Sandusky/Penn State scandal

[Kepler]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

It makes me uneasy when uninformed (meaning they don't know all or even most of the facts) people decide with a precision that would make an Iranian physicist blush , exactly what a guy's "moral" obligations are.

I agree with this.

Many (most?) of the people baying for Paterno's head are the type who, under different circumstances, would be participaing in or supportive of candle light vigils for cop killers.

This is just stupid. This isn't about your usual political soapboxes, dude.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Comical.

Leave it to Old Pio to defend ANYONE at Penn State right now who knew about this. Willful Blindness is not a defense for ANYTHING.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

I agree with this.



This is just stupid. This isn't about your usual political soapboxes, dude.

Stupid is as stupid does, DUDE. Why don't you, just for once, just for the sheer novelty, lay off of that imperious superior attitude you ladle out so generously? I think the comparison you call "stupid" is exactly on point. We'll just have to disagree, you pompous a*s. But it's not stupid.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

My newspaper covers a player from the Watertown area that goes there (Curtis Dukes, the backup RB.) I know my co-worker is going to try and get some comment, but it will be hard.

This is just shocking to watch.

http://deadspin.com/5857515/matt-mi...protect-our-kids-we-as-a-society-are-pathetic

You can tell that this is really hitting home for Millen as you watch him report on this for Sportscenter, College Football Live, etc... He takes pride in his connection to PSU and he has obviously been hurt by the actions of people within the program... It's nice to see some emotion from someone like this... It shows how serious this is...

 

[Almington]

You've convinced me. Get the rope. Where have you heard his side of the story? In the synopsis contained in the grand jury report? That's not his side of the story. But it evidently meets your nearly non existent standard for fair play and giving the guy a chance to explain himself. On top of which you're evidently an expert on Pennsylvania law and the internal procedures of PSU. So much knowledge can't be denied. How do you know he didn't "follow up" with the police? One of the officials notified supervised the PSU police. And that agency was specifically mentioned in the grand jury report as one to which a report could be made. How do you KNOW he didn't do more than we're so far aware of? The answer is, you don't.

Lynch mobs are never pretty. What Paterno needs is Atticus Finch to point out that sometimes mobs get it wrong.

No police report was ever filed and no official investigation was ever conducted. These are facts not in dispute.

I never said anything about his legal responsibilities nor if he satisfied those responsibilities. Only that given the two facts, that moral outrage was understandable and justified.
I never said that he should be lynched, in fact I specifically stated that it is a question of what, if any, punishment Paterno should face. That doesn't changethe fact that it is justified to have moral outrage that inaction on the part of psu officials (Paterno included) allowed a preditor to hunt the innocent for years.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

You can tell that this is really hitting home for Millen as you watch him report on this for Sportscenter, College Football Live, etc... He takes pride in his connection to PSU and he has obviously been hurt by the actions of people within the program... It's nice to see some emotion from someone like this... It shows how serious this is...

Everyone understands the kids are the real victims here. And there are almost certainly more of them than we know about now. But think about all the people at PSU, not just those involved in football. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, administrators. All must feel like they've been kicked in the gut. To my knowledge, there's never been anything like this at a major program before. If it turned out PSU football was engaged in the same kind of sleazy corruption we see at other schools, it would be hugely disappointing. But it wouldn't have the emotional impact this scandal is having.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

No police report was ever filed and no official investigation was ever conducted. These are facts not in dispute.

I never said anything about his legal responsibilities nor if he satisfied those responsibilities. Only that given the two facts, that moral outrage was understandable and justified.
I never said that he should be lynched, in fact I specifically stated that it is a question of what, if any, punishment Paterno should face. That doesn't changethe fact that it is justified to have moral outrage that inaction on the part of psu officials (Paterno included) allowed a preditor to hunt the innocent for years.

SOS. You still want to punish a guy without hearing his side of the story. That's a FACT, and not just meanspirited, idle gossip. In your world, knowing the facts isn't required to express "moral outrage" at what somebody else did or did not do. "Off with his head." You don't KNOW what Paterno did or didn't do after he reported to his boss. You obviously THINK you know, but you don't.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Another thing that ESPN brought up is...what will the NCAA do about this?

 

[rufus]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

I don't know. If he did, we'll learn about it eventually. Maybe the PSU cops told coach "there's no there, there." The DA wouldn't prosecute, probably because he couldn't win.

