2676 replies to this topic

[Pesky Pole]

This has got to be the most sickening story I've read in a while (Catholic priests excluded). If you get the link to the actual grand jury indictment (Peter King tweeted it), do yourself a favor and don't read it.

Lots of people should go to jail

[Sea Bass Neely]

The odd thing is I'm not sure how well known this story was. It seems to have blown up today, but I distinctly remember hearing about it 6 months ago. I'm trying to figure out if that was just a rumor or if this was somewhat well known behavior.

[Freddy Linn]

This is his autobiography. No joke:



Amazon

[Average Reds]

Yeah, I was going to start this thread earlier today but lack of power did not allow me to do so. (Just got it back after 7+ days.)

Anyway, the fact that the University President forcefully backed the AD - at least earlier today - means that this is no longer about the football program. Both the AD and the Administrator have to go, and they have to go pretty soon, or the Governor will step in and make them go and fire the President to boot.

There is much we don't yet know, but this story will only get bigger in the coming weeks.

[Hendu's Gait]

This has to be the most revolting thing I have heard of ever in collegiate sports. Anything short of the death penalty for all PSU sports starting on 2013 (and allowing penalty-free transfers for current Freshmen and Sophomores) would be too light, IMHO.

[SoxScout]

Wait till Yahoo and the NYT start digging around, this is going to be ruthless. Here is Wetzel's rundown on the story: http://rivals.yahoo....sex_case_110511

Edited by SoxScout, 05 November 2011 - 05:01 PM.

[drtooth]

I have a feeling that Paterno may get dragged into this as well. This can't and shouldn't end well for those involved.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Well, Paterno did have knowledge of a 10 year old boy being sodomized in a locker room shower by a coach who was no longer on his staff but still had access to the building. Paterno did inform the AD of the incident, but it doesn't sound like there was much follow up after that from Paterno's end. He wasn't even involved in the meeting with the AD and graduate student who witnessed the abuse.

[dcmissle]

Any other coach of a big program in this country, they'd be demanding his scalp. Under the accountability principle. Not so St. Joe.

[Rudy Pemberton]

When he looked in the shower he saw what he estimated to be a 10-year-old boy, hands pressed up against the wall, “being subjected to anal intercourse,” by Jerry Sandusky, then 58 and Penn State’s former defensive coordinator. The grad assistant said both the boy and the coach saw him before he fled to his office where, distraught and stunned, the grad assistant telephoned his father, who instructed his son to flee the building.

So the guy then went to Paterno's office the next day...no one thought to call the fucking police, right then and there? Jesus christ. Fucking kid is getting raped in the showers and no one cares enough to try to protect him? Fucked up.

[CaptainLaddie]

Well, Pos' book just got REALLY interesting.

[Van Everyman]

This has to be the most revolting thing I have heard of ever in collegiate sports. Anything short of the death penalty for all PSU sports starting on 2013 (and allowing penalty-free transfers for current Freshmen and Sophomores) would be too light, IMHO.

At some point, the death penalty for college football itself will seem too light. This is def one of the most despicable cases -- but it's one in a long line of despicable examples of how utterly corrupt and above the law this sport has become. The combination of the Internet and aggressive investigative reporting in the wake of the media's collapse--from Real Sports to 30 for 30 to SI's coverage about OSU--has shed a whole new light on this sport -- from the bowl games cheating on taxes to, now, coverups of sexual abuse.

I get that these schools are powerful and all, and that some of this behavior has been going on for a long time. But if somebody doesn't come in to the NCAA and start cleaning shit up soon, it's going to get cleaned up for them.

[MarcSullivaFan]

Is this really just one of a line of stories? This is by far the most disturbing story I've ever read about any college sport.

[Buffalo Head]

The odd thing is I'm not sure how well known this story was. It seems to have blown up today, but I distinctly remember hearing about it 6 months ago. I'm trying to figure out if that was just a rumor or if this was somewhat well known behavior.

Sandusky has been the subject of a state grand jury investigation for the past two years. The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News in March broke the story of the investigation, reporting that it began in 2009, when a 15-year-old told authorities that Sandusky had inappropriate contact with him over a four-year period, starting when he was 10.

Centre Daily Times

Edited by Buffalo Head, 05 November 2011 - 09:13 PM.

[Freddy Linn]

I think there is a 50% chance that Sandusky takes his life before the trial. Maybe higher. 10% chance he does it tonight, after the conclusion of Alabama-LSU.

