if they don't kill the program, the future of Penn State athletics is already going to be substantially gutted for decades, I'd imagine.

[akh_v2.0]

Again - this is exactly the kind of argument most schools use when busted by the NCAA. "don't hurt the athletes who are here now". It is ridiculous but it shows that alums and fans still don't really understand just how terrible their school looks these days.

I agree with Gomer - I wasn't for a death penalty at first but it seems nothing less is going to really make the point to the faithful. I'm sorry that some players picked the wrong school but tough. They can leave and go elsewhere - whether or not they have to wait a year to play. PSU doesn't deserve any better.

Oh, I understand how bad it looks for Penn State right now. The death penalty was designed to serve as the ultimate punishment for programs whose actions had led to the program gaining unfair advantages through breaking the rules. That is not what happened here.

neshaminy is right that athletics should never come before academics, but that ship has sailed. Penn State is the only school in the NCAA that has misplaced priorities? ...please...look at every major power. The Penn State football program can be compelled to open it's books to the Board. Controls on their budget can be effectively put on them if the NCAA wishes. The death penalty would effect too many people, whose only "crime" was choosing a school, or living in a State College, PA, or depending on the income from home football game weekends to make their business successful.

I'm angry too...I hate what was done to those poor innocent children by Sandusky. I hate that people I thought were decent human beings clearly weren't in thins case. I hate that my school will be forever stained by this awful crime. But I do not see that blowing up the program solves anything. I guess maybe I'll need to bow out of this discussion. I want the victims to be compensated, the criminals to pay, but that's enough for me.

[Gomer Simpson]

At this point I don't believe PSU can ever be a story of redemption unless first the football program is completely blown up. The NCAA would be doing the university a favor by handing down the death penalty, in my opinion.

But as to whether or not the people currently in charge "get it" and should pay for the actions of those before them...

I only ask one question; does the statue remain or does it not? The fact that it remains shows that the people in charge don't have a clue, so why should anybody feel sorry for them? The fact that it remains is a testament to the fact that the fans and students at the university have not expressed outcry and demanded that it be taken down. So why should anybody feel sorry for them? The student athletes would be best served to get out of dodge, regardless.

[Neshaminy]

As I noted before, follow the Amish (I don't believe I've ever said that in my life) and make the program disappear so it doesn't become a shrine to pure evil. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...oolhouse_N.htm Without an ending and new beginning the program will always have an asterisk next to it, and how long before "linebacker U" is their mantra? And it's impropriety regurgitated for years to come. Joe protected pure evil. Joe's program must end.

[SoundMan360]

wow.... well, I'm convinced... let me grab my pitchfork

[Truth Detector]

Oh, I understand how bad it looks for Penn State right now. The death penalty was designed to serve as the ultimate punishment for programs whose actions had led to the program gaining unfair advantages through breaking the rules. That is not what happened here.

It could be argued that PSU gained a significant advantage by not having the horrible PR that it deserved for the last 10+ years.

Penn State is the only school in the NCAA that has misplaced priorities? ...please...look at every major power.

Come on...what happened at PSU makes UK look like a school of choir boys.

The death penalty would effect too many people, whose only "crime" was choosing a school, or living in a State College, PA, or depending on the income from home football game weekends to make their business successful.

The athletes can transfer. That others would suffer is akin to keeping a criminal out of jail because his wife doesn't work. Sorry, but try to remember who brought this on.

I'm angry too...I hate what was done to those poor innocent children by Sandusky. I hate that people I thought were decent human beings clearly weren't in thins case. I hate that my school will be forever stained by this awful crime. But I do not see that blowing up the program solves anything. I guess maybe I'll need to bow out of this discussion. I want the victims to be compensated, the criminals to pay, but that's enough for me.

akh, you are definitely one of the good guys and I temper my comments because I know how close this is to you. Its easy to say because it isn't my school but IMHO PSU should simply say, "Give us the punishment and we will serve it because we have certainly deserved it." I would then demolish the lockers and completely rebuild.

[MichaelP]

"Asked Friday if the university planned to try recover money from the Paterno estate, trustees chairwoman Karen Peetz said, ''Contracts are contracts, and no, there's no plan to do that.''"

I think Penn State should try to undue the contract and let it go before a jury.