Laura Novak
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Penn State

11/10/2011

 
The more I read about this travesty, the more disheartened I become. I heard Joe Paterno's gravely voice on the radio the other day praying for the victims and their families. It turned my stomach, to be honest, and that was before I knew how much he actually knew. What was apparent was that dissent and disgust were being run up the flag pole and that it was only a question of when and how many heads would roll.

What I didn't realize until this morning when I read this terrific column by San Francisco Chronicle writer Scott Ostler, was the fact that so many folks were aware of the abuse but ran the other way. Members of the sports staff, even janitors, refused to say "WTF are you doing?" to Sandusky. The university president had even been advised of the problem.

And now people at the university are protesting Paterno's firing by the Board of Trustees. 

Why does it always seem that damage control is what matters most to these folks? They swoop in, have their emergency meetings and fire folks once word gets out to the public. 

How is this different from the Catholic church, other than in the size and scope of the problem?

What will it take for once and for all for grown-ups to defend society's most innocent victims?

Or is this like the "near misses" we hear about in the airline industry? We learn of two planes almost colliding and we gasp. But we never heard about the myriad events just like it where planes flew too closely together or almost touched wings while landing on parallel runways (SFO is a fun one for that!) Events that the FAA logs on a regular basis. But what we don't know is actually much better for our collective consciousness.

I wonder how many of these travesties (children, not planes) continue all around us, within view of people too busy saving their own sorry asses. 

I am wide open to hearing a different point of view. But if this were the archeology department, I doubt rioters would take to the streets. A culture of sports obsession and ferocious competition, which then glorified the guys who brought such victory to the Nittany Lions, is part of what permitted this to occur and then to be so violently protested.

Ottoline
11/10/2011 02:27:07 am

As a child, "The Emperor's New Clothes" made no sense to me. Now, after studying the babyhoax, the too-slow Maddow unraveling, the Catholic Church, this travesty -- I'm sad to say I understand it all too well. Just look the other way so your nice dinner does not get cold.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/10/2011 02:47:53 am


The grand jury document is available:

http://cbschicago.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/sandusky-grand-jury-presentment.pdf


A couple other things, not yet in the general discussion:

The rumor that Sandusky was pimping boys out to rich Penn State donors - possibly not true.

And one thing that is indisputably true: Sandusky retired at age 55, and was never recruited to coach anyplace else. Why? Because the reason he left the Penn State program was well known among college football insiders. Which means that the reason he left was well known at Penn State too - and yet they did nothing to bring him to justice, or protect his future victims.

I must say, this whole story has softened my anger at the hierarchy of the Church of Rome - they have offended much, but their sin is not so unique (to slightly alter a line from Bob Dylan's song "Dear Landlord.")

AFM
11/10/2011 03:02:29 am

My head is spinning with outrage. I don't even know where to put that rage. I wonder if Joe P would have allowed his own children to be around his good old buddy.

Laura Novak
11/10/2011 03:14:44 am

This is grim news, even if it is a rumor, Charley. The thought that this was spreading and well known and yet it went on. They all deserve to be fired. The university should be sued for all of their back pay to be returned and Mrs. Paterno should put on some clothes and leave the red bathrobe inside before she steps in front of folks. That poor me in the red robe routine is pitiful enough as it is.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/10/2011 03:31:26 am

AMENDED INFORMATION ABOUT SANDUSKY'S POST-PENN STATE CAREER


"Sandusky’s devotion to the program was the reason he gave for turning down job offers for football head coaching jobs at Temple University and the University of Maryland."

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/jerry_sandusky_former_penn_sta.html


My earlier statement about Sandusky not being recruited for any other coaching job reflected my understanding of written and oral comments by columnist Mark Madden.

The above quote contradicts the "no offers" part - but is still consistent with the "retire in exchange for a cover-up from Penn State" hypothesis. If Sandusky had accepted one of those offers, the cover-up would have been over.

But as it happened, it continued - and now Penn State officials are under indictment for lying to a grand jury.

Ottoline
11/10/2011 03:34:56 am

Alice Miller, the very clear and insightful writer about psychoanalytic matters, who wrote

http://tinyurl.com/7fcastr

said something in one of her books that I've never forgotten. That in the German culture that she was part of, she estimated sexual abuse of children by their fathers to be very common. I forget the percent, but it seemed huge to me: 25% of families? The Moms have got to know, even with all the denial in the world.

Perhaps someone else knows more. But that statement by someone whose books seemed to me to reveal a wealth of credible info was astonishing, and I still think about it. Esp when something likes this comes up. Or that video of the judge beating his daughter that went viral recently.

FrostyAK
11/10/2011 03:50:06 am

Again I ask "How many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesn't see?".

That is my favorite song lyric of all time. I just wish it wasn't so much a part of real life.

Mhurka
11/10/2011 04:31:47 am

I never actually believed in satanic possession before but when I just heard on the radio about allegations that the victims might have been loaned out to wealthy donors (child sex ring?) I am now thinking things.... I hope that some priests get together at Penn state and conduct some kind of cleansing ritual. It wouldn't hurt. Just sayin'.

LisaB2595
11/10/2011 04:39:02 am

This is just shocking. I mean, you know Division 1 football programs are cheating all the time, but it's gobsmacking to think they would sweep this under the rug.

How tragic for the victims and families.

Anonymous on Purpose
11/10/2011 04:43:16 am

I lost my job 2 years ago for speaking out about this same type of thing, in an academic setting. Yes, I'm suing for violation of many things, including my first amendment rights. I was willing to face the consequences they never meted out to predators who were swept under the rug. I was fired. They were "asked to resign" when they were caught. Nobody ever knew on the "outside". I have a BIG problem with that, especially when it comes to high school kids. Parents should have the opportunity to ask their kids if it happened to them, too.

I hope I win. If I do, I hope it becomes national news, too. Nothing ever gets out. I hate that.

Laura Novak
11/10/2011 04:46:20 am

Frosty, it's chilling, isn't it, how many events in our lifetime, since the 60's, that that lyric has applied to. And yes, it's even on HuffPo now about victims being loaned out. It might not be true, but how often is profit a motive, or an end result, behind a story like this.

I'm still stuck on Mrs. Paterno in the red bathrobe. That smacks of such self pity and lack of respect for the issue at hand. Makes me really see red!

Laura Novak
11/10/2011 04:47:58 am

And Anon on Purpose, I am truly sorry to hear this. I too hope you win and I hope you take your story public. And yes, the conspiracy and the silence behind these crimes is what makes us almost angrier in the end. That covering for adults is more important than protecting children. Disgusts me more than words can say. Thank you for writing here. I appreciate it.

Anon on Purpose
11/10/2011 05:03:43 am

I was there for 12 years, so they know I know a lot. Also, they are not interested in protecting the adults; they are interested in protecting the reputation. Reputation = money. Lots of private endowments would dry up if everyone knew what really goes on there. And they messed with the wrong employee when they tried to shut me up. My former boss knows this now, if he didn't already. My lawyer loves the story. My friend, also a lawyer, wants to write a book. You'd be shocked at the details. Someday, they will come out. One way or another; jury or news. At this point, I'm not sure I'd sign a non-disclosure agreement for a million dollars because it was never about the money. It was always about the Truth (capital T).

sorry for venting....

daisydem
11/10/2011 05:26:43 am

Wow .. "Anon on Purpose" .. be careful; I am glad you have a lawyer and a friend who is a lawyer; I have no idea what you are writing about, or where, but good luck to you and if we ever hear your story, we will be grateful to you I am sure.