The lack of any significant institutional concern about his behavior, other than asking him not to bring kids on campus, is mind-blowing.

[canderson]

A few notes:

- The grand jury (I actually know a girl who was on it) said Paterno did exactly as he should. Paterno has agreed to be a witness for the prosecution as well.

- Death penalty? I don't see how students should be punished for this, and that's all a death penalty does IMO.

- I'd guess Curley and the VP resign Monday after posting bail, and Spahner goes not long after.

- here in PSU land, people are awe-struck how Sandusky (who is BELIVED) could do this.

- Sabdusky is a monster and very well might get life in prison. I too won't be shocked if he takes his life prior to the trial. He's an odd guy in general.

- This is the sickest thing I've ever read, but the Baylor basketball murder scandal a few years back overall is much more troubling, institution-wise, in my eyes.

Edited by canderson, 05 November 2011 - 09:42 PM.

[Freddy Linn]

A few notes:

- The grand jury (I actually know a girl who was on it) said Paterno did exactly as he should. Paterno has agreed to be a witness for the prosecution as well.

- Death penalty? I don't see how students should be punished for this, and that's all a death penalty does IMO.

- I'd guess Curley and the VP resign Monday after posting bail, and Spahner goes not long after.

- here in PSU land, people are awe-struck how Sandusky (who is BELIVED) could do this.

- Sabdusky is a monster and very well might get life in prison. I too won't be shocked if he takes his life prior to the trial. He's an odd guy in general.

- This is the sickest thing I've ever read, but the Baylor basketball murder scandal a few years back overall is much more troubling, institution-wise, in my eyes.

Bullshit. This fucker got to molest kids for more seven years, and Paterno knew the whole time. He may have followed the minimum standard as likely set out by human resources, but he had a moral obligation to make sure the police knew, one way or another.

[canderson]

I'm not defending him, just saying what the grand jury said. Paterno supposedly told his bosses who did nothing.

Why Paterno didn't notify police is puzzling. And hard to fathom how anyone can NOT notify police of this.

The entire administration has to go, and Paterno has to retire after this season just to get this off the program ASAP.

Edited by canderson, 05 November 2011 - 09:56 PM.

[Clears Cleaver]

JoPa's program has not been devoid of massive violations of the law. Perhaps in his eyes, the AD is the only authority he knows. But man, how can he know it happened and in nine years not quesiton why this guy was still allowed in public?

There has to be a civil suit vs the school, the AD and Paterno

[dcmissle]

This is being teased as the top story on the late local news. DC is not a hotbed of college football and is pretty far from Penn State.

If this is not sufficent to nudge Paterno from his job, then Joe Pa is Al Davis.

[mascho]

This is being teased as the top story on the late local news. DC is not a hotbed of college football and is pretty far from Penn State.

If this is not sufficent to nudge Paterno from his job, then Joe Pa is Al Davis.

Not only was it teased, it was the top story on DC's CBS affiliate.

Interesting that people are speculating that Sandusky will probably take his life before trial. If he knew he was the subject of a grand jury investigation, and knew that he was being investigated, how could he wake up each morning facing that, and go on living? I mean, how does a person live with that?

[Rod Becks Mullet]

Technically, Paterno did the right thing by notifying his superior, but in reality, he should have called the police immediately. Doesn't seem like its known what he was told in his meeting with Curley about how it would be handled, but as Wetzel pointed out, Paterno is God there. If he called the police, it would have gotten a much more immediate response.

At first glance, the president seems like he'll get dragged down, but if you read through the full grand jury statement, he apparently wasn't told what actually happened. One would want to believe that he would have called the police if he was told that Sandusky molested a child. Doesn't seem to be what happened.

From page 8:

"Curley was not specific about the language he used in reporting the 2002 incident to Spanier."

From page 10:

"(Spanier) testified that Curley and Schultz came to him in 2002 to report an incident with Jerry Sandusky that made a member of Curley's staff 'uncomfortable.' Spanier described it as 'Jerry Sandusky in the football building locker room area in the shower [] with a younger child and they were horsing around in the shower.'" ... "Spanier denied that it was reported to him as an incident that was sexual in nature and acknowledged that Curley and Schultz had not indicated any plan to report the matter to any law enforcement authority, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare or any appropriate county child protective services agency."

I don't know if there's any tie in, but Sandusky was first busted in 1998 and forced to retire in 1999. Interesting timing. And did anybody else know? How did his wife not pick up on this?

