Joe Pa emails

[CF DolFan]

No offense Spider but that is a weak argument. It will be argued by lawyers because there is nothing else to argue but the fact you aren't getting paid to say it somehow comes across gross. It's as if you are condoning the activity and saying "Que Sera Sera".

The football program was knowingly used to seduce little boys for sex. What about that seems worthy of turning a blind eye?

[Spider-Dan]

The people who were involved with that have all been fired or jailed.

This isn't like SMU where an example needs to be made, lest other universities decide that it's in their best interest to start running an underground molestation ring.  There is zero risk of another athletic department looking at this scandal and thinking, "Gee, PSU got away with a slap on the wrist... maybe we should start illegally importing East European hookers."

There is punishment designed as corrective action, and then there is punishment theater, implemented solely as a show for the media.  Shutting down the PSU football program (and nothing else at PSU) is an example of the latter.

[bsmooth]

The people who were involved with that have all been fired or jailed.

This isn't like SMU where an example needs to be made, lest other universities decide that it's in their best interest to start running an underground molestation ring.  There is zero risk of another athletic department looking at this scandal and thinking, "Gee, PSU got away with a slap on the wrist... maybe we should start illegally importing East European hookers."

There is punishment designed as corrective action, and then there is punishment theater, implemented solely as a show for the media.  Shutting down the PSU football program (and nothing else at PSU) is an example of the latter.

No but lack of punishment shows other large programs that there is no serious consequences for hiding criminal activity taking part with your football program and its facilities. It is no a stretch to think he was molesting boys as a coach and used the program as a means to lure victims in. By letting it go you are encouraging other programs to hide anything negative.

[Spider-Dan]

I will say again:  there WERE serious consequences for hiding criminal activity.  Everyone involved was fired or jailed.

[masterfins]

It seems to me that the Media is focusing on Paterno and the PSU Football Program because those are the most sensational targets that they can go after and get ratings.  I'm more interested in the supposed 1998 police investigation, what about that???  If something was done then, there wouldn't have been the incident McQuery (sp?) witnessed three years later.  And what about an investigation of the Second Mile Program??  That is where the children came from.  It seems there are many to blame for not ending this sooner.

[Landshark]

It seems to me that the Media is focusing on Paterno and the PSU Football Program because those are the most sensational targets that they can go after and get ratings.  I'm more interested in the supposed 1998 police investigation, what about that???  If something was done then, there wouldn't have been the incident McQuery (sp?) witnessed three years later.  And what about an investigation of the Second Mile Program??  That is where the children came from.  It seems there are many to blame for not ending this sooner.

Like I said in another thread, the sensational stories that spread the most gossip help sell more newspapers and/or magazines

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

The people who were involved with that have all been fired or jailed.

This isn't like SMU where an example needs to be made, lest other universities decide that it's in their best interest to start running an underground molestation ring.  There is zero risk of another athletic department looking at this scandal and thinking, "Gee, PSU got away with a slap on the wrist... maybe we should start illegally importing East European hookers."

True, nobody is going to setup a molestation ring if PSU gets off scot free.  But if PSU doesn't get punished, there won't be much motivation for other college presidents to take monitoring their athletic departments. 

I don't see PSU as some sort of rouge isolated aboration, but merely a symptom of the overall college sports mentality regarding covering up criminal activity and bad behavior.

College athlete rapes another student -- cover it up.  College athlete cheats on a test, give him and A and make sure that teachers know that if they don't pass all athletes they will be unemployed.  College coach rapes a boy -- cover it up.

It is high time colleges are sent a clear and unequival message -- clean up your athletic department or you won't have an athletic department. 

PSU gets a 10 years suspension you can bet colleges will be more proactive in preventing future molestation.   

[suck for luck]

PSU is the posterboy for lack of institutional control. It is the queen mother, all-time, best example ever of college sports gone wrong.

This isn't like SMU where an example needs to be made, lest other universities decide that it's in their best interest to start running an underground molestation ring.  There is zero risk of another athletic department looking at this scandal and thinking, "Gee, PSU got away with a slap on the wrist... maybe we should start illegally importing East European hookers."

Your face is like 2 inches from a big tree but guess what... you're standing in the middle of a ginormous fucking forest. LOL

If the NCAA doesn't hammer them then the only message sent is to cover-up, lie, obfuscate & cheat better.