Marleycat
11/10/2011 05:58:07 am

There's no doubt that the 8 or 9 child victims known to have been raped, molested, etc. by Sandusky is but the tip of the iceberg. The man is 67 years old - he's probably victimized hundreds of little boys.

Furthermore, I can't see how anyone can believe this is a case of a single perpetrator - and the reason no one spoke up is there are a lot more perpetrators involved.

The District Attorney scrubbing his hard drive, disappearing, not pursuing prosecution, a grad student actually witnessing a child rape in progress - and, once he knew it was not reported to
the authorities - he then continues to work with the perp and all those who knew about, as a COLLEAGUE at Penn State!

The fact that on more than one occasion he was seen molesting and raping little boys at the school tells me he raped little boys numerous times on campus and felt totally confident if he was caught, there would be no consequences. Because others were involved - powerful, rich guys.

Social Services did not do their job, the District Attorney failed these kids, Second Mile is culpable, too - when was Sandusky allowed to "adopt" the
5 boys, plus a girl - after Second Mile was notified there were witnesses to molestation? And then they let him adopt 6 children?

If so, it probably IS a child sex ring, and somebody had better be interviewing those boys, the girl, too. Some predators abuse both little boys and little girls. Mrs. Sandusky? Yeah, she knew, too.

I am also sure there's a lot more sex abuse incidents in Sandusky's past that have also been hushed up. These people are lifelong offenders, they do NOT quit.

I am speaking from past history as a Child Protection Social Worker - so, when I read the reports - boy does it bring back a lot of memories of the children who were hurt by the offenders, the offenders' denials/obstruction of justice with willing accomplices, AND the system that enables it, over and over again.

As far as the students protesting Paterno's firing, and the right wing crying foul (Rush Limbaugh, et al) - this is how it ALWAYS goes. SHAME on them and RUSH LIMBAUGH!

Just like Herman Cain and his supporters trashing the women who reported the sexual harassment - the perpetrator has too much support in the public arena while the victims brave enough to report abuse are vilified, ostracized, and their integrity is viciously attacked, even little children.

So no one should wonder or not understand why it takes so long for a child, or woman, or even a man who has been sexually abused or harassed to come forward. They get assaulted all over again.

From what I can see, not one thing has changed from 20 years ago - the same pillar of the community, the same cover up, the same denial and enabling from the offender and his community of supporters.

physicsmom
11/10/2011 07:07:06 am

I am outraged about this too. I was glad to hear last night that the Board fired Coach Paterno (and I agree with Laura that Mrs. Paterno's robe was a plea for sympathy in the most pathetic way).

I have many friends who are alums of Penn State and they are sorry to see their "hero" JoePa go, but I also think they are mortified by the coverup and the entire situation which developed under the noses of supposedly responsible people. I think the current students are too close to the situation to fully absorb how horrendous this is, and certainly are in the throes of all that self-absorbed, "it's all about me" ethos which enfolds teens and young 20's, ie. what if they take away my football???

The end of this story has not been written yet. I can only hope that the responsible parties will be punished appropriately and those who escape punishment will be humiliated sufficiently for their negligence. Someone on TV last night suggested that they might shut down the football program for a year, after firing the entire staff (who were present during the relevant times). This seems a minimum reaction to start, then the school will face sanctions for violation of the Clery Act, I hope.

Jo
11/10/2011 07:38:31 am

This story is truly appalling. My heart goes out to the young boys and their families. I can't believe that there were a couple of thousand students protesting the firing of Paterno! What is the matter with them?

curiouser
11/10/2011 08:04:46 am

Laura - Excellent post on a most difficult and painful subject. Disheartening, indeed. I'm taking it very personally and am as furious as I am heartsick. I hope the student support for Paterno is a passing phase of their grief--a denial that will be replaced with full recognition and acceptance of the reprehensible actions of their hero, university and beyond.

Laura Novak
11/10/2011 08:14:44 am

I was listening to NPR and a panel member spoke about these legendary coaches and how much power they hold. And how Paterno really thought that he'd retire at the end of the season and in the meantime, he'd be lionized on Saturdays and the Board could bag their heads. Guess he was wrong.

The chutzpah of him, and the others who shuffled the priests, oh excuse me, legendary sports leaders, around and around to cover for them is nothing short of disgusting and infuriating.

and Marleycat, you know a lot about this. and you make a great point that most sex offenders don't just start at the age of 67. It's chilling. Absolutely chilling.

curiouser
11/10/2011 08:41:52 am

I hadn't noticed that much of the media has been headlining this as a 'sex scandal'...including ABC News, CBS News, the Christian Science Monitor and the Associated Press.

"Self-proclaimed "tech culture journalist" Xeni Jardin" tweeted:
"Media dudes: a "sex scandal" is when someone has an affair. Raping children is something else."

http://tinyurl.com/8a74glu

Laura Novak
11/10/2011 08:53:38 am

Excellent point, Curiouser.

As usual, the UK Daily News is all over this story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060027/Ray-Gricar-disappeared-2005-tried-bring-sex-abuse-case-Penn-States-Jerry-Sandusky.html

Anon on Purpose
11/10/2011 09:05:48 am

“Organizations are also very self-protective,”...(clip)... “The number-one rule is, Don’t embarrass the organization. Whistle blowers are often treated very badly.”
Story from Yahoo.

Here is why it goes on. And on. and on.

curiouser
11/10/2011 10:22:47 am

The Daily Mail article is the most comprehensive I've seen.

I'm gobsmacked by Paterno's attitude:

"Mr Paterno later issued a statement, which read: 'I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees' decision, but I have to accept it.'"

There's that obnoxious, clueless 'poor entitled me' syndrome again.

I hope the investigation succeeds in uncovering every single facilitator for the cover-up and brings justice for the victims, including Ray Gricar. Our society needs to finally decide that abuse is unacceptable and that it won't allow abusers to hide behind charisma, power, success.


Jeff
11/10/2011 10:40:44 am

Laura, thanks for posting on this. I haven't heard the rumors about Sandusky possibly pimping out boys to other predators, but after reading the 23-page report from the grand jury, I'm convinced that the 8 or 9 victims who have been identified are only the tip of the iceberg. JoePa has hired a big-time criminal defense attorney and I would expect that the comments and interviews will be curtailed as the criminal investigation continues. Because of the exposure of PSU to a class actiion, it will probably tread lightly as well.

The fact that the institution provided office space and access to facilities to Sandusky despite knowledge of his prior activities in the late 90's makes the Ubiversity liable for the same types of lawsuits that the RC Church has been subject to the past couple of decades. I do hope that this will not be settled privately so some lessons can be learned by other institutions that might have a lax attitude toward doing the right thing even when it hurts their "bottom line". My personal opinion is that JoePa knows a lot more than has been revealed so far, and that Sandusky's behavior was the reason that JoePa more or less put Sandusky out to pasture in 1999, whereas, to that point in time, it was widely known that Sandusky was in line to be JoePa's successor for the Head Coach position once JoePa retired.

This thing just eats at my gut as JoePa was always one of my favorite coaches because he ran a clean, classy program that was noted for its great stydent-athletes who were successful off-the-field once their playing days were over. My rose-colored glasses are off now. It's sad, but I think less of their program now than if they had paid players or cheated the way many other schools have always done to cut corners.

Too much money and too much power. Too little caring and compassion for the most helpless and vulnerable in our society. Those poor kids were hurt and no one cared enough to do a goddam thing but go along and get along and make sure that no one rocked the money boat.