I'm stunned that Sandusky is out on parole, I'm shocked if he makes it six months without killing himself or being murdered. Not that I advocate it, but there's a special place in hell reserved for him.

Edited by Rod Becks Mullet, 05 November 2011 - 11:25 PM.

[DukeSox]

I mean, how does a person live with that?

Probably the same way the sick fuck lived with his perverted actions.

[Gunfighter 09]

Am I correct in assuming that Penn State is going to wind up paying out hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements to the victims of every assault after the one the school swept under the rug in 2001?

[dcmissle]

Technically, Paterno did the right thing by notifying his superior, but in reality, he should have called the police immediately. .

Sometimes things really are this simple:

Paterno wasn’t charged, but if Sandusky is guilty, Paterno would be guilty — just as Penn State’s athletic director and a university vice president, who were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse on Saturday, would be guilty.

They would all be party to a worse crime than any crooked, pay-for-play booster at Miami, Ohio State or even SMU ever committed: guilty of protecting a program before a child.

You can’t read the 23-page grand jury report and come to any other conclusion; Penn State football and its pristine reputation apparently superseded the alleged sexual assault of a young boy — perhaps as many as eight young boys — over 15 years by Sandusky.

Joe Pa knew, if the charges are true.

They all knew.

And they never told police.

(emphasis added). http://www.washingto...ucqM_story.html

Suddenly Tressel's misdeeds don't look so bad. But this is what the NCAA is about, technical compliance.

Responsibility for this, of course, lies with Sandusky in the first instance and the people at Penn State after him. But the Congress person who earlier this week likened the NCAA to the Mafia wasn't too far from the mark. Pity is, the Mafia near and dear to so many hearts -- the old Mafia, the Corleones -- probably would have drawn the line at one of their charges sodomizing a 10-year old in a shower.

[Average Reds]

Lots of interesting reactions in this thread. Here's my take this morning.

First, unless Sandusky's actions were somehow connected to the operation of the team, I don't see how the NCAA comes down on Penn State and gives them any sort of penalty for this. My guess is that the biggest threat to Penn State is from the legal proceedings and the destruction of an image of wholesomeness that has been created over five decades.

Second, the story we read yesterday has so many unanswered questions that I don't think we can fully judge Paterno. Specifically, the story I read this morning was careful not to say what Paterno did other than going to the AD with the allegations - we may learn that he did follow up, or he may have done nothing. However, it's worth remembering that Paterno himself served as AD for a long time, so he knew exactly what the ADs responsibilities were in this case.

The last point I want to make is about the strange behavior of the University President in defending the Athletic Director and the Sr. VP for Finance and Business, who are both charged with failure to notify authorities and perjury. (The Sr. VP was in charge of the campus police, who allegedly tried to cover up the situation.) Here's the quote I talked about yesterday from the President:

"I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years," Mr. Spanier said. "I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former university employee."

It is notable that the President - Graham B. Spanier - was also named in the Grand Jury report as someone who knew about the 2002 incident, which adds another layer of complexity. And quite honestly, it makes me believe that they were acting at his behest, because I can't imagine not reporting something like this when the allegations are known at the highest levels of the University ... unless they were directed by the man at the top.

At the conclusion of things, I don't see how this doesn't hurt Paterno badly. Because the best case scenario for him still involves discovering that one of his closest friends and associates was a monster. And the worst case is that he shares responsibility in the cover up, which will destroy his legacy. As for the rest of the university, given his knowledge of the incident at the time it was reported. I don't see how the President survives this.

Sounds to me like Happy Valley will not be living up to it's name in the coming months.

Edit: And now I see this morning that half of the crimes that Sandusky is charged with did occur during the time he was on staff at Penn State, which makes things significantly uglier for the University and Paterno.

Edited by Average Reds, 06 November 2011 - 08:45 AM.

[Dehere]

First, I don't see how it is possible that the NCAA comes down on Penn State and gives them any sort of penalty for this, because at the time Sandusky allegedly committed the acts, he was not a university employee.

Not a lawyer and can't predict how the NCAA will react (who can?) but I think that it falls within the NCAA's authority to take action when athletic department employees witness a child rape in athletic department facilities and then fail to notify police. The lack of oversight is so shocking that I don't know how they can't act. I also suspect that in this case the public outcry for action will be so great that the NCAA will be able to define their authority pretty broadly and still have public support.

Regardless of NCAA action I think Penn State football is done for a generation, as it should be. What parent would send their child - and football recruits, freakishly sized as they may be, are still children - to Penn State, especially recruits at the Big Ten level who have so many other options?

