Joe Paterno dead at 85

[mookiemookie]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7489238/joe-paterno-ex-penn-state-nittany-lions-coach-dies-85-2-month-cancer-fight

Kinda makes you wonder if it would have happened even without the whole Sandusky scandal, or did that hurry it along.

[Takeda Shingen]

Good riddance. Sandusky, who Paterno protected, has given his victims a lifetime of torment. I have no sympathy for Paterno, nor for those that live in the little Blue and White bubble.

[Platapus]

He might have had a longer career if he hadn't taken a Linebacker to the knee. :D

[Takeda Shingen]

He might have had a longer career if he hadn't taken a Linebacker to the knee. :D

Okay, that was funny. :haha:

[mookiemookie]

Good riddance. Sandusky, who Paterno protected, has given his victims a lifetime of torment. I have no sympathy for Paterno, nor for those that live in the little Blue and White bubble.

Well said.

[gimpy117]

Good riddance. Sandusky, who Paterno protected, has given his victims a lifetime of torment. I have no sympathy for Paterno, nor for those that live in the little Blue and White bubble.

Did he protect him? or did he just not know? He did pass on what he heard to the powers that be, the police even dropped the investigation. How far would you go to investigate a friend you've known when given 2nd hand information?, especially when the powers that be have been informed and dropped their investigation?

[Blood_splat]

RIP

[Sailor Steve]

RIP
I will echo that sentiment. I don't follow sports and only know his name from recent articles. Normally I find "Requiat In Pace" to be either too shallow for my own feelings or too hollow-sounding for what I'm not feeling. In this case, I hope that if there's an afterlife this guy does find peace rather than torment. If not, it doesn't matter.

[Takeda Shingen]

Did he protect him? or did he just not know? He did pass on what he heard to the powers that be, the police even dropped the investigation. How far would you go to investigate a friend you've known when given 2nd hand information?, especially when the powers that be have been informed and dropped their investigation?

As an authority figure, he had a legal obligation to see these matters investigated. As a human being, Paterno had a moral obligation to do what was right. He failed on both accounts.

[gimpy117]

As an authority figure, he had a legal obligation to see these matters investigated. As a human being, Paterno had a moral obligation to do what was right. He failed on both accounts.

but was he? he was respected, yes, but he wasn't the AD and he wasn't the board of directors. But in my mind he was the perfect scapegoat. He REPORTED the allegations he heard to the AD, he did his duty, and the AD buried it and the COPS DROPPED the investigation. I don't see why everyone is so insensed and mad at Joe Paterno because he wasn't running around playing super sleuth and solving the crime on his own.

[Takeda Shingen]

but was he? he was respected, yes, but he wasn't the AD and he wasn't the board of directors. But in my mind he was the perfect scapegoat. He REPORTED the allegations he heard to the AD, he did his duty, and the AD buried it and the COPS DROPPED the investigation. I don't see why everyone is so insensed and mad at Joe Paterno because he wasn't running around playing super sleuth and solving the crime on his own.

You're going to argue that Joe Paterno did not have enough influence to see an investigation involving his own program through to the end? Have you seen that shrine outside of Beaver Stadium? The guy was like the living god of Happy Valley and one of the most powerful individuals affiliated with the university.

Paterno did not follow through on this investigation. He was perfectly happy to have it swept under the rug in the name of preserving his own image, and the board was more than willing to cooperate in that regard. He is as guilty as they are.

[gimpy117]

You're going to argue that Joe Paterno did not have enough influence to see an investigation involving his own program through to the end? Have you seen that shrine outside of Beaver Stadium? The guy was like the living god of Happy Valley and one of the most powerful individuals affiliated with the university.