Tom link
11/10/2011 11:28:48 am

Laura, about Sue Paterno's bathrobe. It was 11 PM. About twenty students were outside Joe and Sue's house. Joe came out and spoke to them briefly. Sue stayed on the doorstep until she recognized a friend. Everybody knows where Joe lives. He's been in the same house forever and his ph. number's probably still in the book. Always was. Is yours?

Some of you are judging based on limited knowledge. It sickens me. You're just like the media types who take a detail and extrapolate it for clicks. I've been a Penn State football fan for over 50 years. Three of my hometown buddies played for them in the 70s. There's more to this. I've paid close attention to their football program for a long time. Something's missing in all of this. It'll surface but in the meantime feel free to crucify Joe based on what, the vultures that call themselves media. Read 'The Oxbox Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clarke before your next lynching. In the meantime:

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/11/10/the-end-of-paterno/

http://thatlawyerdude.blogspot.com/2011/11/strong-defense-of-joe-paterno-why.html?m=0

Tom link
11/10/2011 11:47:59 am

This from a PSU insider about Graham Spanier, the fired PSU president, Joe and what happened i n 2002. Old Main is the building that with the top administrative offices.

From marylandnit, a well known PSU insider.

"Coach: Hang in there. I have no idea how you have held your side of the story back. I hope the national media is carrying your story live when you talk about 2002 and what you actually did to follow up...how Old Main put you in your corner and told you to stay away...how Old Main continually hounded your program trying to force you out...it goes on and on and on...maybe you are bigger man than all of us and will never throw the dozens of men under the bus that you can.

I am really wound up by the facts that I learned today. It makes me want to do some violent things. That said, all evil will show its ugly head in due time and I look forward to those moments. It will never repair what we once had. In the end, coach was going to be leaving anyway and now we don't have to put with Graham for another day. If only we could do something to give those children their innocence back. If only Graham and the boys would have let Joe do what he wanted to do years ago. If only..."

Melly
11/10/2011 02:36:45 pm

The pdf with the grand jury presentment was posted "by mistake," due to a "computer glitch," I just read. How often do you see a document like that made available when a grand jury hands down an indictment? That in itself is not the problem, but the fact that people read this hugely horrific narrative and believe that the case is closed, and things happened the way the report said. Really it's only the case the prosecutors intend to make, not the case they have made. How do we know what's true yet? That's why I have very mixed feelings about what's happened to Paterno. I don't know what McQueary really told him, whether Paterno knew of the 1998 incident, and lots of other things. It was really Gov. Corbett who insisted that Joe go away, and he had been working on the case before he became gov, so he may thoroughly trust the case put together. But why should I?

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/10/2011 08:31:04 pm

I have the honor of the second most recommended comment on a story about this at the NY Times.

http://tinyurl.com/bslpoyz

There I state my conclusion, on the basis of data already available to the public, that after the 1998 investigation of Sandusky, Paterno and other university officials entered into a cover-up - Sandusky retired, and they kept his activities secret.

Under this theory, there's over a decade of sexual predation on poor boys that wouldn't have happened if the right thing had been done.

I believe Joe Paterno deserves a fair trial.

Lynn
11/10/2011 09:16:08 pm

Re: JoPa's squeaky clean program until this....not in the last few years! Penn State football had tons of players in trouble with the law, even in comparison to problem programs like Miami.

The more successful a program gets, the more they feel impervious to rules.

Tom link
11/10/2011 11:39:29 pm

@Melly

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Nice that you're not part of the lynch mob here. This is going to get worse not better. There was an infection in the Second Mile foundation and ir's being exposed. The right thing needs to be done but I'm not going to hang Joe because knowing al the good he's done in his 61 year career at PSU this makes no sense at all. There are facts missing. Have to be.

Regarding the Grand Jury fact findings. People are taking it as gospel when it's a summary written by the Attorney General. They put details into the summary that suuport their case. If anybody wants to use the AG summary as gospel then understand that the AG has stated publicly that Joe Paterno acted properly and was an asset to their inquiry. But nobody wants to hear that. I'm telling you there's more to come and I believe that at some point Joe will be exonerated. We'll see but I'm not tying the knot.

Laura, that you intuit Sue Paterno's wearing of a red bathrobe in order to gain attenttion and sympathy, well I just don't know. You can't possibly know anything about the Paternos. Of course you don't. Yet you indict her for wearing her bathrobe which happens to be red? And at 11PM? Her bathrobe, the thing people put over their sleeping clothes? WTF. The stewing image in your mind of Tom Bradley's ass must really have affected your thinking.



farm wife
11/10/2011 11:50:10 pm

Don't you find it very "interesting" that they waited until he broke the record to expose this. His record was obviously more important to them.
This whole thing just turns my stomach. HOW could any of them look at themselves in the mirror every day?
I have NO sympathy for any of the adults in this story...but my heart aches for those kids.

Ottoline
11/11/2011 12:17:05 am

Hey mistah charley -- I just "liked" your comment over at the NYT. Thanks too to the link to that document, which I would not otherwise have read.

Laura Novak
11/11/2011 12:54:11 am

Yes, Mistah Charley, good comment at the NYTs and a good one following it too. Congrats for being "liked" there.

Tom, I appreciate the PSU insider comment you've pasted here. It broadens our ability to look at this story. That perhaps Paterno did do the "right thing" but that the admin is the real culprit here. (Though I agree with many here who are disgusted by the entire story. And that DA's body never being found? WTF!!!)

And I was planning on saying that to you. As well as conceding that perhaps the red bathrobe could be explained.

But you had to sink to insults about my phone number and Tom Brady's ass. Like I've said before here: you're one of the smartest commenters I've ever met. You're "value added" in terms of information 99% of the time. But your digs are gratuitous and insulting to whomever they are directed. Please go back to providing alternate view points with your incredible intelligence. Thanks.

Glad to not be Tom
11/11/2011 02:32:02 am

Tom, I feel sorry for you that your hero has feet of clay. Big deal that you know the Paternos personally. That means squat to me. I have a friend whose husband got his PHD. at Penn State, and she has loved telling us about attending bible studies with Joe and his wife. I never understood why she thought that was of any interest to me. He is nothing but a football coach. He didn't find the cure for cancer or anything. Football is just a game (and a pretty stupid one at that).

So..tell my...what are all the great things Papa Joe has done that will justify his behavior in this? In my opinion, nothing...absolutely NOTHING can condone keeping quiet about a child being raped. I repeat...NOTHING. You can try to soothe your conscience by saying Joe reported it. Bull. When it was obvious those people were doing nothing, for the sake of that child, he should have felt an overwhelming moral obilgation to take it further.

So, cling to your unworthy hero. He will need all the people like you he can get. I am very happy that for most sane people, his name will always be smeared with this crime.

Just wondering...how many millions was he paid the last 12 years, while he sat with his mouth shut?

SHAME ON HIM..AND YOU FOR SUPPORTING HIM!

Marleycat
11/11/2011 02:47:15 am

This is a response to "Tom" and other supporters of Paterno and Penn State for not reporting what they knew immediately, and since nothing was done - not following up, not demanding intervention to stop the abuse of those victims - and future victims.

You seem to be saying that poor Joe wanted to do something but was prevented by "Old Man" (I guess you are referring
to Graham Spanier). That if he could have reported he would have. FACT - all of those people, including Joe Paterno, were legally and morally responsible for reporting the child rapes, no matter WHAT the "Old Man" says, no matter how powerful "Old Man" was, no matter if Penn State's reputation would be hurt by its association with these perpetrators, no matter if their jobs would be at risk.