A question I have: is there any scenario in which the other Big Ten institutions will call for PSU to be expelled from the conference? Can a scandal ever get so bad that the other schools in a conference simply decide they don't want to be associated with a school anymore?

[Average Reds]

Not a lawyer and can't predict how the NCAA will react (who can?) but I think that it falls within the NCAA's authority to take action when athletic department employees witness a child rape in athletic department facilities and then fail to notify police. The lack of oversight is so shocking that I don't know how they can't act. I also suspect that in this case the public outcry for action will be so great that the NCAA will be able to define their authority pretty broadly and still have public support.

Regardless of NCAA action I think Penn State football is done for a generation, as it should be. What parent would send their child - and football recruits, freakishly sized as they may be, are still children - to Penn State, especially recruits at the Big Ten level who have so many other options?

You got to me while I was editing. Still don't think the NCAA will act, but who knows?

A question I have: is there any scenario in which the other Big Ten institutions will call for PSU to be expelled from the conference? Can a scandal ever get so bad that the other schools in a conference simply decide they don't want to be associated with a school anymore?

It's hard to say - unless I'm just not remembering things correctly, Baylor faced no sanctions when their head basketball coach engaged in covering up a murder. So I doubt that Penn State as an institution will face these kinds of sanctions from the conference.

At the very least, I think the Big Ten will sit back and watch things develop before taking any actions.

[Rod Becks Mullet]

even if Paterno is not being forced out, one would think he has to retire. How could he recruit there? What parent in their right mind would allow their son to go play for that program? Even if Sandusky's gone, the stink about how it was mis-handled will surround them. He will retire, that way he won't have to deal with the humiliation of being fired on top of everything.

[PaulinMyrBch]

This is sick...apparently Penn State's position was just don't fuck little boys on campus please...as if Sandusky was charming enough to lure children without a promise to tour the national championship football locker room.

Clean house and pay loads of money Penn State...asap

[Sea Bass Neely]

A question I have: is there any scenario in which the other Big Ten institutions will call for PSU to be expelled from the conference? Can a scandal ever get so bad that the other schools in a conference simply decide they don't want to be associated with a school anymore?

No, at least not in this situation.

It is a horrific story, but it has nothing to do with NCAA rules or compliance or any of that fun stuff.

And for the record there was never any allegation of pay for play at Ohio State under Tressel.

[Montana Fan]

Jeezus what a terrible story. I suspect more incidents took place on campus. I can't believe he is out.

[SumnerH]

It's hard to say - unless I'm just not remembering things correctly, Baylor faced no sanctions when their head basketball coach engaged in covering up a murder.

They got probably the harshest penalties ever handed out short of a death penalty:

Probation for 5 years
No out-of-conference games or NCAA/NIT tournament eligibility in 2005-2006 (they played only the Big 12 schedule that year)
No postseason basketball (including Big 12 tournament) in 2003-2004
Loss of 4 scholarships in 2004-2005 and 1 in 2005-2006
Limit to 8 paid recruiting visits in 2004-2005 and 9 in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 (12 is normal)
5 fewer days of contact with recruits allowed 2004-2007
10 fewer evaluation days 2004-2006
Only 2 coaches allowed for off-campus recruiting 2004-2007 (3 is normal)
Forfeit an exhibition game in 2004-2005
Head coach and coaching staff must be replaced
Transfer rules waived for current players/recruits

They also gave head coach Dave Bliss a 10-year show cause penalty (essentially, he can't coach in the NCAA until 2015); 2 assistant coaches got 5-year and 7-year show-cause penalties of their own.

Edited by SumnerH, 06 November 2011 - 02:20 PM.

[Average Reds]

They got probably the harshest penalties ever handed out short of a death penalty:

Probation for 5 years
No out-of-conference games or NCAA/NIT tournament eligibility in 2005-2006 (they played only the Big 12 schedule that year)
No postseason basketball (including Big 12 tournament) in 2003-2004
Loss of 4 scholarships in 2004-2005 and 1 in 2005-2006
Limit to 8 paid recruiting visits in 2004-2005 and 9 in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 (12 is normal)
5 fewer days of contact with recruits allowed 2004-2007
10 fewer evaluation days 2004-2006
Only 2 coaches allowed for off-campus recruiting 2004-2007 (3 is normal)
Forfeit an exhibition game in 2004-2005
Head coach and coaching staff must be replaced
Transfer rules waived for current players/recruits

They also gave head coach Dave Bliss a 10-year show cause penalty (essentially, he can't coach in the NCAA until 2015); 2 assistant coaches got 5-year and 7-year show-cause penalties of their own.

