Joe Paterno should resign in wake of Penn State scandal: Commentary

Cleveland Plain Dealer/LA Times ^ | Nov. 7, 2011 | Bill Plaschke

[Colofornian]

LOS ANGELES -- In 46 seasons as the football coach at Penn State, Joe Paterno appeared to create a culture of winning and decency he called "Success with Honor."

Now that the culture has been exposed as a haven for an alleged child molester, Paterno needs to do the honorable thing and resign before he coaches another game.

SNIP

On Saturday, Jerry Sandusky, 67, a longtime Nittany Lions defensive coordinator who was once thought to be Paterno's successor, was charged with sexually abusing eight boys during a 15-year period.

...Paterno issued a statement.

"If this is true, we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things," read part of the statement. "While I did what I was supposed to do with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved, I can't help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred."

Paterno was fooled? He was informed that a former longtime assistant coach was "behaving inappropriately" while taking a shower with a boy in his locker room. Surely he couldn't have been less fooled.

Paterno did what he was supposed to do? No, as the most powerful and influential figure on the Penn State campus, he should have done more.

SNIP

...he tells Curley about an alleged child molester frolicking in his showers and then casually forgets about it for nine years?

SNIP

Although this is not a gesture mandated by state law or school handbook, it is a fact of simple humanity.

SNIP

For the sake of a university whose continued association with him would damage its success and stain its honor, if Joe Paterno doesn't quit, they should fire him.

[Colofornian]

From the column: Paterno was fooled? He was informed that a former longtime assistant coach was "behaving inappropriately" while taking a shower with a boy in his locker room. Surely he couldn't have been less fooled. Paterno did what he was supposed to do? No, as the most powerful and influential figure on the Penn State campus, he should have done more...he tells Curley about an alleged child molester frolicking in his showers and then casually forgets about it for nine years?

From the column: For the sake of a university whose continued association with him would damage its success and stain its honor, if Joe Paterno doesn't quit, they should fire him.

Precisely. Joe was no stand-in "Pa" to any of these (& probably others) boys.

[hinckley buzzard]

Paterno is pushing 85 years old. He will not want to have to defend himself in the court of public opinion. I expect he will resign his position, maybe at the end of the season, maybe sooner.

[yldstrk]

Hey, if you see a grown up man and a naked boy , I don’t care where it is, on the streets of Chicago, riding on an ATV at a “Christian” camp or in the locker room shower, absolutely you call the hotline. Don’t “ride” out the next day to some moron’s house and report it. IT’S CHILD ABUSE AND THE CHILD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM, YOUR CAMP OR THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU ARE WRONG.

[sten]

looks like a homo got into the organization and did what they do (at a much higher incidence rate then heteros). how this was Joe’s fault is beyond me. oh yea, he’s a conservative and therefore must be destroyed

what this incident says to me, personally, is that if you hire homosexuals you run a much higher risk for this type of behavior. it would make more sense to instantly discontinue the services for any and all homosexuals for fear of liability suits

of course, if you don’t... and a problem does pop up... then you’re in for an even bigger liability suit

[Colofornian]

On the other hand, if there was to be any move underfoot to fire, who would do the "firing?" An immoral criminal A.D. who's turning himself into authorities for this same scandal?

[Colofornian]

...how this was Joe’s fault is beyond me. oh yea, he’s a conservative and therefore must be destroyed

How do you know about a serial pedo-rapist for almost a decade and do nothing to stop it...like JoePa did...or should I say didn't do?

Scott Ostler of the Chronicle put it this way: Paterno, his athletic director and the school's vice president all knew something horrible occurred involving former team assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and they all let it slide. For a decade. Why? The way it smells from here: The alleged predator was a beloved member of their beloved football program. Penn State's reputation would be dealt a horrible blow. Denial was the best option. The silence allowed the alleged serial rapist of young boys to continue doing his bad stuff, right there at Penn State, for another nine-plus years. Sandusky had an office in the athletic building. In 2007 he brought a young boy to a Penn State football practice.
Source: See thread, Paterno should be fired by Penn State

[Colofornian]

"The totality of this merits one of the most disgusting scandals in sports history. For this, Paterno's legacy as a brilliant football mind means nothing -- absolutely nothing. His lack of judgment, as a human being in charge of representing so much for Penn State and the college football world, is pathetic. Paterno no longer deserves to go out on his own accord. He lost that freedom nearly a decade ago..." -- Jeff Howe, New England Sports Network

From:
Joe Paterno must be fired immediately for protecting Jerry Sandusky amid disgusting allegations...

Even columnists from the liberal left coast agree:
* Paterno should be fired by Penn State [San Francisco Chronicle]
* Joe Paterno should resign in wake of Penn State scandal: Commentary [LA Times]