Penn Sate - vanity

[PA BOOKENDS]

I have to say, I’m disappointed and a little concerned by the reaction of some of my freeper friends to the Sandusky / Penn State scandal. Full disclosure: I graduated from PSU in 1970. Am not a member of the Alumni Association, have been back for, maybe, 5 games since 1970. Very much on the periphery of all things Penn State.

For the class of ‘70, the JoPa phenomenon (“JoPa” hadn’t even been coined, yet.) hadn’t materialized. Nevertheless, living in Pennsylvania, one could hardly be oblivious to the success of the football team or Paterno’s philosophy. We were happy to see someone who was not only successful, but successful with honor and class.

And this is what brings me to this vanity. So many of you seem to resent that very notion. You apparently held so much animus toward Paterno BEFORE ANY OF THIS EVER CAME OUT, that the very second it hit the fan you couldn’t wait to jump on the down-with-Joe bandwagon. Some of you exhibit so much glee at Joe’s downfall that you come very close to behaving as you accuse him – a willingness to throw a few boys under the bus if it can bring down JoPa & Penn State. Why do you take such joy in seeing a man’s lifework – GOOD work - destroyed?

That Joe couldn’t, perhaps, live up to the ideals he espoused doesn’t make the message any less worthwhile nor does it repudiate the good that he did do. In every sense, his life is the classic story of a Greek tragedy – something the Brown English major would understand!

And to those of you who are so cock-sure of how you would react in any given situation, it is with trepidation that I say: I hope you get the chance to find out.

[txrangerette]

It doesn’t matter to me that some might have a dislike of Paterno. I don’t know why, if they even did. I never did. All I knew of him was his record and longevity, his public reputation and living legend status.

I’ve always focused on the heinous nature of Sandusky’s crimes that went on and on and on. Sandusky and his enabling wife make me physically ill.

Secondarily, I have thoughts that after the witnessed incident, coupled with everyone’s knowledge that Sandusky was always palling around with young boys and showering etc, right under their noses at PSU, something should have been done by somebody but nothing ever was.

Therefore, the abuse went on right there for years.

People say Paterno WAS in a position to have done something, but didn’t. Paterno’s family vows he didn’t believe Sandusky was guilty of anything other than unwise appearance behavior and had he realized exactly what Sandusky was doing he WOULD have done something.

This strikes me as possibly wishful thinking by Paterno himself. If he wasn’t very upset and concerned about the situation, enough to do much more, then I would think he simply refused to admit to his own mind the ugly truth.

My mind and heart are with the victims.

I cry for them.

Paterno?

Everyone knows his legacy, and everyone has to admit his legacy is tarnished, and the man has died and there’s no going back.

[lormand]

I hate all athletic programs in all colleges. I think colleges should focus on academics, but that is probably crazy talk in the eyes of the willfully blind.

This is a case where the chickens came home to roost. Athletic programs have forever trumped a good education for the 'student' athletes, but now Athletic programs trump any crime committed by successful coaches and their staff.

[Night Hides Not]

And to those of you who are so cock-sure of how you would react in any given situation, it is with trepidation that I say: I hope you get the chance to find out.

I feel quite confident when I say that if I ever saw a child being molested in a shower, my immediate reaction would be impersonate Jack Tatum crippling Darryl Stingley...for starters.

[re_nortex]

This insane screed really deserves a zot. Defending the homosexual agenda has no place at all on Free Republic, a pro-God, pro-life Conservative forum.

[AAABEST]

Not to hijack this thread, but man... I LOVED watching those things fire. BBBBBBRRRRRRRPPPP!

Were you in a vulcan?

[cripplecreek]

Unfortunately the tendency to cover up less than stellar and criminal behavior is fairly common in college towns with serious sports programs.

Back in the 80s when my sister was living in married off campus housing at MSU she was managing the building and had a big Spartan basketball star’s car towed away. This future NBA pro trashed her car with a tire iron and kicked the door off her apartment.

He was arrested and given a slap on the wrist by a judge who was more interested in the star’s pro prospects. MSU paid for the damages and explained that her husband was a student at the school and not dropping the matter might harm his college career.