All true, but those penalties were not related to the cover up, which is what we were discussing. They were related to the raft of major NCAA infractions that Bliss committed. His lies to the criminal investigators looking into the players death were specifically intended to hide those infractions.

I will say that if it comes out that the actions of the Penn State AD and others were based on a desire to hide any NCAA violations, there is no question they will face heavy punishment. I have not seen anything that indicates this is the case, but who knows what we'll find out.

The other thing I'll clarify is that my comments about Baylor were related to a question of whether the Big 10 would take actions, and my recollection is that Baylor faced no conference sanctions for the cover up.

[Soxfan in Fla]

As a Big Ten alum and someone who has a lot of respect for JoePa this is pretty shocking.

What Sandusky appears to have done is beyond despicable. The action is bad enough but it appears that he targeted boys that were getting help through his Second Mile charity. Pretty sick and twisted.

The fact the AD and VP seem to have covered this all up is extremely disturbing.

As for JoePa and the Ga, who supposedly is Mike McQuery, why did neither one of them call the police? I will say that I will wait until more information comes out before I fully judge JoePa's actions.

I think this really forces JoePa's retirement. I think the AD has to go for sure. I would imagine PSU football will suffer some of the penalties that Baylor suffered if all this plays out as true.

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

Here is the actual report. It's pretty disturbing. And anybody who thinks JoPa did the right thing is crazy. Even when Sandusky was on Paterno's staff there were credible allegations. In fact a mother of one of the boys reported to the campus police that Sandusky showered with and "hugged" her boy in May of '98 but nothing came of it. Sandusky admitted to it, apologized, and agreed not to see her son anymore. When asked if their genitals touched, Sandusky replied, "I don't know, maybe".

Ugghh. There is no way the entire football program could not have been aware of this incident. I hope Paterno goes down in flames along with anybody else who did nothing.

Edited by BannedbyNYYFans.com, 06 November 2011 - 04:05 PM.

[sfip]

I can't begin to express how embarrassed I am to see all this.

FWIW, here's the status on Penn State's facebook page.

We are disturbed and stunned by yesterday's news. Many have expressed their thoughts about this here on our wall, and as with all posts, as long as they follow page policies, they will stand. We understand the strong feelings many people wish to express, and we are listening. Right now there is much anger and speculation. The legal process is just getting under way, and there is much yet to be learned. We trust the legal process will add facts and clarity to the shocking allegations about the former assistant coach. We will provide updates as we have them.

[BigMike]

Ugghh. There is no way the entire football program could not have been aware of this incident. I hope Paterno goes down in flames along with anybody else who did nothing.

I would think that they need to retire Joe, and send everyone assosciated with the football program out the door with him. Just a completely housecleaning. Everyone who was on the staff at the time must go

[DukeSox]

I would think that they need to retire Joe, and send everyone assosciated with the football program out the door with him. Just a completely housecleaning. Everyone who was on the staff at the time must go

Yup. This actually seems like a pretty simple problem for Penn State to fix.

The charges are so egregious that they fire everyone and start fresh. Shouldn't be much debate about who stays/who goes.

[canderson]

Paterno released a statement a bit ago.

"If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters. While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can't help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.

"Sue and I have devoted our lives to helping young people reach their potential. The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling. If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers.

"As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators.

"I understand that people are upset and angry, but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are."

[Gdiguy]

Yup. This actually seems like a pretty simple problem for Penn State to fix.

The charges are so egregious that they fire everyone and start fresh. Shouldn't be much debate about who stays/who goes.

The bigger question, to me, is how much power the rest of the university will allow the athletics dept (and in particular, the football program) to have going forward. It's pretty clear to me that this is what happens when you foster an environment where the AD & the football program basically do whatever they want to, and feel like THEY are the law at Penn State, and so if one of their friends gets in trouble they can just deal with it themselves instead of having involve petty people like the police.

Yeah, football brings in a lot of money compared to individual labs and programs on campus... but compared to the amount of research money coming from groups like the NIH, it's really not that much, and if this winds up reverberating through the rest of the campus (because really, what biology or engineering grad student is going to want to go to a school that lets their football coaches abuse kids in the locker rooms), it'll be MUCH MUCH worse than just some NCAA sanctions.

