No need for a link as it’s all over the sports news currently, as any football fan would expect. While there’s still a part of me that’s lingers in the disappointed region of emotion, it’s dwarfed by a combination of logic and anger.
Let there be know doubt, this is what had to happen. Paterno’s failure was too great at a time when a 10-year old boy needed someone, anyone, to do the right thing. Paterno could have been running the most crooked, 3-ring circus in history, but if he does the right thing on that night, those transgressions would have paled in comparison to this 1 right that he did. Life constantly throws tests at us and not all of them are as important as others. This test was one Paterno, and McQueary, couldn’t afford to fail. But they failed spectacularly, as well as who ever the administrators were who knew and also did nothing.
Everything that’s happening now to them they earned. Everything Sandusky did after that day they are culpable for- may it haunt them until the end of their days. Even as recently as yesterday, I was hesitant to think this; but the conclusion is inescapable that 46 years of good service Paterno and McQueary squandered in one night with one stupid, selfish, unforgivable decision. I would have preferred hearing about an academic scandal to this travesty.
And to be clear, McQueary needs to be gone as well, as well as anyone else involved who knew. Even then, the cost to them is not really enough. Not when measured against the price those boys paid.
I say all this as a former, rock solid fan of Paterno and his football program. No more.
7 replies on “Paterno Fired”
ALL of the individuals who have been involved in that program for 12+ years should be fired – even if this means the entire staff. There is NO WAY that the staff members at that point in time did not know what was happening. An egocentric demigod had a greater priority: the game, the record, the cowards who worked together banded together to mask this tragedy.
My other query is also important: WHERE were the parents of the youngsters ? WHY was there no outcry ? WHY was there no further investigation when the first incident occured ? WHAT kind of investigation did the police conduct and then dismiss as foundless?
The answer to my mind is that the game is a god and it is ruled by the dollar sign … The athletic department should cancel the remainder of the season, they should forfeit their game record, and any awards/accolades presented to the head coach should be revoked.
I’ve thought the same thing, actually. The magnitude of the failure here is such that forfeiting the remainder of the games this season would not be inappropriate.
As to the parents, I suppose that comes down to details about the investigation. It is remarkable that nothing was leaked prior to this. Perhaps they were kept in the dark, or worse ignored because no one would believe them. Beyond that, I just can’t say.
Someone has the answers … but the title of ‘icon’ – which is shared by the head coach as well as the ‘program’ itself, is being regarded as an entity beyond the ramifications of this crime. The interim head coach has been there for 20 years … I’m quite certain that he knows answers but is clinging to the title he currently holds.
I won’t judge the players – yet … but suspect that more than one of them has known, over time, about the dirty little secrets that lurk in the locker rooms of those hallowed halls.
I said this to Bruce in a previous email. I don’t remember how far back it goes (years for sure), but there was an article I read about Sandusky and child abuse accusations. Then nothing til now. How could that be? No one followed up? No one suspected anything-just for the record? I hate to say it but I honestly feel JoePa was too wrapped up in the overall record wins to see the forest for the trees. Sad.
I just can’t figure out how McQuery has not been relieved of his position as a coach, he is more responsible for this cover up than anyone else involved. He is the one person who personally could have put an end to it in more ways than one. Everyone else has to go too, but he should have been the first, they are all a shameful bunch of cowards.
Yes- I don’t understand either. He was 28- no child and, while I’m willing to forgive him the shock at what he witnessed, he should have been capable of recovering enough of his wits to go to the police. If Paterno had to go, so too should McQueary.
Yet – no action has been taken against him … They cannot possibly let him walk ! !