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Penn State's Joe Paterno gets what he deserves
SF Chronicle ^ | Nov. 10, 2011 | Scott Ostler

Posted on 11/10/2011 1:31:44 PM PST by Colofornian

Edited on 11/10/2011 1:42:30 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Folks, this is Joe Paterno's legacy.

E-mails jump into my inbox defending Paterno...

I won't remember what Paterno did, but what he didn't do. What he didn't do is what got him fired...

Firing Joe Paterno doesn't fix everything, but it's a great start.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: abuse; fired; grahamspanier; jerrysandusky; joepaterno; paterno; pennstate; pennsylvania
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To: NewinTexsas

“Everyone is State College knew”

Please define “everyone”. If the thought is this was common knowledge around town, that’s a misperception.


261 posted on 11/11/2011 10:15:16 AM PST by NittanyLion
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To: NittanyLion

“Please define “everyone”. If the thought is this was common knowledge around town, that’s a misperception.”

People we know that knew Sandusky raped little boys.

President Spanier
AD Curley
VP Schultz
PSU Attorney Wendell Courtney
Second Mile Attorney Wendell Courtney
University Police (Detective Ronald Schreffler)
State College Police (Detective Ralph Ralston)
Department of Welfare (Investigator Jerry Lauro)
Child Services
County DA Gricar
County Prosecutors
Coach McQueary
Coach Paterno
Various elementary and high school officials
John DiNunzio (Keystone Central School District Interim Superintendent)
Second Mile officials
Joe Paterno’s staff including down to the janitors

Still to be determined:

Media
NCAA Coaches (Nobody wanted him when he retired)
Board of Trustees


262 posted on 11/11/2011 10:19:05 AM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: NewinTexsas

That list is fine, but when you make statements to the effect that this was public knowledge you’re painting with an overly broad brush.


263 posted on 11/11/2011 10:23:54 AM PST by NittanyLion
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To: dfwgator
This is the only thing that Paterno understands:

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/09/11/no-3-alabama-beats-no-23-penn-state-27-11/

264 posted on 11/11/2011 10:24:52 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: Free Vulcan
The obsessive fixation on Paterno is not going to help bring even one of the possible perps to justice.

The obsessive fixation on Paterno is not an obsessive fixation at all, but rather an appropriate reaction to those on these boards who actually have the chutzpah to claim that Paterno is merely a scapegoat or victim. Young boys got raped. That should be the concern - not that Paterno was wrongly fired.

265 posted on 11/11/2011 10:31:59 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: NittanyLion
That list is fine, but when you make statements to the effect that this was public knowledge you’re painting with an overly broad brush.

Let me reprase the. The knowledge was in the public domain ...

266 posted on 11/11/2011 10:33:42 AM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: NewinTexsas

“Everyone in State College knew about the 1998 investigation...”

DID they? No charges were filed. That would be private information in Iowa. I’m sure there were rumors, but then again maybe there weren’t.

Now IF the details of that, i.e. the on tape confession, came to Joe’s ears, now that’s a different story. But we have no proof that it did, other than second hand I doubt he was privy to the actual police report. Even so Joe suspected something because Sandusky was booted out. But that was suspicion only as far as we know.

‘Suspicion’ is not ‘knowing’. Moving heaven and earth on suspicion is at best risky. I’ve done that myself only to be dead wrong and caused more damage than I sought to fix. You are a bit more limited when confined to suspicion.

Even the second incident in 2002 - again the authorities found nothing. There was still no proof other than the word of McQueary, so even if Joe believed McQueary he still had no real proof but just suspicion.

Should he have followed up? Yes. Should he have moved heaven and earth? You say he should have give a word to the proper people. Well guess what, that was done in 1998 and they ignored a TAPED CONFESSION. What would have going to the cops done on the word of a grad student done in 2002?


267 posted on 11/11/2011 10:34:09 AM PST by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead.)
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To: Hoodat

For the media it is. Rumors are floating of a sex ring, and you can bet the pedo loving liberal media will NOT want that exposed. They would love to keep the focus on Joe.


268 posted on 11/11/2011 10:43:30 AM PST by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead.)
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To: Free Vulcan

Oh, OK. I see where you’re coming from.


269 posted on 11/11/2011 10:48:45 AM PST by Hoodat (Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. -Psalm 55:19-)
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To: Free Vulcan
Now IF the details of that, i.e. the on tape confession, came to Joe’s ears, now that’s a different story. But we have no proof that it did, other than second hand I doubt he was privy to the actual police report. Even so Joe suspected something because Sandusky was booted out. But that was suspicion only as far as we know.

Child services and two police departments made investigations. Are you saying no one interviewed the dude's boss and the person responsible for the facilities where the dude was raping little boys? It does not wash.

270 posted on 11/11/2011 10:53:48 AM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: Free Vulcan
Should he have followed up? Yes. Should he have moved heaven and earth? You say he should have give a word to the proper people. Well guess what, that was done in 1998 and they ignored a TAPED CONFESSION. What would have going to the cops done on the word of a grad student done in 2002?

One call to Tom Ridge would have stopped it cold. Give me a break.

