Coach Paterno - You are a Disgrace!

A week ago if you mentioned Penn State to me the first thing that came to mind was football.  I would think of John Cappelletti and his stirring Heisman speech, or perhaps Linebacker U and the 1986 National championship win against the big bad Canes.  However, what do I think of now when I hear Penn State?  Disgust, Shame, and Anger.  I am angry that there appears to be cover-up and willfull ignorance of the actions of alleged child rapist and former Penn State Coach, Jerry Sandusky.  By now, many of you know that Sandusky, if allegations are true, has raped and molested at least 9 young victims, on the Penn State campus.

But you know what one of the worst things seem to be?  JoePa knew something was going on.  Coach Paterno is supposed to be a man of great integrity and honor, who shapes the lives of young men and shows them how to be winners on and off the football field.  However, in my mind, he is an accomplice to child rape.  He was too busy protecting the program and his friend, he forgot to protect the young boys on his campus.
  If you haven't read it yet, you can find the Sandusky grand jury report here. However, I must warn you that it is very graphic and disturbing.  Although the whole thing sickens me to the core, I am troubled by what Paterno knew in relation to Victim 2.  On March 1, 2002, a Penn State Graduate Assistant (now a Coach) Mike McQueary, found the monster Sandusky naked in the shower, sodomizing a young boy estimated to be about 10 years old.  Now instead of doing anything, pulling the predator off the innocent child, calling for help, alerting authorities, McQueary did nothing but run home to his daddy.  McQueary and his father reported the incident to Paterno.  Although it is not known to what detail was reported to him, Paterno stated to his AD (Tim Curley) that a Graduate Assistant had seen Sandusky in the showers fondling and doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy.  Paterno KNEW SOMETHING WRONG WAS GOING ON.  Later McQueary reported the sodomy to Athletic Director Curley, and VP of Finance and Business Gary Schultz, who have both since been relieved of their positions with the University.

So, Paterno may be old, but there is no way he did not know that disgusting criminal activities were taken place under his nose.  This was a major cover-up by the University in order to save face and protect the football program and Paterno's legacy.

So, now Joe must do the right thing - leave immediately and go live the rest of your short life with the decisions you made to willfully ignore the rape of boys by your friend in your locker room.

I think we all have the responsibility to protect children, our own or not, from sick, twisted, demented predators.  However, there were a few, at Penn State, who apparently do not feel the same way - their own agendas were apparently more important.