[Cyber Liberty]

Let me call you a Whaaaambulance.

[Kandy Atz]

Its reactions like this that make me hope for the sake of PSU’s soul, that the program is shut down. The university from the top down allowed a known pedophile to freely roam the showers and take underage boys on bowl trips. They covered it up to save dear ol’ Joe Pa and the “perfect” reputation of “Happy” Valley.

We may never know how many victims were in some way abused by Sandusky. I suspect that the ones that testified were but a small fraction of the total. How many young boys could have been saved if ANYONE at PSU had thought of the boys over dear ol’ Joe Pa and PSU?

I know what I would have done if I saw a grown man molesting a boy in a shower. And I think most normal, compassionate humans would have reacted similarly. If only SOMEONE had done the right thing and placed the lives of those boys above the university.

BUT THEY DIDN’T. And for that reason, PSU and its supporters who seemingly “don’t get it”, need a serious wake up call. Sports and/or the reputation of a university, NEVER trumps the safety of a child.

[KingOfVagabonds]

I have a hard time fathoming how people like you continue to support anything related to Paterno or Penn St. football. Donations to PSU went through the roof in the wake of the scandal. Way to roll out the red carpet for someone who covered up the horrific acts of a gay serial pedophile.

[miserare]

You are pathetic!

I agree with Dr. Keith Ablow. Paterno taught a few hundred young men how to block and tackle. Paterno refused to stop the rape of dozens of boys when he had knowledge of the events and the ability to take action.

Paterno was a repulsive coward, and for this, many innocents paid a huge price.

See Ablow’s full comments here:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/13/good-riddance-joe-paterno/

[Revolting cat!]

Mr Paterno wasn’t evil, me thunks, he was just another dumb jock.

[skinndogNN]

If this had happened at my alma mater, I would be MORE upset than anyone.

I would be raising cane to change EVERYTHING. Change the school’s name, team colors, mascot, everything. They have hurt you and every alumni who went through their school. Can anyone look at a resume with a Penn State alum and not have at least a second of negative thoughts?

[Wyatt's Torch]

This is a joke right? You cannot be stupid enough to believe what was typed so it has to be a joke...

[Responsibility2nd]

IBTZ Ping.

[prisoner6]

Graduated HS in 1968. Since I had/have a good grade average and very high IQ (160+) and SAT (~1100) I was offered a full scholarship to PSU.

My dad who was very ill at the time tore the application up while in his hospital bed. He lectured me about how PSU was a very good school but basically turned out elitist, snobbish, leftist automatons.

He didn’t want me to be one of them. He wanted me to go to a Grove City, small school.

At the time it hurt and I didn’t understand. I rebelled. I didn’t want to go to school. I thought he was a moron.

Then he passed.

Over the years I have realized how smart he was!

THANKS DAD! I LOVE YA MAN!

[dfwgator]

All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Of course now I question if Paterno indeed was evil, himself.

[Revolting cat!]

I must say that for an Opus, this is an excellent on - an indirect Opus!

[Red Badger]

Before this scandal broke, I was only aware of Paterno as being just another college football coach. Had no idea of his record or tenure.

I don’t really follow college football that much, only NFL and during the season.

That said, after seeing the report, that what went on at Penn State for 14 years was atrocious. They knew what was going on and did their best to cover it up. Sandusky should have been in prison a long time ago. Paterno knew, they all knew. But for the sake of their damned holy football they allowed children to be raped and traumatized for the rest of their lives. That is despicable, arrogant behavior. The first child should have been the last.

Paterno’s statue should be torn down and sold for scrap. He will forever be shamed and despised by anyone who has any inkling of right and wrong. Whatever good he may have done during his time is all but wiped out by what he didn’t do..........

[Tijeras_Slim]

Grove City is a good school. I went right up the road at Allegheny.

[dfwgator]

One of the most damning things about this, is the fact that the story broke wide open only AFTER Paterno got the record for most victories.

Now that mark should have a huge asterisk next to it, because Paterno should have been fired years ago. As far as I am concerned, Eddie Robinson is still the all-time winningest college football coach.