Had Joe Paterno and the "Old Man" complied with the law and had any sense of moral responsibility, or concern about children being raped - Penn State and Joe Paterno would have had to deal only with the scandaal of an employee caught abusing children and the scandal that would have created - they could have weathered that. Now, the school and Paterno have to deal with reports of that employee caught molesting children but also with being complicit in the abuse that was going on and continued to go on - a much greater morally and legally less forgivable scandal.

Joe Paterno is an ADULT, as are all of those who covered this up, and as adults NO ONE could have "not let them do" ANYTHING, let alone ignore child rape. Joe Paterno CHOSE to NOT put a stop to this as did everyone else who knew what was going on. It doesn't matter what anyone else told them to do - only they control what they choose to do.

It is also significant and speaks to the issue of their complicitly either aiding and abetting these crimes, or just ignoring it and hoping it would go away when they let Sandusky "retire", and specifically banned him from "bringing children to the school with him" they obviously knew what Sandusky had been doing with them on school premises and would continue to do so unless they issued that ban.

How many other people retire from their careers are banned from bringing children with them if they visit where they used to work? Especially since Sandusky supposedly had such a stellar reputation and was still involved with Second Mile, a known child advocate often seen with children? He had often brought children with himj to school, and inexplicably, they ban him bringing children onto the property?

No, Joe Paterno, Penn State, Second Mile knew Sandusky was raping little boys on campus and CHOSE to either hide their own participation, or knowledge of it, for the sake of their reputations. They basically said - don't bring little boys to Penn State to rape them, too many people have seen you doing it, and we might not be able to cover for you any longer, but, hey . . . go ahead and rape them somewhere else.

And they did this knowing of his Second Mile involvement, that most of his victims were little boys in the care of that institution, knowing that Sandusky had 6 adopted children from that institution - and in all likelihood was raping them in his own home in between raping the children at Second Mile. How did those men sleep at night or have the stomache to be professional colleagues knowing that children were being abused, children who did not even have the protection of their natural parents to protect them or see to their best interests?

There is absolutely NO DEFENSE of any of these adults based on the premise that the boss said "I couldn't report child rape". NONE! They chose to keep their jobs and reputations rather than protect innocent children and an unsuspecting community.

There has been no unfair jumping to conclusions, or not enough facts for reasonable people to believe Joe Paterno failed to report and facilitated a child rapist in his crimes. They will get their day in court, hopefully those who committed or covered up these crimes will be finally be held responsible.

curiouser
11/11/2011 03:08:52 am

"Paterno didn't answer to anybody. No coach has ever experienced a more painful downfall, in part because no coach had ever been elevated to such heights."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/11/11/penn-state-joe-paterno-culture/index.html#ixzz1dQBnnULg

Joe Paterno, muzzled and forced into a corner, is hard to believe as anything more than self-protecting spin. If such was the case, why didn't he resign? How can child abuse be seen as acceptable collateral damage for whatever good Paterno bestowed on students, the football program, and the University?

Laura Novak
11/11/2011 04:30:42 am

What sticks in my mind was the soundbite from Paterno the other day when he said that the BOT should really focus on other things and he'll retire when the season was finished. That haunts me, those words. A round about way of saying they had bigger things to worry their pretty little heads about and he was the least of their problems. Deflection is usually intended to deflect from something. And that's why this story stinks to high heavens.

Go read the UK Daily Mail story again. A DA missing. Hard drive missing. Body never found. Was all over the Sandusky accusation. Now THAT is a story.

Jo
11/11/2011 05:01:20 am

Laura, I agree that the story in the UK Daily Mail is incredible. How could a DA and his hard drive missing not be followed up on? It definitely sounds like dirty tricks.

Mhurka
11/11/2011 05:13:28 am

According to wiki answers being a silent bystander to a crime (for example -walking past a rape, etc.)is considered being an accessory to a crime in most cases.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_a_silent_bystander_to_a_crime_an_accessory_to_it

Ottoline
11/11/2011 06:36:23 am

Interview with the Mom of Victim 1:

http://tinyurl.com/82g8c6c

I agree, innocent until proven guilty, let's wait for all the info. Sure a lot of bad loose ends, though.

Jo link
11/11/2011 07:12:04 am

A link worth reading:

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/11/11/legal-worries-for-paterno-dont-end-after-firing/

Laura Novak
11/11/2011 08:15:17 am

That FireDogLake link is well worth reading. Thank you for that, Jo. Someone in the comments also references the DA 'gone missin'.

Ottoline
11/11/2011 08:28:41 am

I was looking for a more detailed timeline, and wiki rules once again:

http://tinyurl.com/dyb4qmj


Ottoline
11/11/2011 08:49:03 am

Nowhere do I read about ANY help or compassion for the victims. Who also include all the others who have not been identified or quantified in the press, but SANDUSKY KNOWS. You'd think there would be a helping hand somewhere, from someone, inadequate though it might be. Even an apology, as a start.

Also surprised to read that Sandusky is out on $100k bail. Wow, I would say he is a flight risk. Either that or suicide.

Tom link
11/11/2011 09:07:36 am

I don't want to go on here about this because, respectfully, some of the posters just don't know enough to post and the information available through traditional media is terribly slanted. No one has been affected more than the children (then) and their families. It's just terrible. That media has swooped in and focused on Joe is to be expected because of his earned position and fame. Joe is revered in the college FB world not so much for winning as for the way he conducted himself and managed his program. His accomplishments in that regard pale in comparison to the damage done to the kids. But isn't it possible to separate the two for a moment? To give Joe the benefit of doubt and hope that something's missing; that the story isn't complete; that there's no way that Joe Paterno would allow the hurt to continue if it was in his power to stop it. There has to be something else or I don't know what?

It's ironic that Joe wasn't a big fan of the media (and who can blame him). They paid him back bigtime with lies, fabrications and distortions which only served their lust, not truth. But Joe didn't damage the media, he just didn't give them what they wanted. He was protective.

I've learned the same lesson again. People in general can't be trusted to read or listen. They just grab a loose thread and run with it.

In 'This Side of Paradise'. Fitzgerald's first novel, his protagonist, Amory Blaine, says of himself, "I know myself but that is all." I think that Joe knows himself and a lot more. But sometimes knowing yourself is all the truth and beauty available, and the hope that it's enough.

Ottoline
11/11/2011 09:56:53 am

I don't consider Fitzgerald a source of much wisdom. Didn't Hemingway say of his work: "that's not writing, that's typing." Well Hemingway was not so terrific in the wisdom dept either when we see his whole life. I don't get why you quoted him. If we know only ourself and also that a child is being abused, we cannot retreat into the "know oneself" cocoon and hope that is enough.

I can see that Joe has much to recommend him. But once Sandusky rang his sodomize-children bell, it could not be unrung. Everyone suffers, cover-ups notwithstanding. As we see.

Joe and McQueary are accessories to the crime, if they knew knew and did nothing, as seems to be the case. No matter how many other great things they might have done with their lives.

If there is more we should know, let's hear it! How about Joe telling us? ESPECIALLY if he is being coerced to keep something quiet. Especially then.

The thing is, you just can't equate sodomizing a 10-yr-old with the practicalities and compromises of big-time politics at a major institution. Sure, I can see Joe saying "I can do more good by keeping quiet and continuing my work than by acting to fix Sandusky's crimes." But that's a deal that never works, one way or the other.

