Hmm...why did Paterno tell Sandusky in Feb 1998 that he would not be the next head coach? Possibly he had decided to continue coaching for the next 13.5 years...at the same time Paterno apparently had no problem with Sandusky being offered Assistant AD or starting a Division III program at PSU’s Altoona campus (neither of which Sandusky ended up doing). But then why was the “window of opportunity” for starting a Division III football at PSU’s Altoona campus only a few months? Did Paterno know the truth would be coming out?
Well, it did only a few months later. If on May 4, 1998, Shultz writes a memo saying, “Behavior - at best inappropriate @worst sexual improprieties at min - poor judgment” and “other children?” then within the month Curley e-mails Schultz “Anything new in this department? Coach is anxious to know where it stands.” Surely Paterno must have at least suspected Sandusky by then.
College coaches are a pretty tight-knit fraternity, I assert that amongst them there was common knowledge that Sandusky was radioactive, even though they may not have known the exact reason why.