271 posted on 11/11/2011 10:55:54 AM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: Tribune7

In case you haven’t heard, Sandusky was out THIS YEAR recruiting for Joe Paterno.


272 posted on 11/11/2011 12:05:43 PM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: Colofornian; dfwgator; NewinTexsas
Just how tight is that Penn State bond?

Sam Stellatella, a Penn State player from the 1950s who admits he doesn't listen to the news and has not read the reports of what Sandusky has done "because he would get too upset" has donated money to a defense fund for Sandusky. He's personally contacting other former players and is encouraging other former Penn State players to do the same.

Sweet Jerry Garcia on a pogo stick. The world has lost its mind. I thought University of Alabama fans were fanatical.

273 posted on 11/11/2011 12:05:59 PM PST by Scoutmaster (I stand for something; therefore, I can't stand Romney)
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To: Scoutmaster
"On Thursday, the State College paper reported that, according to a source, Sandusky was seen shopping at a Dick's Sporting Goods wearing Penn State gear." Source.

Do they have a writer scripting this stuff?

274 posted on 11/11/2011 12:10:53 PM PST by Scoutmaster (I stand for something; therefore, I can't stand Romney)
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To: Free Vulcan
they ignored a TAPED CONFESSION

First, we don't know what Sandusky said on the tape. It was a conversation with the mother in which Jerry Sandusky 'confessed' to something that would have been molestation. Apparently whatever Sandusky said that someone listening would say "oh, jeez, he did it," but not enough that a DA felt he could bring a case against, and convict, one of the most powerful men in Pennsylvania. A man known throughout the state.

A man who had started a charity to help troubled youth. A man who had adopted kids and served as a foster parent to others. A man whose best friend was probably Joe Paterno and whose character witnesses may have included Joe Paterno and over twenty years' worth of Penn State football players.

And we don't know that the tape was admissible as evidence.

And, if I'm not mistaken, the DA didn't have the file from the University Police investigation of at least two additional incidents; the file that VP Schultz was surprised in 2002 to find was 'so big."

And Sandusky wasn't booted out, at least according to the Official Penn State Story. Sandusky was told he would not replace Joe Paterno as head coach, although he was the heir apparent. Sandusky had just been named NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year. As a football coach? Sandusky is considered one of the greatest college coaches never to be a head coach. Probably THE greatest. So Sandusky 'took an early retirement' and was given emeritus status by the University.

In retrospect, he may have been told "you will not replace Joe Paterno . . . because you shower with little boys and were investigated for molesting one." Because it may be private information in Iowa or Pennsylvania, but there's not much involving the Penn State football program that would have been private from Joe Paterno according to any reliable source.

You have a 'suspicion' that Sandusky 'confessed' on tape. More likely, he said something that indicated, yep, he did it. But it wasn't a confession. And more likely, not enough to go after the defensive coordinator at Linebacker U.

275 posted on 11/11/2011 12:26:44 PM PST by Scoutmaster (I stand for something; therefore, I can't stand Romney)
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To: Colofornian
Colofonian, old pal. Mike McQueary. I'm still incensed that his named wasn't first on the list of those fired, but I have a hint. 43 P.S. Section 1421. Pennsylvania's 'whistle-blower' statute. If by being an emeritus faculty member of Penn State, Sandusky qualified as an "agent" of the University, then McQueary is protected because he reported wrongdoing of an agent of the University to the University.

While "employee" is defined in the statute, "agent" is not. My guess is that no appellate court in PA has ruled on whether an emeritus faculty member qualifies as an agent under the statute. And Penn State's lawyers (allow me a moment of self-loathing as a lawyer) have informed the Trustees that they may be subject to suit by McQueary for firing him.

276 posted on 11/11/2011 12:45:22 PM PST by Scoutmaster (I stand for something; therefore, I can't stand Romney)
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To: NewinTexsas
Sorry. Indiana DOC SPECIFCALLY lists them as an EXTERNAL agency

for the purposes of this conversation, no one considered them an "outside agency", we considered them part of the state establishment. I have no idea what would have happened if someone had called the 800 number at 2:00 A.M. but they are in Indianapolis. The preferred chain of command was indeed within the facility. The next step would have been the 800 number, the next step, the state police etc etc. but only if all other steps had failed.

277 posted on 11/11/2011 1:26:29 PM PST by terycarl (lurking, but well informed)
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To: terycarl
for the purposes of this conversation, no one considered them an "outside agency",

The DOC officially stated they were an 'external' agency.

278 posted on 11/11/2011 1:36:44 PM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: Scoutmaster

Hypothetical board discussion:

Member B: What do we do about McQueary?

Member A: Later. We have to first get rid of Spanier and Paterno.

Member C: The students are rioting. Perhaps we should say that we fear for McQueary’s safety and that is why he wont be on the sidelines this game.

Member A: Good. We can push that issue back to the next meeting.


279 posted on 11/11/2011 1:42:58 PM PST by NewinTexsas
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To: Scoutmaster

McQueary placed on administrative leave.


280 posted on 11/11/2011 2:06:50 PM PST by NewinTexsas
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