I guess if I learned that there was some major help/restitution/care for the victims (especially volunteered help), I might think better of this crew. But Sandusky was not reined in enough to prevent continued abuse, and no help to victims was offered. I hope I am wrong on this.

curiouser
11/11/2011 10:56:15 am

CBS has information about the known victims, Sardinsky's MO, and additional witnesses:
http://tinyurl.com/6rx4l6w

Tom link
11/11/2011 12:11:36 pm

@Ottoline,

It was Fitzgerald's words that have stayed with me all these years. They were personal to me then. They are now. Those words had no meaning relative to the abused children and weren't meant to. I was hoping that Joe has the self-knowkedge and understanding to survive this. I know he's not the true victim(s). Please don't do that. It may turn out, however, that he is a victim. I don't expect him to speak of this until after the weekend if then. But if he does speak I expect the lights to go on and the roaches to scatter.

I've read that Fitzgerald inspired T.S. Eliot to write. That's enough for me. He also inspired Salinger and Richard Yates(all from wiki).

I wasn't as big fan of Hemingway but when I read his posthumous memoir, 'A Movable Feast', I learned (I think) that he was a lot more sensitive than it would appear. Sound familiar? And he changed his tune about Fitzgerald somewhat. Don't discount the envy factor with Hemingway. Might be that he was built for that.

Someone above said that I said that I know Joe. I don't and never wrote that. Fifty years from the outside and stories from friends who played for him gave me a pretty good picture of his character.

I spoke to one of those buddies who played for Joe today. This buddy was also a Graduate Assistant, like the witness, helping the coaching staff while getting his M.S. He spoke mostly of the children, didn't get why this wasn't exposed from the outset. He played whem Sandusky was coaching. Was around the coaching staff as a player and G.A. for six years. He's made a donation every Christmas to The Second Mile. He's very, very disappointed in the whole thing. Said you'd never ever guess tyhat Sandusky was capable of anything remotely like this. Classic sociopath I guess. I don't know.

There's about 570,000 living Penn State alumni. They care. In a half day they've collectively donated $150,00 toward a $500,00 goal to www.proudtobeapennstater.com, a website set up in conjunction with RAINN (Rape, Incest and Abuse National Network). The goal will be met.

THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world. It was founded and is operated by Penn State students. They've raised over $78 M since 1973. All of the money goes to help the cause of defeating pediatric cancer through the Hershey Medical Center. http://www.thon.org/whatisthon

Give this some time. Penn State is a good place. Penn Staters care. Don't let that one monster's actions have you view it differently.

Jo link
11/11/2011 02:31:10 pm

Here is a link that Tom will like:

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/11/10/the-end-of-paterno/

Ottoline
11/11/2011 03:59:04 pm

IMO, no question that Fitzgerald and Hemmingway are great writers. I've loved reading them both. It's just that they were both drunks, too abusive to their women for my taste, and not good parents. So we needn't look to them for guidance re ethics. I see that the writing/typing quote is attributed also to Capote re Kerouac. Go figure. I, too, remember it reported as based on jealousy, but I think it was F who said it of H, in a cafe in Paris. So Capote swiped the quote?

Jo: yes, very good article.

Tom, you are saying "wait for all sides of the story," and the commenters here seem to me to be sensitive to that, but we can meanwhile have opinions, write them up, let them twist and turn, be refined by the criticism of others, to be corrected as more info finds us.

So far, it looks like McQueary and Paterno are both accessories to Sandusky's crime, no matter how otherwise wonderful they might have been over their lifetimes. So: Lots of victims here, some with self-inflicted victimhood, others who were disadvantaged children. But no help whatsoever offered to the child-victims over all these years of knowing about it (none that I have read about so far). None.

So Penn can now come clean and work through the consequences (bad rep, downgraded credit rating, federal funding pulled back, financial problems, firing of add'l people, etc.). Offer big money to the victims, or even to the class of victims, perhaps apologize, perhaps tell it all, all the rest of it. Or they can cover up some more, and risk a Phase II happening in the future, esp risky with that good writer Jo linked to hoovering up all the bits and pieces.

Doesn't this remind you of SP, or Cain, or Perry -- knowing that their various cover-ups are there, lying in wait for them. The potential for discovery always there. And the hope that it will stay hidden or they can lie their way out. Which sometimes works. And sometimes does not.

Tom link
11/12/2011 12:48:25 am

This is from Sports Illustrated or SI.com. It explains Grand Jurys, how they work and their implications vis-a-vis Penn State.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_mccann/11/11/sandusky.indictment/index.html?sct=cf_t11_a6

Tom link
11/12/2011 03:39:16 am

Something I'd forgotten to mention about Mike McQueary, the witness and Graduate Assistant. Mike grew up down the street from the Sanduskeys. The two families were friends. McQueary's Dad and Sanduskey were friends. The kids played together on sports teams and otherwise. Mike went on to be a QB at Penn State where Sandusky was a defensive coach. The point is that Sandusky had been an authority figure to McQueary for most of his life, first as Mr. Sandusky the neighbor, then as Coach Sandusky.

All of this had to be rushing through McQueary's mind as he witnessed this horror. Maybe you can better understand why he called his Dad first. Maybe you can understand how the lifelong relationship between the families and Sandusky being an adult figure to Mike for a lifetime almost, may have figured in to what is described as his inaction. Maybe in your minds this doesn't mitigate what is perceived as guilt in Mike's case. It's hateful but picture it. Mike is witnessing Mr. Sandusky, Coach Sandusky, doing that to the young boy

This isn't that simple. We want it to be but it isn't.

Ottoline
11/12/2011 04:23:43 am

Tom, you are right: it's not simple. It's when bad things happen to good people (I am putting McQuery and Paterno into the "good" category in terms of most of their lives). Like a war, when people have to make impossible choices.

But what is harder: Mike's dilemma or being a naive, trusting child being raped on a regular basis by this "nice" Sandusky authority figure and then trying to disentangle one's mind from that, if that's even possible. Esp without help!

I don't understand why Mike did not say "Hey -- what's going on here?" At least that much, to stop it that one time. THEN go to his Dad, etc. But I wasn't there. I too might have been too shocked to act. I hope not. But who knows.

Hard as this all is for these otherwise principled and good adults (let's assume that for the moment), WE REALLY DO HAVE TO PUT THE CHILDREN FIRST, in both practical (restitution) and symbolic (what's an institution to do?) ways; and I don't see that many articles talking about the children, what happened to them afterwards, college? therapy? on-going contact with the charity? any attention to their issues from this at all? Or just business as usual?

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/12/2011 04:31:20 am

Tom, the argument you make about the mitigating circumstances for Mike McQueary is a good one.

Those factors do not, however, mitigate the deal with the devil that Penn State and Paterno made with Sandusky when he retired early, in 1999. Penn State got scandal suppression; Sandusky got emeritus status with all the privileges attached, and another decade of using his "charity work" to victimize young boys. There will be lawsuits, and possibly criminal trials, about this.

Ottoline
11/12/2011 05:48:35 am

If in addition to Penn's "deal with the devil" they had also put in place a heavy-duty therapy and mega-scholarship program -- something voluntary to make major amends and take care of the children (not just the victims who came forward, but all of them), I would feel different about it. Not great, but it would indicate SOME sense of responsibility. But so far, I see zip, zero, nada. That is almost as disturbing as the original violation. To me.

Tom link
11/12/2011 06:23:57 am

@Ottoline--You're not going to hear about the kids unless they want to be heard about. Their ages vary. Who knows when this pig started all of this. It wouldn't be hard to convince me that Sandusky started the Second Mile foundation for access primarily. That was in '78 I think. Victims could be in their 30s.

Charley--Ultimately everything will come out unless there's some sort of lockdown on info to protect the victims. It's really confounding as to how this wasn't exposed earlier. Hard to believe that none of the adults did something when indications of assault were apparent. Boggles the mind. And Joe, I just can't imagine him not acting and acting properly. It's just so out of character seemingly. We'll find out.

