After a career that saw Paterno make many outstanding and adequate decisions thoughout his tenure as Penn State's Head Coach, Paterno clearly made his worst career decision regarding a non-football related issue concerning his former assitant coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. For the first time in a half a century, the most winningest coach in U.S. major college football history wll not be leading Penn State out of the tunnel for their game against Nebraska on Saturday.
Paterno's former assistant coordinator Jerry Sandusky, has been charged with at least 7 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault, in addition to other offenses. Also under indictment is Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant at Penn State, who in 2002, walked in on Sandusky having anal intercourse with a ten-year-old boy. McQueary then reported the incident to Paterno, who then informed Tim Curely (Athletic Director), and Gary Schultz (Senior Vice-President Of Finance); where ultimately the only action taken against Sandusky was to not bring children from Sandusky's children's charity, Second Mile to the university. This action was also approved by school president Graham Spanier, who was also relieved of his duties alongside Paterno.
With that said, it is easy to see that the Board of Directors had their hands tied and needed to take action against Parterno and Spanier; despite their long-standing relationship and popularity at the university. After the news of Paterno's firing, thousands of angry Penn State students rallied around the football field and downtown streets, semi-rioting and flipping TV vans over; in hopes of Paterno's reinstatement. No matter how high someone is regarded in a community, there is no way to excuse the fact that Paterno was aware of the fact that Sandusky molested/raped a child, and did nothing about it. Additionally, as the school president Graham Spanier, in no way can excuse the fact that he turned a blind eye to this matter and did not notify the police, as he was the final person who the information was relayed to. The most fucked up thing about this is the fact that Mike McQueary is still employed as an assistant at Penn State for their upcoming game against Nebraska on Saturday? Wait... how the fuck does the guy who "walked in" on the whole matter and didn't go to the police, still have a job?
There are few explanations that might be able to explain that matter, as it is bound to be debated throughout Pennsylvania as their cult hero, Paterno has been 'canned' because of what this guy saw. Consider the fact that because he has been the most forthcoming to the Grand Jury, McQueary can present a different kind of nightmare for the university PR team. If fired, he can easily spill his guts to the media, as the fact that he is still employed by Penn State would prohibit him to. Additionally the reason might be because, under the Pennsylvania's Whistleblower's Law; it prohibits public employees from having their jobs threatened following a 'good-faith report' or wrongdoing. No matter how you look at it, McQueary is highly unlikely to be employed past the end of the season.
This is without a doubt going to be one of the most highly publicized stories in sports for many years, as these kinds of despicable acts, rightfully so gets the blood flowing of almost any sane and normal person, no matter where you are from. Anyone who aids the act of a child molester and enables them to carry on with these horrific acts, should without a doubt be punished, in my eye. The public uproar in the Penn State community makes me sick; as most people outside of the university seem to think the idea of fighting for Paterno's job a ridiculous one to say the least. The question now is, will Paterno's legacy be tainted because of his role as an 'enabler'... That's a certainty.
There are few explanations that might be able to explain that matter, as it is bound to be debated throughout Pennsylvania as their cult hero, Paterno has been 'canned' because of what this guy saw. Consider the fact that because he has been the most forthcoming to the Grand Jury, McQueary can present a different kind of nightmare for the university PR team. If fired, he can easily spill his guts to the media, as the fact that he is still employed by Penn State would prohibit him to. Additionally the reason might be because, under the Pennsylvania's Whistleblower's Law; it prohibits public employees from having their jobs threatened following a 'good-faith report' or wrongdoing. No matter how you look at it, McQueary is highly unlikely to be employed past the end of the season.
This is without a doubt going to be one of the most highly publicized stories in sports for many years, as these kinds of despicable acts, rightfully so gets the blood flowing of almost any sane and normal person, no matter where you are from. Anyone who aids the act of a child molester and enables them to carry on with these horrific acts, should without a doubt be punished, in my eye. The public uproar in the Penn State community makes me sick; as most people outside of the university seem to think the idea of fighting for Paterno's job a ridiculous one to say the least. The question now is, will Paterno's legacy be tainted because of his role as an 'enabler'... That's a certainty.