[Spider-Dan]

College athlete rapes another student -- cover it up.  College athlete cheats on a test, give him and A and make sure that teachers know that if they don't pass all athletes they will be unemployed.  College coach rapes a boy -- cover it up.

...except that this wasn't a PSU coach.  This was a former PSU coach.  That means something.

When it's one of your coaches or players that actually committing crimes, your program stands to benefit from the coverup.  But Jerry Sandusky was no longer involved with the program.  If the McQueary incident was handled properly, there is no dirt on PSU at all; they would have been "just as surprised and sickened as the rest of America, and immediately took action upon finding out about this disturbing child predator."

PSU gets a 10 years suspension you can bet colleges will be more proactive in preventing future molestation.

You could accomplish the same thing by shutting down the business college, and it would be just as misguided.

If the Board of Directors were derelict in their duty, why is it just the football program that gets punished?

[Spider-Dan]

If the NCAA doesn't hammer them then the only message sent is to cover-up, lie, obfuscate & cheat better.

So you think that being fired and/or facing jail time is not a deterrent, but a 1-year cancellation of the football program would be?

[Landshark]

...except that this wasn't a PSU coach.  This was a former PSU coach.  That means something.

When it's one of your coaches or players that actually committing crimes, your program stands to benefit from the coverup.  But Jerry Sandusky was no longer involved with the program.  If the McQueary incident was handled properly, there is no dirt on PSU at all; they would have been "just as surprised and sickened as the rest of America, and immediately took action upon finding out about this disturbing child predator."
You could accomplish the same thing by shutting down the business college, and it would be just as misguided.

How do you know he wasn't doing this when he was on the staff?  According to some allegations, he pulled similar stunts like this AS AN ACTIVE STAFF MEMBER.

[CF DolFan]

...except that this wasn't a PSU coach.  This was a former PSU coach.  That means something.

When it's one of your coaches or players that actually committing crimes, your program stands to benefit from the coverup.  But Jerry Sandusky was no longer involved with the program.  If the McQueary incident was handled properly, there is no dirt on PSU at all; they would have been "just as surprised and sickened as the rest of America, and immediately took action upon finding out about this disturbing child predator."
You could accomplish the same thing by shutting down the business college, and it would be just as misguided.

If the Board of Directors were derelict in their duty, why is it just the football program that gets punished?

What difference does it make that he wasn't a coach? He held youth clinics, had free reign in the program and brought his guests to the high priority seating. He used the football program as "bait". It wouldn't matter if he was the gardner.

[Spider-Dan]

How do you know he wasn't doing this when he was on the staff?  According to some allegations, he pulled similar stunts like this AS AN ACTIVE STAFF MEMBER.

Oh, there was the incident in '98 when he was still employed by PSU.  But seeing as how the state itself chose not to prosecute, you can hardly punish PSU for that.

The PSU faculty-related-part of this scandal is not based on all the other stuff going on that was discovered by investigators; the PSU athletic department is not the CIA.  This scandal is based solely on the McQueary incident and the action taken (or lack thereof) by the AD brass.  And at the time of that incident, Sandusky was not a PSU employee, plain and simple.

[Landshark]

Oh, there was the incident in '98 when he was still employed by PSU.  But seeing as how the state itself chose not to prosecute, you can hardly punish PSU for that.

The PSU faculty-related-part of this scandal is not based on all the other stuff going on that was discovered by investigators; the PSU athletic department is not the CIA.  This scandal is based solely on the McQueary incident and the action taken (or lack thereof) by the AD brass.  And at the time of that incident, Sandusky was not a PSU employee, plain and simple.

No it isn't based solely on the McQueary incident.  It's based on all the boys he molested over that tome between the mid 80s and now, and the fact that it was covered up all that time.

[Spider-Dan]

What difference does it make that he wasn't a coach?

He was not an employee of the program; therefore, PSU (as an institution) had nothing to gain by protecting him.

You issue out punishment to a program when illicit actions are taken that benefit that program.  Sandusky molesting kids obviously did not benefit PSU, and his arrest would not have hurt PSU (as he was not an employee).  The individual employees who decided to cover up the incident for their personal friend were fired; at least one is facing criminal charges.  The problem has been addressed.