This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/11/joe-paterno-spotlight-sandusky-victims
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Joe Paterno once again takes spotlight from Jerry Sandusky's victims | Joe Paterno once again takes spotlight from Jerry Sandusky's victims |
| (17 days later) | |
| Sports history is full of the Lance Armstrong and Michael Vick types – athletes caught cheating or breaking the law. They clearly did it and deserve the consequences. But there aren't many cases as complex as that of Penn State University football legend Joe Paterno. | Sports history is full of the Lance Armstrong and Michael Vick types – athletes caught cheating or breaking the law. They clearly did it and deserve the consequences. But there aren't many cases as complex as that of Penn State University football legend Joe Paterno. |
| Paterno coached football for 61 years at Penn State. He amassed the most wins in NCAA history for a major college coach. He also had one of the highest graduation rates among football teams and preached integrity. | Paterno coached football for 61 years at Penn State. He amassed the most wins in NCAA history for a major college coach. He also had one of the highest graduation rates among football teams and preached integrity. |
| In many ways, Paterno seemed like the ideal college football coach. He achieved that demigod-like status, at least in Pennsylvania and among Penn State fans. People had Coach Paterno posters and shrines in their offices, schools and homes. | In many ways, Paterno seemed like the ideal college football coach. He achieved that demigod-like status, at least in Pennsylvania and among Penn State fans. People had Coach Paterno posters and shrines in their offices, schools and homes. |
| But this coaching legend now has a big asterisk next to his name. | But this coaching legend now has a big asterisk next to his name. |
| Paterno's defensive coordinator for many years, Jerry Sandusky, was convicted last year of sexually molesting 10 boys, even raping some of them. | Paterno's defensive coordinator for many years, Jerry Sandusky, was convicted last year of sexually molesting 10 boys, even raping some of them. |
| The victims' testimony was horrifying. Sandusky molested several of the boys in the Penn State football locker room showers. Other victims described how Sandusky lured them in with tickets to games and trips to Penn State bowl games. | The victims' testimony was horrifying. Sandusky molested several of the boys in the Penn State football locker room showers. Other victims described how Sandusky lured them in with tickets to games and trips to Penn State bowl games. |
| It's clear Sandusky is a monster. But what about Paterno? | It's clear Sandusky is a monster. But what about Paterno? |
| No one has settled what Paterno knew about Sandusky's child sex abuse and when he knew it. | No one has settled what Paterno knew about Sandusky's child sex abuse and when he knew it. |
| He was never charged of anything – much different from the Armstrongs of the sporting world. But there can sometimes be a big difference between following the letter of the law and doing what's right. | He was never charged of anything – much different from the Armstrongs of the sporting world. But there can sometimes be a big difference between following the letter of the law and doing what's right. |
| In 2001, one of Paterno's graduate assistants saw Sandusky molesting a young boy in the Penn State locker room showers. Paterno told the grand jury that the young coach said, "It was of a sexual nature" – yet Paterno waited 24 hours to tell his superiors in the college administration so it wouldn't "interfere with their weekends". | In 2001, one of Paterno's graduate assistants saw Sandusky molesting a young boy in the Penn State locker room showers. Paterno told the grand jury that the young coach said, "It was of a sexual nature" – yet Paterno waited 24 hours to tell his superiors in the college administration so it wouldn't "interfere with their weekends". |
| Then Paterno never followed up. For years, Sandusky continued to bring boys onto the Penn State campus, and Paterno never did anything. | Then Paterno never followed up. For years, Sandusky continued to bring boys onto the Penn State campus, and Paterno never did anything. |
| Last summer, Penn State hired a former FBI director, Louis Freeh, to do another investigation into the scandal. The report (pdf) was much harsher on Paterno, blaming the Sandusky horrors on a "culture of reverence for the football program". | Last summer, Penn State hired a former FBI director, Louis Freeh, to do another investigation into the scandal. The report (pdf) was much harsher on Paterno, blaming the Sandusky horrors on a "culture of reverence for the football program". |
| Paterno never got to defend himself. He passed away on Jan. 22, 2012. His family and many former players have vigorously argued on his behalf. Over the weekend, the family came out with their own report. It didn't offer any new evidence, but it reiterated Paterno's lack of knowledge about the situation and poked holes in the Freeh report analysis. | |
| This debate can go on forever. Here's what you really need to know: Paterno himself said, "I wish I had done more" the week that Sandusky was arrested and news of the horrors garnered wide media attention. | This debate can go on forever. Here's what you really need to know: Paterno himself said, "I wish I had done more" the week that Sandusky was arrested and news of the horrors garnered wide media attention. |
| Paterno knew he was morally wrong. He followed the letter of the law and reported the incident he heard about to his superiors, but he didn't follow up. | Paterno knew he was morally wrong. He followed the letter of the law and reported the incident he heard about to his superiors, but he didn't follow up. |
| He never asked questions along the way – the times when Sandusky brought young boys along on Bowl games or to various events, the times there were likely whispers. Worse, he didn't bother to do anything for over a decade after the 2001 incident. | |
| I appreciate the loyalty of Paterno's family and fans. But it's a sad commentary on our society that in the midst of one of the most horrific crimes uncovered against kids in our country, Joe Paterno gets far more mention than the victims. There was even a large vigil for him last month. | I appreciate the loyalty of Paterno's family and fans. But it's a sad commentary on our society that in the midst of one of the most horrific crimes uncovered against kids in our country, Joe Paterno gets far more mention than the victims. There was even a large vigil for him last month. |
| I used to work at the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the newspaper that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Sandusky story. All year, we received letters to the editor defending Paterno and pointing out the many flaws in the "Freeh report". We didn't receive nearly as many letters praising the victims for being brave and stepping forward or wanting the university – and beyond – to change. | I used to work at the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the newspaper that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Sandusky story. All year, we received letters to the editor defending Paterno and pointing out the many flaws in the "Freeh report". We didn't receive nearly as many letters praising the victims for being brave and stepping forward or wanting the university – and beyond – to change. |
| Over the weekend, social media again was abuzz about Paterno. As someone tweeed me, | Over the weekend, social media again was abuzz about Paterno. As someone tweeed me, |
| @byheatherlong the #freehreport was a joke to begin with. The paterno's should have never been put in this situation along with Penn State. | @byheatherlong the #freehreport was a joke to begin with. The paterno's should have never been put in this situation along with Penn State. |
| — Matt (@Phillyfan4lfe) February 10, 2013 | — Matt (@Phillyfan4lfe) February 10, 2013 |
| Yes, the NCAA overstepped its bounds with all the sanctions against Penn State, and the Freeh report likely blames Paterno too much for a culture that was much wider than one man. | Yes, the NCAA overstepped its bounds with all the sanctions against Penn State, and the Freeh report likely blames Paterno too much for a culture that was much wider than one man. |
| But Paterno deserves the asterisk by his name. He admitted as much himself. It's time for his family, friends, fans and the university to move on. Or better yet, focus on helping these victims and other victims of sexual abuse. That's the real tragedy here. | But Paterno deserves the asterisk by his name. He admitted as much himself. It's time for his family, friends, fans and the university to move on. Or better yet, focus on helping these victims and other victims of sexual abuse. That's the real tragedy here. |