I hope Joe opens up to the media. Removes the plug. Explains himself honestly. Let's the chips fall. And takes care of these kids/adults. Does what Joe Paterno does and should have done.

Tom link
11/12/2011 06:49:10 am

@Ottoline--Forgot to mention that I truly belive that the reason McQueary didn't speak up, shout "What's going on here?" is because Sandusky was the adult. Had it been a stranger I truly believe he'd have reacted differently. Mike played QB at the top level of college FB. You can't be a coward and st ar at QB for a program at Penn State's level.

I chuckle each time you call Penn State Penn only because the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) people are cringing. By way of work I run into a lot of veterinarians. Penn vets have a very high opinion of themselves (toughest vet school to get into, Ivy leagur, all that). When a Penn vet is asked about a procedure their common response is, "At Penn we..." which pisses off vets from other schools. So if you know a vet or run into one they're likely to know about "At Penn we..."

Sherryn
11/12/2011 12:59:03 pm

I've been following this whole "conspiracy of cowards" the SF Gate article so aptly calls it. I'd like to thank everyone for their civility and for the excellent links given in the comments.
I live in Pennsylvania, and many of my friends and acquaintences are "Penn Staters", and even among them, there is a diversity of opinions.
Here is a rare case, where there was a witness to one instance of child sexual abuse, a crime. The witness was 28 years old, and does nothing beyond the bare minimum, and doesn't question why nothing was done. I'm sorry, but what's wrong with this picture? Is he afraid to interviene and risk losing his job? Does he have a conscience? Do any of them have a conscience?
The disappearing body and hard drive is another red flag.
As they continue peeling this onion to get to the captial "T" Truth, Sandusky is out on bail, wearing his penn state shirt shopping in a mall, enjoying his freedom.
And the victims and their families are tortured by the "what if's" and the wounds that never heal.

Laura, your comparison with the Catholic Church is spot-on, the crime is bad enough, but the cover up and the lengths people who are trusted with these children is much, much worse.

My only concern is finding ALL the victims, getting them the help and support they need, and making sure all involved in the crime and cover up, Joe Paterno included, are hauled into a court of law, sworn to tell the truth, and face the consequences of their complicity, callous indifference, and croneyism.

Tom link
11/12/2011 02:24:36 pm

@Sherryn

"...all involved in the crime and cover up, Joe Paterno included, are hauled into a court of law, sworn to tell the truth, and face the consequences of their complicity, callous indifference, and croneyism."

Sounds like you've come to a conclusion. The media won't retract their distortions but maybe you'll come back here and comment if it's found that some parties are innocent and that you judged too quickly based on what you've gleaned from media and friends and being Pennsylvanian.

Has it crossed your mind that something's missing? Did you read any of the above links I shared, especially the one about the PA Grand Jury and its recent indictments.

You know, I've just about had it with the finger pointers who say they'd have behaved differently. You don't know. You just think you know. Hopefully you'll never be in the position of witnessing the anal rape of a ten year old boy by your neighbor and coach, a man you knew and admired all your life. Maybe you'd scream and yell and holler and beat the rapist to a pulp. Maybe you'd walk away in disbelif and contact the man closest to you for advice, your Dad. You don't know.

You also don't know what transpired between the time MCqueary met with Joe the next day and when Mike met with the AD, Curley, ten days later. Maybe you should wonder why it took the Athletic Director TEN days to address this horrific act. Yet you've made up your mind. Oh, you want them to have their day in court but you've made up your mind.

Remember this one thing, Sherryn: Nothing's real until it's personal.


Ottoline
11/12/2011 02:40:41 pm

NYTimes reports Sandusky collected about $50k/yr since 2001 from Second Mile. Even after his retirement. Prob similar fees in the earlier years, but no IRS records available.

Laura Novak
11/13/2011 01:19:01 am

Thank you all for a great and civilized discussion. I was out all day yesterday and not available to comment (geesh, I sound like a politician there!) I will try to catch up on the links you all provided. So thank you!

I knew someone in the 70's whose sister was at Penn State (yes, very different from "Penn"!) and I recall how proud she was and what a powerhouse the school was. So I'm sure this episode pains people on so many levels.

I'd like to know more about what McQ. did. Perhaps "all we can know is ourselves" by which we can also extrapolate that we can't know for sure how loudly he screamed, and to whom and when. Did he try to pull S. off the boy? Did he yell loud and long only to be threatened from above? Has this been a living hell for many of them? Or did they not do enough?

I don't know. But let's keep reading and sharing links. Because one thing we can ALL agree on is that this kind of crime against innocent children is despicable and not acceptable. ANYONE who played a part in facilitating it or covering up has no truck with me, you, or society in general. I hope the gloves are off in finding the truth and punishing the perps in the fairest sense of the law.

Mhurka
11/13/2011 03:07:04 am

I recently came upon a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.

Amen to that!


Ottoline
11/13/2011 04:48:08 am

Nothing really new, but another good article:

http://tinyurl.com/7at2nqv

Mhurka
11/13/2011 05:36:33 am

It seems that Sandusky's home is on property bordering an elementary school.

http://www.centredaily.com/2011/11/12/2983586/sanduskys-home-near-school.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=p op

(I have a feeling that this story will be going on for years to come.)

Ottoline
11/13/2011 07:35:26 am

A few yrs ago, I looked at the dot map our police station's web page has, of known sex offenders' addresses. Sure enough, they were clustered around our elementary schools. The police web site said you could come in to look at the faces. The attending officer said the database contained only half of them, if that. Someone like Sandusky would of course not be included.

My main surprise, as I looked over all the faces: about half of them looked like regular people. One would never have guessed by looking at them.

And no, I did not find the face I was looking for. So I was an extra-vigilant helicopter Mom for a few extra years.

Laura Novak
11/13/2011 08:33:44 am

New UK Daily News article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061035/Sanduskys-son-tried-kill-months-moving-alleged-child-sex-abusing-coach.html

Tom link
11/13/2011 10:19:36 am

I wonder if PA Gov. Corbett (R--and owned by the natural gas frackers) had anything to do with the leaking of the Grand Jury summary. He's making political gravy of this now and was the PA Attorney General at the start of the investigation.

I'm getting the sense now that there was a lot of maneuverign going on back in '98 when before Sandusky 'retired'. I'm hearing that Joe forced the issue. I'vbe heard that in the past but what I reaqd earlier from a former player it was much more of a demand from Joe than a choice by Sandusky. Remember, Sandusky was only 55 when he retired and he was greatly admired nationaly for his coaching and had hoped to follow Joe. I recall he'd turned down the UVA job thinking that Joe was retiring.

Ottoline
11/13/2011 10:26:53 am

Remember above I thought $100k bail seemed too low for someone facing life in prison? Turns out the judge who granted it is a Second Mile volunteer. Who did not recuse herself. The original request was for $500k and an ankle bracelet. Don't know about you, but if I were in Sandusky's shoes I'd be in some non-extraditable country by now, persuing the art of denial.

http://tinyurl.com/8a5f65f

mistah charley, ph.d.
11/13/2011 10:42:32 am

A RIDDLE

Q. How well did the Penn State guys handle the Sandusky situation?
A. Compared to what?

An exchange between the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, comes to mind:

"Do you compare your conduct with his?"

"No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with yours." [Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen]



To speak less alusively, if it's true that Paterno forced Sandusky out, and did so because of his behavior with boys - as Tom writes here, and as seems very plausible, then:

IT WAS GOOD THAT HE DID SO - because he got Sandusky off the football team payroll.

IT WAS BADLY DONE - because Sandusky continued with all his other activities when he should have gotten a fair trial and all the consequences thereof.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/13/2011 10:56:27 am

I meant to write "allusively" above.

