Before Paterno took over, Penn State had NEVER done anything at all to speak of in football. Within two years, they were undefeated. And if you talk to people in coaching circles back then, and I have, there was indeed speculation that Paterno was buying players. He became so successful and revered, however, that those whispers died out forever. Maybe they shouldn't have.
Watch this 14 min video on Penn State from 2008 done by ESPN...look at Paterno's paranoia...look at how defensive he is...despite popular opinion, the guy was running a thug program...and reportedly telling players not to cooperate with investigators. His only defense: "I don't know how to text message or use a computer."...
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7229980
Now look at this...
Before all is said and done, we're going to find out that Paterno was very much like a Godfather and Penn State a den of corruption that was revered by the media, before these ugliest of charges came to light...
Take a look at this coaching staff and tell me they didn't know. They have all been there for YEARS...this has all the signs of a secretive, insular enterprise with many things to hide...
Tom Bradley - Interim Head Coach 33RD SEASON AT PENN STATE Dick Anderson - Asst. Coach, OL/Guards & Centers 34TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Kermit Buggs - Asst. Coach, Safeties 9TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Galen Hall - Asst. Coach, Offense/Running Backs 8TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Larry Johnson - Asst. Coach, Defensive Line 15TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Bill Kenney - Asst. Coach, Off. Tackles/Tight Ends 24TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Mike McQueary - Asst. Coach, WR/Recruiting Coordinator 8TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Jay Paterno - Asst. Coach, Quarterbacks 17TH SEASON AT PENN STATE John Thomas - Strength and Conditioning Coach 20TH SEASON AT PENN STATE Ron Vanderlinden - Asst. Coach, Linebackers 11TH SEASON AT PENN STATE
Assistant coaches stay in one position in college football, on average, for about 3 years. Then they move on, either by choice or due to firing of themselves or the head coach they are working for.
None of these guys at Penn State seem to have any ambition at all. They seem to be content to stay as assistants for DECADES...Moreover, Penn State's acknowledged salary structure was lower than most other programs.
I am sorry, I find this very odd. It resembles a closed, insular society...
Dare we use the word ‘cult’?
This is a sad, sad tale. It shows that so many people still don’t get it. The guy graduated from Penn State. Obviously, he’s a fan. But he has the right perspective. Something a lot of these “fans” don’t understand. Unfortunately, this is not just a reflection on Penn State, but society at large. Does anyone think that if given the same circumstances at other big time college football programs, the same reaction from the fans would not happen? I believe they would.
I am sorry but cheating to get a player does not come close to what this program did to little boys.
I heard a former player at Penn State who is sick over this and refuses to back the program.
He said Joe Paterno was more powerful than anyone at Penn State period.
He also said if he missed a class Joe Paterno would call him in the office, that is how much Joe knew what was going on at Penn State.
By winking at buggery by a philanthropic-minded coach, Paterno suddenly made Penn State into a winning team?
I almost have to wonder what drug I just smoked. Evil (if that’s what Paterno is) isn’t normally rewarded like this. Bizarre. Odd. Weird.
Better send me off to jail. I’ve been with the same company for 21 years. A colleague calls me furniture instead of insular.
John Matko is a brave and principled man.
football football uber alis