You’re probably right...it fits, makes sense..but I can’t believe that young man could be so scared, wimped,upset..whatever, as to be incapable of taking action to protect the child. I think that TA will have a hard time for the rest of his life looking at himself in the mirror..knowing that when it came time to step up, and do the right thing, he failed abysmally..
Consider that the County Attorney General and police staked out the home in 1998 of a victim and had tapes of Sandusky admitting to the mom that he had showered naked with her son and the AG Gricar decided not to prosecute. The investigating officer was puzzled as to why not. Have to believe that this was common knowledge and the GA knew that Sandusky was a protected Icon all the way up to President Spanier and AG Gricar.
The young coach was no doubt horrified, but what if the little boy had been groomed to the point where he was compliant and not struggling or complaining? That may have been so bizarre that the shellshocked coach was rendered momentarily senseless. Without leaving the building, he ran to a phone and called his dad, which would make sense for someone dazed and confused. Realizing his son was traumatized and/or talking crazy, the dad told him to come right home, which he did. They went together to Paterno’s home the next day, probably as soon as he’d see them. I think the young coach, who Paterno described as “distraught”, told him exactly and in detail what he’d seen (this was 2002), but Paterno either lied about it now or has forgotten due to his advanced age.