Which means nothing, because in 2002, when one of his grad assistants comes and tells him he saw Sandusky doing something 'inappropriate" in the shopwers with a kid, the first thing that should have triggered would be the earlier incident. And he should have taken stronger action than just informing his boss about it. I mean, wouldn't you, if there had been rumours of a buddy of yours with kids, and now some guy tells you he saw it just now, wouldn't you take major steps to stop it, and see it never happens again?

Remember how many friends of Graham James were shocked at what he did, because they had no idea?

Had there been previous incidents of mothers confronting Graham James about hugging their naked kids in the showers?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Another thing that ESPN brought up is...what will the NCAA do about this?

Oh, crikie. Are there even rules that cover this? I mean, we know where the NC$$ stands on, say, indian mascots and nomenclature. But have they ever had to deal with this? My guess is they have no authority in this area. Of course, that hasn't stopped them in the past, so we'll just have to wait and see. But if I had to bet, I'd guess they stay out.

 

[dubbie31]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Another thing that ESPN brought up is...what will the NCAA do about this?

I hope they throw the book at them. This is worse than recruiting violations.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Which means nothing, because in 2002, when one of his grad assistants comes and tells him he saw Sandusky doing something 'inappropriate" in the shopwers with a kid, the first thing that should have triggered would be the earlier incident. And he should have taken stronger action than just informing his boss about it. I mean, wouldn't you, if there had been rumours of a buddy of yours with kids, and now some guy tells you he saw it just now, wouldn't you take major steps to stop it, and see it never happens again?



Had there been previous incidents of mothers confronting Graham James about hugging their naked kids in the showers?

I know you're just itching to use that rope. But what harm could there possibly be in hearing Paterno's side of this? None, to my way of thinking. But lynch mobs are notoriously impatient.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Another thing that ESPN brought up is...what will the NCAA do about this?

Most likely nothing. This is probably outside their area of involvement. Baylor basketball had a teammate murder another and the coach claim the victim was a drug dealer to hide the fact he was paying for a couple of the kids schooling because he was out of scholarships to offer. They got probation, lost all their non-conference games for a year and the coach has a 10 year show cause...because of the recruiting violations.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

I hope they throw the book at them. This is worse than recruiting violations.

Under what rule or theory? These crimes had nothing to do with intercollegiate athletics, did they? Maybe I'm just being dense, but I don't see how they've got any authority here. Seriously, does the NC$$ have rules prohibiting assistant coaches from being pedophiles? I don't think it's ever come up before?

 

[unofan]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Another thing that ESPN brought up is...what will the NCAA do about this?

The only thing the NCAA needs to do is waive the one-year period on transfers and allow anyone that wants to leave to play at their new school right away. The rest will take care of itself (from their perspective; obviously the criminal cases and civil suits will continue on).

 

[rufus]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Many (most?) of the people baying for Paterno's head are the type who, under different circumstances, would be participaing in or supportive of candle light vigils for cop killers.

Yeah, sure. D-bag.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

The only thing the NCAA needs to do is waive the one-year period on transfers and allow anyone that wants to leave to play at their new school right away. The rest will take care of itself (from their perspective; obviously the criminal cases and civil suits will continue on).

That's reasonable. And if/when Paterno goes I'm not aware of an heir apparant. And I'm pretty sure some ambitious coaches would be disinclined to apply for the job. This could shatter their program. And maybe that would be the right outcome. Who knows?

 

[J.D.]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

If, as expected, Paterno and Spanier are forced out, who from PSU is left to answer questions about this? Or will we just have to wait for court proceedings?

 

[unofan]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Under what rule or theory? These crimes had nothing to do with intercollegiate athletics, did they? Maybe I'm just being dense, but I don't see how they've got any authority here. Seriously, does the NC$$ have rules prohibiting assistant coaches from being pedophiles? I don't think it's ever come up before?

sadly, this.

The NCAA has as much jurisdiction here as the kangaroo courts most universities have set up for sexual assault cases among students. A former assistant coach's pedophilia doesn't really have anything to do with the NCAA's governance of intercollegiate athletics. It's a bit like saying that a banker or teacher shot someone, so therefore the SEC/Dept. of Education should punish the bank/school. Doesn't really make sense.

There's probably something in the manual about gross misconduct or the like, but I don't see why the NCAA should be involved in this at all.

 

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: Sandusky/Penn State scandal

Let's leave the political peeing matches for the other threads. The only thing I'm concerned about is Penn State related stuff and the fallout in regards to the case. I do wonder who would even entertain the thought to come in and pick up the pieces. It was going to be hard following JoePa by itself, but this makes it a million times harder.