Joe Pa emails

[Pappy13]

^^I think it's fair to assume that if Joe Paterno could cover up a child molestation in the locker room, he could have also covered up lots of lesser offenses dealing directly with the football program. His reputation has been destroyed and since he was head of the football program, the football program's reputation has been destroyed as well. Maybe that's not fair, but that's how it is.

[masterfins]

^^I think it's fair to assume that if Joe Paterno could cover up a child molestation in the locker room, he could have also covered up lots of lesser offenses dealing directly with the football program. His reputation has been destroyed and since he was head of the football program, the football program's reputation has been destroyed as well. Maybe that's not fair, but that's how it is.

Everyone wants to put the cover-up blame on Paterno.  If that's the case then why did he go to the AD and President with the allegations reported to him by McQuerry???  If Paterno really wanted this cover up from the begining it could have stopped with him when McQuerry told him about the incident.  This is all about money, the football program is the fall guy becuase that is where the University generates its income, directly and indirectly.  I don't find Paterno blameless in this, but there is very little evidence of how much he knew, and what action(s) he took.  Now that he is dead we will never know.

[Spider-Dan]

^^I think it's fair to assume that if Joe Paterno could cover up a child molestation in the locker room, he could have also covered up lots of lesser offenses dealing directly with the football program.

Yes, but again, you don't deal out punishments based on what could have happened.  You deal them out based on what did happen.

There are many college coaches with enough power and influence that they could cover up football-related scandals, but unless they actually did so, you can't really punish a school for that.

[Pappy13]

Yes, but again, you don't deal out punishments based on what could have happened.  You deal them out based on what did happen.

And that's exactly what happened. The penalities put in place were because the Penn St. football program was negligent and then attempted to cover up their negligence for years.

Let me ask you this Spider, why do you think they attempted to cover this up anyhow? You think they just didn't care any of those kids were being molested or do you think it's possible that they covered it up because they didn't want the football program to suffer? This was ALL about the football program and the power the people within the football program possessed. They didn't get that power by accident, it was given to them because they were making the school a lot of money, prestige etc and they didn't want to screw that up, so damn the kids. I'm sorry but that's about the worst thing I think anyone can say about a college institution. They got what they deserved.

[Spider-Dan]

I haven't yet fully read the Freeh report, but it seems like his conclusion was that Paterno was not covering up Sandusky to protect his longtime friend, but to shield the football program from a scandal.  (There is a huge difference between the two.)

If it was the former, it is inappropriate to punish the school.
If it was the latter, then yes, it is appropriate (though I still don't precisely agree with the punishment they chose).

[MaineDolFan]

(emphasis added)
Of course it did.  The school had limited power to remove / do anything to the / a coach, even when it needed to.  This could have resulted in lack of progress on the field, thus limiting it's resources within the sport.

It seems like you're saying that it could have caused a problem, which is not the same thing as did.

Joe Pa was allowed to remain as coach.  Joe Pa allowed his buddy to remain on campus, thus turning a blind eye to children being raped.

I'm not saying could.  I am saying did.  Children WERE raped.  Joe Pa could have stopped it.  He didn't.  The school could have removed Joe Pa as coach, they didn't.

I fully understand you enjoying taking a stance just to take one.  This is an instance where I am shocked by your stance.  Part of me is hoping you're going on and on because this is just what you do...

[CF DolFan]

Bad joke ...

I heard they were going to allow Paterno's statue to remain but they had to modify it to look the other way.

[Spider-Dan]

Joe Pa was allowed to remain as coach.  Joe Pa allowed his buddy to remain on campus, thus turning a blind eye to children being raped.

What do you mean by "allowed to remain as coach"?  Are you saying that Paterno should have been fired by the school in 1998 or 2001?  What possible reason could the AD have given in 1998 or 2001 for firing Paterno at that time?

The moment that Penn State's involvement with Sandusky was made clear, everyone involved was fired (even the mighty Joe Paterno).  Only hindsight is 20/20.

I'm not saying could.  I am saying did.  Children WERE raped.  Joe Pa could have stopped it.  He didn't.  The school could have removed Joe Pa as coach, they didn't.

But that's not the "could have" we are talking about.

PSU's lack of institutional control over its staff DID NOT impact the football program; it impacted the lives of the children who were molested by Sandusky, which is not the same thing.  Their lack of control could have impacted the football program; say, if Paterno was abusing his lack of oversight in order to run an underground brothel to recruit players.  But that's not what actually happened.

I fully understand you enjoying taking a stance just to take one.

So basically, you don't think I could possibly believe that PSU doesn't deserve to have their football program shuttered?  That there should be a distinction between violations committed to give your team a competitive edge and criminal activity?

[Phishfan]

The moment that Penn State's involvement with Sandusky was made clear, everyone involved was fired (even the mighty Joe Paterno). 

You are incorrect. It was made clear a long time ago (that is why there was a cover up). Many people could have started the firing process of individuals much sooner. The moment it was made public is what you should be saying.

But that's not the "could have" we are talking about.

Their lack of control could have impacted the football program; say, if Paterno was abusing his lack of oversight in order to run an underground brothel to recruit players.  But that's not what actually happened.
So basically, you don't think I could possibly believe that PSU doesn't deserve to have their football program shuttered?  That there should be a distinction between violations committed to give your team a competitive edge and criminal activity?

It also could have impacted the program because an icon of a coach was allowed to recruit players (not in the literal sense of recruiting, I know Paterno's role was very diminished but you get my point). Now is that a competitive edge, I guess we can argue that. But I would say it would be easier to get players while having the Paterno name still there.

[Landshark]

Bad joke ...

I heard they were going to allow Paterno's statue to remain but they had to modify it to look the other way.

Unfortunately, the guy in charge of making that decision simply reported it to his boss.

[Spider-Dan]

You are incorrect. It was made clear a long time ago (that is why there was a cover up). Many people could have started the firing process of individuals much sooner. The moment it was made public is what you should be saying.

Essentially, the moment it became clear to someone that was not directly part of the conspiracy itself, everyone involved in the conspiracy was fired.  That is what I was trying to say.

[Landshark]

The fallout continues.  Now there is evidence that Sandusky and a well known Penn State booster were involved in some pedophile ring.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/fbi-u-s-postal-inspectors-probing-disgraced-penn-state-coach-jerry-sandusky-involved-a-pedophile-ring-involving-men-connected-university-report-article-1.1134125

It just keeps getting worse and worse at Penn State.  I'm glad Sandusky will not see freedom again.