Until last Saturday, one thing had been a constant in college football since 1966. Every Saturday that the Penn State Nittany Lions played, you could find coach Joe Paterno either roaming the sidelines or watching from a press box.
Nov. 12 ended the reign of Paterno, as Penn State played in its first game without Paterno as head coach in 46 years. Paterno was fired on Nov. 9 following the arrest of his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on Nov. 5 on charges of sexually abusing children, and the fallout thereafter.
Paterno, along with the Penn State’s President Graham Spanier, Senior Vice President Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley have all been fired or resigned in the past week following the uncovering of the scandal.
Paterno’s firing has received the majority of the coverage on the scandal. While many believe his firing was just, there are also many that believe the firing of was unfair, because, Paterno reported the allegation that a graduate assistant saw Sandusky with a boy in a shower at the Penn State locker room to his superiors, Curley and Schultz.
No matter the side you choose, one thing is known for sure: Penn State officials knew that Sandusky had allegedly abused a child in a shower on its campus and nothing was done about it.
I think it goes without question that the firing and resignation of Curley and Schultz were well deserved. Both had information of the alleged behavior and told no one about it. Because of that, they both face charges of failing to report the allegations to police.
Because Paterno alerted his superiors, he is not in legal danger, according to the Pennsylvania attorney general Linda Kelly who said he met his “legal duty,” but his firing sparked a riot from angry students and fans who did not agree with the school’s decision.
Paterno has said since being fired that he wishes he would have done more to help the victims. Although I think he is right, I also think it’s too little too late. We aren’t talking about free tattoos or paying players, we are talking about the lives of innocent children and the fact nothing was done to protect those harmed by Sandusky.
No matter your opinion, the facts are that Paterno had knowledge that a former coach of his may have sexually abused a child. Further, this was not Sandusky’s first accusation of showering with a boy. A similar incident occured with Sandusky and a boy in a shower at a Penn State facility in 1998.
All that said, as soon as Paterno heard the words “shower,” “boy” and “Sandusky” in the same sentence, and he realized his superiors were not going to tell police, Paterno should have done more.
Paterno supporters blame his superiors for the continued sexual abuse carried out by Sandusky. And I agree that Paterno’s superiors should have done more and I believe they should face punishment for not alerting the proper authorities, but the sad truth is that Paterno is just as guilty as his superiors.
Paterno knew just as much as his superiors and none of them, including Paterno, did anything to alert the police. They allowed Sandusky to continue to sexually abuse and take advantage of innocent children by not doing their duty in alerting police.
Paterno built a coaching legacy that stands above all. His 46 years and 409 wins at one school are two records that will never be broken. Paterno is a true football coaching legend, but his legacy will be forever tarnished. His wins and national titles won’t mean a thing when his career is thought of and they shouldn’t.
More should have been done to protect the lives that Sandusky affected by his heinous acts.
Sandusky is the monster of this horror story that is all too true, but Paterno is one of many to blame for allowing the monster to continue to run wild.