Behind the Curtain

Too many times we have been reminded that our perceptions are wrong, having been formed without important pieces of the information.

We have been raised to trust what is presented. . After all, the press is legally protected so that they can bring us the truth.  Coaches and teachers are put in their positions to protect, encourage, and enrich their charges.  Held in an even higher position of public opinion are those who profess to be philanthropists.  There are people in this world who cannot care for themselves.  They may be challenged physically or mentally.  They may be young or old.  They may have been the victim of unscruplous men, or abandoned by those who should care for them.  They are weak, running at the back of the pack, and the strong have a moral imperative to protect the from the scavengers and predators of this world.

Joe Paterno has been universally regarded as a great leader of young men.  A man who consistently provided opportunities and guidance for those young men, often from downtrodden and/or blue collar backgrounds.  Outside of a very small number of instances where his players acted as young, athletic, aggressive men are prone to, his program has been considered one of the cleaner ones in college athletics.

Now we know why.

It is not because it is clean.

It is not because "JoePa", a nickname christened on Coach Paterno that is obvious in its inference of his paternal stance over the Penn State football program, is an overtly moral person whose values have directly informed his success and the success of those around him.

It is because they put the perception of the progam, with the attention and money that is brings to the university and it's various pockets, above the truth and the values that they espouse.

Jerry Sandusky, the longtime Defensive Coordinator for Penn State and founder of the Second Mile charity, has been arrested with accusations of child abuse.  Seven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. That’s what Sandusky was charged with Saturday morning when he was arrested. Also, eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault and 10 other counts.

He assaulted multiple young boys inside the Nittany Lion athletic complex.  It was witnessed. It was reported to Paterno.  What did the legendary coach, known for his ethical approach to life, who has sold himself to 5 decades worth of parents as a potential father figure for their teenage boys, do with this information?  He filed a report with his boss and washed his hands of it.  He didn't fire Sandusky.  He didn't report it to the police.  Further, the AD didn't fire Sandusky either. 

What happened to Sandusky?  He was told that he was not longer welcome to bring the boys from his charity onto campus.  They didn't even go as far as to tell him "Don't molest those boys", but only "Don't molest those boys where we can be held accountable.

If this situation proves true, which is looking likely with multiple young men and witnesses coming forward to speak out against Sandusky as a predator, the Penn State athletic department should be not just ashamed, but punished.  If I were a player, I would transfer.  If I were an alumnus, I would cut ties.  If I were a coach under Joe Paterno, I would resign.

If I were Joe Paterno, I would retire and crawl into a dark corner of my home paid for by my position as coach and guardian to all those young men over the year, and cry in shame.  Shame for failing to take such a simple step to protect those boys.  A single phone call would have nipped this in the bud.  Instead, it contined for 15 years.

JoePa, football is not worth this.  Winning is not worth this.  Your career and legacy....are not worth leaving those young boys at risk in the care of a predator.