With regard to Sandusky's bail - it's not unreasonable under the circumstances. More likely than Sandusky fleeing to a non-extraditable country (and is there such a country? does Sandusky have enough money to convince ANY government NOT to hand him in?) is suicide, to put it bluntly - either suicide or "suicide", either of which might be convenient to others whose activities are now being inquired into.

Tom link
11/13/2011 11:37:57 am

This is a fine piece that speaks to questions/remarks that both Ottoline and Laura have had. It's three pages but easy (yet smart--the best way). Please don't let the article's title throw you off. It's likely not hers (Laura?) and is a bit deceiving. It says 'Joe Paterno Is Not The Problem'. Take ten minutes.
Here:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-11-10/news/joe-paterno-scandal/

Ottoline
11/13/2011 11:54:48 am

Mistah charlie -- By "suicide," you must mean like Gricar the missing DA? Ha, yes, either one would do.

My reading around about the "other issues" this AM convinced me that it's just the one story being endlessly repeated. No new quotes or data. So far. I bet the pressure is on all the abused children, mostly grown up now (and surely someone has a list); and the keep-the-lid-on-it guys are contacting them with offers they hope they can't refuse (to keep quiet). All it would take is one or two more abuse victims to talk, and more big legs for this story.

Just think of all the grifting calcs that are going on right now, criss-cross, sparks flying off the phone lines: How much can I ask for keeping quiet? How much should I pay? And to whom. Sandusky surely needs to be taken care of, because he alone and for sure knows all. But the boys know all too, in the aggregate. And so do any others who were pleasured by Sandusky's entrpreneurial efforts, if any, who are now saying to themselves that harrumph, it's not that big a deal, but let's for sure keep a lid on that part of it. And a few others also might know all -- those who might have taken an interest, like pals of the senile janitor or the dead DA. Did Sandusky get paid? How much? By whom? When? Did he declare it on taxes? (Besides the $500k for "consultant" services from Second Mile -- even after S was asked to leave Penn. Or was that $500k in itself payment for any services rendered, but labeled as "consultant." ?)

I don't guess people who pay off are all that generous. You want to pay enough, but you'd hardly care to pay more than you have to. Oooooh, how much shall it be? And lets pick up the pace: we have only so much time. Hurry hurry.

Doesn't it just make you sick. We could power the electrical needs of a city if we could hook up all the guys pondering all these angles tonight.

It makes me think, as part of my market research theory, that Murdoch with his phone-tapping info collection surely knows a few other really juicy scandals that could be leaked and take up everyone's attention at any chosen moment. Say, at a crucial point in the 2012, right when it would be convenient for boosting the numbers for the GOP's candidate, or deflecting attn from some bad booboo. It almost makes me think this scandal, too, although it has its own issues, might be a lesson in crowd management, MSM management. Just for future reference. Just for the endolphins.

Ottoline
11/13/2011 12:18:22 pm

Hey Joe -- Good article. Of course Joe is not the problem. But he and others in positions of responsibility were there to solve problems, even problems like this. Esp problems like this.

The original problem is Sandusky. That's a given. But why discuss him -- no expectation that HE would solve the problem.

And as the writer says, and you have said, we don't know everything, or even enough. Maybe we never will.

I suspect part of the problem is the "boys will be boys" culture that used to maintain that rape was okay ("she asked for it"), including date rape. And those boys grew up to be rich donors. That Alice Miller concept -- that pedophilia and sexual abuse are more common than we acknowledge -- might also be part of it. I bet part of Sandusky's self-justification was that it was not so bad, the boys liked it, what's the big deal? And if he pimped anyone out, I bet that was their bond -- just a little special fun among us entitled rich old guys.

Gag,

Ottoline
11/13/2011 12:19:20 pm

Oooops, I meant "Hey Tom." Sorry.

Tom link
11/13/2011 02:34:54 pm

Ottolne and Charley-- Where'd you get the $500K to Sandusky from Second Mile detail? Haven't seen anyhthing but a 50K annual salary. I don't know where this pimping out story came from. I've seen it, yes. I don't trust any media especially the unknowns who are tweeting (hate tyhat I typed that word and no bird to be found). I think, Ottoline, That last paragraph of yours went to deep left field.

Consider this. Joe was about 75 in 2002. His brother, George, died in June of that year ata age 73. Joe and George were very close. At was during this period of time that Penn State experienced what is described as their 'dark years' as a football tteam. They ghad several losing seasons and the PSU people weren't happy. It was in 2004 that Pres. Spanier and AD Curley went to Joe's house to try to get him tom resign. Joe's figuatively booted them out the door. That meeting and Joe's dismissal of those two top administrators has been public knowledge since then. Not Spanier's finest moment. Basically, Joe showed Pres. Spanier up. Joe freely admitted that during the 'dark years' period that he'd lost focus. Hadn't been paying attention, especially to recruiting, the lifeblood of high level college FB. The football program suffered and didn't bounce back until 2005.

HIs brother's illness and subsequent death certainly were factors. Was there something else? Don't know.

There's a lot going on here but I don't think it's as complicated and dramatic as you two are suggesting. I hope not. I wish Joe would speak without constraints. Bet he wants to. Tuesdays press conferences are standard during the football season. Spanier cancelled this past week's. Joe wasn't happy. It's thought he had a few things to say. Note that Spanier, in a press release, put his 'unconditional support' behind Curley and Shultz, the only two who were arrested. That is interesting.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/13/2011 02:40:29 pm

There's a thoughtful, illuminating discussion at http://firedoglake.com/2011/11/12/choosing-between-two-visions-of-institutional-loyalty-at-penn-state/

In the discussion of the (in)actions of Mike McQueary, when he discovered Jerry Sandusky with his victim in the shower in 2002, one thing that has not been brought up much in the talk I've read is the context of the time frame. Sandusky had already retired, and yet was still allowed to be around. McQueary had an understanding, perhaps mistaken, probably incomplete, of that situation - of why Sandusky was no longer coaching at Penn State, and why he still had the run of the place. I'd presume that the former players, some now GA's, talked among themselves about that and had a theory or theories. Presumably these ideas shaped what McQueary and his father talked about, as the shock wore off. Then he talks with Paterno, the next day - then a gap of some days before McQueary is asked to meet with the other muckymucks. There are various theories of McQueary at this time - from fearful grad student to clever blackmailer - but his actions and inactions have to be considered in the interpersonal/institutional field in which they occurred. And - this is the point I want to make - these actions and inactions - of McQueary, Paterno, et al. - took place in the context of Sandusky already having been "investigated" and supposedly "cleared" - but actually encouraged/forced to retire - in 1998.

Tom link
11/13/2011 02:48:32 pm

This is a take I haven't seen indicting Attorney general Kelly for her actions. This is pretty good.

http://lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson326.html

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/13/2011 03:18:28 pm

All this is reminding me of something that happened back in the 1990s, a year or two after I left a small state college in the general Pennsyltucky area. I heard about it from my friends who were still there. Basically, the college president had to resign abruptly when his affair with an education professor, whom he had rapidly promoted and given large raises to, came to light. Both he and the lady in question left the college - they were well suited to each other, but the guy already had a wife, which made the dual private life and office shenanigans just too much.

Here's the thing - a decade later, a history of the college was written and published. The story of the reasons for and circumstances of the fellow's resignation was entirely fictitious. I hadn't expected a full and frank discussion, of course, but the coverup was complete. I was surprised that a professor of history would put his name on something so false, but as Symbolic Interactionism teaches, "Things perceived as real become real in their consequences." This history book contained not what happened, but what people would like to have happened - and eventually everyone who knows the truth will be gone, but the written "record" will live on.