Paterno did not follow through on this investigation. He was perfectly happy to have it swept under the rug in the name of preserving his own image, and the board was more than willing to cooperate in that regard. He is as guilty as they are.

the Cops dropped the investigation...Paterno told his superiors about the situation...they chose to bury it. So what if Joe was a legendary coach there, legally he has no power to force investigations, and still is under his boss, The AD. I think the blame more falls with the people who ACTUALLY had the power to do something, Campus Police (who had jurisdiction on the crimes since they were committed on school grounds), the AD or the Board. If Paterno was so evil, the buck would have stopped with him, but he reported it to the powers that be...and It sounds like Sandusky was barred from the premises and the organization He Ran was told, which was woefully inadequate, but not a decision Paterno made, or had the authority to make technically. But he was penalized for doing what he was supposed to: reporting unlawful conduct to his Bosses'

I just feel like he was made an example of, to shield others from the blame. The President was allowed to quit, and the one indicted for perjury; Shultz and Curley are getting their legal fees paid By PSU. But was Paterno allowed to do the same? Nope. he was fired over the phone.

[Takeda Shingen]

the Cops dropped the investigation...Paterno told his superiors about the situation...they chose to bury it. So what if Joe was a legendary coach there, legally he has no power to force investigations, and still is under his boss, The AD. I think the blame more falls with the people who ACTUALLY had the power to do something, Campus Police (who had jurisdiction on the crimes since they were committed on school grounds), the AD or the Board. If Paterno was so evil, the buck would have stopped with him, but he reported it to the powers that be...and It sounds like Sandusky was barred from the premises and the organization He Ran was told, which was woefully inadequate, but not a decision Paterno made, or had the authority to make technically. But he was penalized for doing what he was supposed to: reporting unlawful conduct to his Bosses'

I just feel like he was made an example of, to shield others from the blame. The President was allowed to quit, and the one indicted for perjury; Shultz and Curley are getting their legal fees paid By PSU. But was Paterno allowed to do the same? Nope. he was fired over the phone.

Paterno gets a say in who uses the locker rooms, showers, weight room, etc. The very minimum that he could have done was to ban him from the facility. He didn't. It was Shultz that made the pathetic effort in saying that he couldn't have kids in there anymore, not Paterno. A reasonable human being would have wanted this guy as far away from him, his students and his program as possible, and he would want it yesterday. That didn't happen either. Don't tell me that Joe Pa didn't half-ass this.

Paterno was given the opportunity to resign. He said that he would step down at the end of the season; in effect 'I'll leave when I'm good and ready'. If Shultz and Curley were not allowed to remain until that time, why should Paterno? PSU did the right thing there.

[gimpy117]

Paterno gets a say in who uses the locker rooms, showers, weight room, etc. The very minimum that he could have done was to ban him from the facility. He didn't. It was Shultz that made the pathetic effort in saying that he couldn't have kids in there anymore, not Paterno. A reasonable human being would have wanted this guy as far away from him, his students and his program as possible, and he would want it yesterday. That didn't happen either. Don't tell me that Joe Pa didn't half-ass this.

Paterno was given the opportunity to resign. He said that he would step down at the end of the season; in effect 'I'll leave when I'm good and ready'. If Shultz and Curley were not allowed to remain until that time, why should Paterno? PSU did the right thing there.

but it's not his responsibility to pass judgement, and how was he supposed to know those allegations were true? If he had saw the actions first hand, I would have said what you are saying....but...

[Takeda Shingen]

but it's not his responsibility to pass judgement, and how was he supposed to know those allegations were true? If he had saw the actions first hand, I would have said what you are saying....but...

But when one of your assistants comes in and tells you that he saw Sandusky raping a boy in the locker room shower, you allow him to 'retire'. You don't get him out. You don't put him on administrative leave. You let him leave when he is good and ready. And Sandusky didn't retire. He applied many places afterwards, even trying to start a football program at PSU's Juniata campus. Paterno, Shultz and all of the powers that be knew that they had a bad seed on their hands, and they did the absolute minimum about it. And now we've got flags flying at half staff in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the man. :down:

[mookiemookie]

People are saying it's too soon for Joe Paterno jokes. I guess I should wait a decade to say anything, just like he did.

[Takeda Shingen]

People are saying it's too soon for Joe Paterno jokes. I guess I should wait a decade to say anything, just like he did.

Zing!