[AlNipper49]

Posnanski's upcoming book just quadrupled sales

[skifast4524]

To me the most culpable person here is the grad assistant. How do you see that happening and not STOP it right there. Or at a bare minimum report it to the police. Who knows what he really told Paterno, but it is unbelievable to me that he saw a 10 year old boy being raped and did nothing. A 28 year old adult has a responsibility to do more then tell the coach about a rape, it was his responsibility to make sure the authorities got involved.

[SumnerH]

All true, but those penalties were not related to the cover up, which is what we were discussing. They were related to the raft of major NCAA infractions that Bliss committed. His lies to the criminal investigators looking into the players death were specifically intended to hide those infractions.

Largely true, but the NCAA committee decision discusses the cover-up and it's tough to completely extract it since they didn't break down what specific infraction caused each penalty.

But you're right that without the additional coverups of NCAA violations things probably look far different.

The other thing I'll clarify is that my comments about Baylor were related to a question of whether the Big 10 would take actions, and my recollection is that Baylor faced no conference sanctions for the cover up.

Many of the sanctions above were imposed by the Big 12, and later extended by the NCAA. Again, though, those were at least significantly motivated by additional NCAA violations.

[axx]

NCAA sanctions? You're kidding, right? They could ban the AD, but that would only happen if he gets convicted. Paterno is going nowhere unless this hurts recruiting.

It's pretty clear from their actions that Penn State is going to protect them. They had an opportunity to throw the three of them under the bus, but chose otherwise. They must assume that firing any of them would be an admission of guilt and would open them up to lawsuits. Not to mention that it is too close to the Prez.

[Marciano490]

To me the most culpable person here is the grad assistant. How do you see that happening and not STOP it right there. Or at a bare minimum report it to the police. Who knows what he really told Paterno, but it is unbelievable to me that he saw a 10 year old boy being raped and did nothing. A 28 year old adult has a responsibility to do more then tell the coach about a rape, it was his responsibility to make sure the authorities got involved.

Thank you! I was shocked, reading the grand jury findings, that two people - one a Korean War vet, the other a 20-something male, witnessed child rape and did nothing more than scurry away. Obviously, there are only victims and bad guys in this story, but I don't think someone locking themselves in an office while a septuagenarian rapes a child should be excused.

[Infield Infidel]

And the dominoes are falling

Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and vice president of business and finance Gary Schultz have resigned in the wake of allegations levied against former football assistant Jerry Sandusky. The moves come following a late-night board meeting at Penn State, in which members reportedly discussed the pending sex abuse charges Sandusky, a legend in Penn State coaching circles, is facing.

http://www.sbnation....-state-football

[Gdiguy]

ESPN has it worded slightly differently (the rest of the article seems to imply that Curley would re-assume his position were he to beat the charges, and both are worded in such a way that I'm sure they're still going to get whatever retirement benefits/salaries they're currently supposed to get)

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley requested to be placed on administrative leave so he could devote the time needed to defend himself against perjury and other charges, university President Graham Spanier said. Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business, will step down and go back into retirement, Spanier said. He declined to comment to reporters after the meeting.

http://espn.go.com/c...ep-amid-scandal

[Average Reds]

And the dominoes are falling



http://www.sbnation....-state-football

The actions of the Trustees are such a complete repudiation of the statement put out by the President this weekend that I expect him to either resign or be fired within weeks if not days.

Paterno may be allowed to finish the season, but there is no way he will be back.

Edit: Gdiguy, to address your point: Tim Curley may have been allowed to take an administrative leave while fighting the charges, but that's simply a way to ease him out. Even if acquitted, I simply cannot imagine a scenario where he will be allowed to come back.

Edited by Average Reds, 07 November 2011 - 08:26 AM.

[Toe Nash]

Paterno's statement is pretty weak, IMO. He uses the phrase "if true," "alleged" or some variation in nearly every sentence. While yes, they haven't been proven in a court of law yet, with the wealth of evidence I don't think there's anyone who thinks Sandusky is completely innocent and it sounds like Paterno's still defending him. Then he hides under "what Penn State represents" as if that has any weight anymore.

If he really doesn't think Sandusky did anything wrong, or truly wants to let the courts decide (when you know someone personally I guess denial can be strong) he should keep quiet until the trial. If he does believe the evidence, I'd have much more respect if his statement was more strongly worded. His statement reads like someone burying his head in the sand or protecting his own butt.