How hard did the Penn State people work at keeping THEIR dirty secrets in the closet? Pretty hard, it seems clear. But in the case of the college where I used to work, it was reasonable to assume that the former president would "go and sin no more" - at least in terms of his institutional role, which he no longer had - I don't know whether or not he stayed married to his wife. In the Penn State situation, the secrecy had very serious consequences.

Ottoline
11/13/2011 04:17:58 pm

1. Here's the link for Sandusky paid $456k from 2000 to 2008, $57k/yr for "consulting." One wonders whether it was not more, including those years for which they have not seen the IRS records.

http://tinyurl.com/7s37xsn

2. Seems like the other story came from a radio reporter named Madden, who broke the story earlier this year, and who some people defend as trustworthy. But, as I said, when I bounced around the web this AM, I saw nothing further than people endlessly repeating that original thought, back and forth, which has no further basis than the original Madden quote, nor any additions to it.

3. The timing of the revelation of this scandal is puzzling -- the Kelly mis-prosecution claim just adds to my lack of understanding of how this story emerged, why now. When it was intended to be handled in some other way.

My interest in this story is obviously related to the Palin BabyHoax. I'm curious how a longstanding hidden story emerges, a hidden story that is common knowledge among some, who decides when it emerges, who gets blamed, how/if responsibility is taken, the role (if any) of the 1%. Of course we all have sympathy for victims, and we want the right thing done. But if the BabyHoax were to emerge into public consciousness, many of the same issues would emerge: who knew what and when? why no action to end it? who gains from the cover-up, etc. A big difference is that people care about pedophilia and football, and they care far less about political shenanigans and a past-her-sell-date Palin.

Just one more datapoint re the "I didn't know nuthin' stance" -- does anyone think it is possible that one upper-management person is quizzed by authorities about a sexual-abuse scandal, and that other upper-management folks would not know that as gossip in about 10 minutes? I sure don't buy that. So other forces are surely at play, although credible deniability is also at play.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
11/13/2011 09:21:26 pm

VERY WORTHWHILE COMMENTARY BY Jon Ritchie, EX-PRO FOOTBALLER WHO KNEW SANDUSKY FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS - OR THOUGHT HE KNEW HIM


http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7219828/no-one-seems-really-know-former-penn-state-assistant-coach-jerry-sandusky

College
11/13/2011 10:49:36 pm

College Football is Generally Degenerate, Claims Commenter link
11/13/2011 10:53:16 pm

from James Howard Kunstler's blog, which has a very vulgar name:


Not to detract in any way from the total sleeze at Penn State, but I'll bet that every football enterprise at every school from regional state schools on up has equally degenerate skeletons in their closets.

Some real life examples: I was an Asst. Prof (prior to getting out of teaching/academia and going to med school)at a branch of a major state university in the Southeast. It was a running joke among the profs that if looked like you were going to give a football jock a D or F (both would foul his "scholarship") in one of the big 300 person psych 101 classes (they seemed to only take 101 classes in all subjects), the asst coaches would send in test taker for the final. We caught this happening on numerous occasions, reported it and and were told to shut the hell up by the dean. The jocks involved were never punished to our knowledge.

On many occasions that I personally know about, the dean or his assistant would actually effect an over-ride grade change after some sort of "paper" was written in lieu of the jock passing an exam (the paper, I'm sure, was written by one of the teams of cute girls that the football team hired as "tutors").

On a non academic level, the local chevy dealers competed to "loan" brand new sports cars to the football players. There was evidence that these cars were kept by the players even after they left, in flagrant violation of the supposed SECA "rules."

Two of the assistant coaches were caught bringing underage high school girls to the jock dorm for sex parties. It all got hushed up and no one was punished. No one!!! (the cops probably got free tickets to the games for a season or two and thought they were special)

In talking with many other faculty members from schools in all regions and all levels of academic status, it is clear to me that the above goes on everywhere college football is played. Many faculty members, out of cognitive dissonance, attempt to minimize this sort of thing by referencing the need for sports to fund academics, or by writing it all off as young dumb jocks just "sowing their wild oaks." What is really is, is is a reflected of a completely debased and degenerate culture and a completed debased and degenerate people with no hope whatsoever of redemption. As a culture, we deserve what's coming.

Ra Ra, go team!!!!!


http://kunstler.com/blog/2011/11/-the-penn-state.html#comment-76520

Tom link
11/13/2011 11:47:28 pm

@Ottoline--$500K in a lump sum is a lot of money. $50K annually is not. Sandusky did found The Second Mile afterall. Gov. Corbett's in this up to his neck--f'in opportunist.

Charley--Here's a post about a Jon Ritchie comment made on 11/11.

--Just on ESPN 2. Says it would have blown his mind had he seen what McQueary saw, and that he would not have known what he would have done, but would have gotten out of there. Ritchie was recruited by Sandusky to come to Penn State, and often returned to help in Second Mile events and he thought Sandusky was a truly great man.

Did not give McQueary a pass on not reporting it to the police later, but he basically refuted all the meatheads like Mike Golic and other "would be heroes" who claim that they would have taken things into their own hands. Ritchie was very thoughtful and put himself in McQueary's position. Said he has no doubt that if it were in a public bathroom and McQueary saw a stranger doing the same thing, that he would have stopped it, but understood how seeing Sandusky doing it would essentially cause panic and paralysis in thought and action. Ritchie seems to be a very reasonable, thoughtful guy.

Tom link
11/13/2011 11:57:19 pm

Some background on Sandusky.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7219828/no-one-seems-really-know-former-penn-state-assistant-coach-jerry-sandusky

'Things aren't always as they seem' is in high gear with both SP and Sandusky. I always thought that if two people knew a secret it was no longer a secret.

mistah charley, ph.d.
11/13/2011 11:58:07 pm

Tom - that is an accurate description of the discussion I linked to. It gives a real sense of how this is not just a crime, but a tragedy.

Mhurka
11/14/2011 06:55:13 am

I just heard on the radio that the NY Fresh Air Fund is checking their records because they believe that they might have sent some kids to Sandusky's home for summer vacation. Ugh.

Tom link
11/14/2011 07:21:43 am

I posted a comment above from an insider, meaning close to the Penn State football program. Here's two more blurbs from two separate insiders, the second is responding to the first. The posts mention what's yet to come and what Joe Paterno may have to add. Both of these comments were posted on Nov.11.

"There is much, much more to this whole sordid mess than has come out. JoePa may still have something..."



---------------------------------------------

"If everyone is shocked by all this & understandably so, just wait to see what's coming from Joe's direction.
There is much much more that will knock your socks off."

Tom link
11/14/2011 09:09:20 am

Apparently Mike McQueary reached out to his teammates from his playing days and sent this message.

@PeterAlexander: McQueary email to fmr. teammates: "I did the right thing…you guys know me...the truth is not out there fully... I didn't just turn and run... I made sure it stopped..."

Laura--I had a post dweebled or whatever it is. It was few comments from insiders suggesting there's a lot more to come and that Joe Paterno will have something to say. Could you post that, please?

sctownie
11/17/2011 10:54:25 am

To throw more information into the 1999 retirement date. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the PA State Employees Retirement System (which Sandusky was enrolled in) opened windows so that people with 35 years of service could retire with their full pension, regardless of age in an attempt to get dollars off of the state payroll. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure that 1999 was one of those years. My dad missed the mark for 35 years of service by a few years in '99, but was able to take his retirement during a similar offering in 2001. He was 55 at that time.


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