Joe Paterno: Rest in Peace?

• Paterno's "involvment" was as follows: he given a fresh eyewitness account of child molestation in his own sports facilities. From the moment he heard that account he had a moral duty to call 911, so that police investigators could locate the alleged victim, thereby learning his identity and possibly preventing him (and other kids) from being victimized further.

• If Schultz had been a real policeman, he would have been sworn to uphold the law.  Which means he would have been duty bound to investigate an eyewitness account of child molestation, and duty bound to locate the alleged victim. Schultz was not ever sworn in as  a policeman. He cannot be called such.  He should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as "police."

• So you think that "dismissal of charges against pedophiles happen based on failure to follow...policy"??? Wrong again.  How can you people be so ignorant of the law and of our system? Charges may be dropped against an accused but only for lack of evidence or for violation of Constitutional rights. No charges against a criminal would be dropped  based on failure to follow a school policy.  

• So you think school administrators are "responsible for investigating such things?" We're talking about violent sex crimes against children, for God sake.   If your child were molested, would you want some "school administrator" put in charge of the investigation?  Wouldn't you prefer a seasoned, experienced team of detectives? 

• Again, there is no rule at any university, or anywhere else, which forbids anyone from calling police if they have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed.   Especially if the victim might be in imminent danger--which would apply to the 2002 shower victim. As far as libel/slander laws, they do not apply when a citizen calls police to report a possible crime.  Calls to police are confidential. I am shocked at the level of ignorance of the Penn State crowd--especially on legal issues. Do they not teach law classes at Penn State?  Or morality, or ethics?

• Embarrassing, pathetic twisting of facts and utter absence of knowledge. Not sure how reporting directly to high-ranking administrators constitutes doing "nothing." It actually constitutes doing exactly what you should do. As for "boys were being raped in your locker room," that may or may not have occurred. We do know that Paterno was told by a witness that Sandusky was "fondling" or doing something of a "sexual nature" with a boy, which Paterno reported directly to the administrators responsible for investigating such things. So, what Paterno actually knew is that one boy might possibly have been sexually abused, not that "boys were being raped in your locker room,'' and that he reported it to high-ranking, veteran administrators responsible for handling such matters, Please, inform yourself of the facts before writing. In the Internet era these facts are easy to find. Start with the grand jury presentment, which is the prosecution's interpretation of the grand jury investigation, and go from there.

• Joshuako is your typical Penn State fan, I cant tell you how much of these clowns there are but the old farts death has made me aware theres a shitload. Yo guy, your not making the case for your crap campus nor the football team you live and die with, that case being you people are civil contributing members to society. You can find a new hero, this time try and pick one thats not a coach or actually, just pick none, this is what happens when you worship people especially ones that are just human and quite frankly nothing special. All the lives impacted were becasue of one thing. Putting a positive spin on the program. I dont care how many young men with no fathers your false prophet helped out the hood. The truth of the matter is if they couldn't play football, old PaPa didnt care (See: The 2nd Mile Charity and the kids from there). Also on top of that he could of saved 100's from "the ghetto" fine but by letting ONE child have something happen to them that they will never recover in life from, Im not talking about a scar from a knife fight here, Im talking nightmares and never having peace the rest of their time on this earth. Well then fuck your old coward ass and the shit program you built with cover ups from the get go. Cancer didnt kill JoePa, then again neither did a guilty conscience (How the fuck did that geezer sleep for a decade?) he died from old age which in my opinion was getting off easy. He should of had to confront any of the victims that wanted to confront him, the ones post him knowing. That would of likely killed him from what these PSU fool say he died of...a broken heart. He got off easy, bc those victims, their lives are ruined forever and all you PSU poop care about is the next coach. If there was ever a program that needed the death penalty Penn State is it. I wonder if Phil Knight would give two hoots about PSU if they had no football program of which he couldn't throw his swoosh on and market his company to millions thru. You think he'd of given two shits then? Og course if you have PSU ties you do... So allow me to say it again...GET A BLEEPING CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• actually you pathetic man/woman, im an attorney, licensed in two states, so that would make me at least partially an expert.  and for you individuals with your ad hominem attacks, i would suggest you address the facts.  cognitive dissonance is not good for your health....... morons 

• wow, you people are dumb.... no one has suggested violence against sandusky, if your precious man of principle had any principle he would have called the cops directly, or better yet, instructed MM to go to the police.  he did neither, and this foolish suggestion that he followed university protocol and that is all he should have done is so iintellectually dishonest that it doesnt deserve a serious response..... and mtopmom, go fcuk yourself

• As a university employee, he's bound by university rules -- and the rules say you tell campus security (which at UP has official jurisdiction over what happens on campus -- they aren't your typical college rent-a-cops). He's also bound by legals issues -- such as you don't defame or slander/libel someone by making accusations you can't prove.

• Let me help YOU with the facts: 1.  Charges were not "dropped" in the 1998 incident.  No charges were filed because there was no complaining witness. 2.  The 1998 incident was not the incident Paterno was told about.  We are talking about two different crimes here.  Paterno was told of a different, 2002  incident.  Gricar knew nothing of this one.  If he had, he would likely have put the pieces together and Sandusky could have been charged much earlier. 3.  Paterno did not report anything to "police."  Any real policeman (and I was one) would view the whole idea of Schultz as "police" to be a joke.  (He was not a sworn officer. Only sworn officers can be called policemen.)  4.  Regarding the BOT, I assume that in May, they were awaiting the results of the grand jury investigation.  Which is reasonable.  Paterno was told about Sandusky's proclivities years beore the BOT had any clue about Sandusky.

• We acknowledge that Paterno did the bare minimum  to keep himself out of legal trouble.  The debate is about his dereliction of moral duty.

• I'm glad to hear you are doing something constructive with your time. But your concern is rather belated, considering that Sandusky is no longer with Second Mile. So who are you "protecting" the kids from. Sandusky is under house arrest, thanks to the courage of Victim One, and no thanks to the Penn State good ol boy network.

• You state:  "once you make a report, you have no idea what happens..." That's not even relevant.  Because neither Paterno, Curley, Shultz or Spanier ever made a report to any investigators whatsoever.  There was no "investigation" of the 2002 incident until 9 years later, when Victim 1 came forward with a different allegation.

• Why do you apologists tell people to read the facts, when you are the ones who have the facts garbled. You state:  "The principal reported it 2-3 years after Joe reported it."  WRONG!  The principal reported a different case (and reported it immediately, not "2-3 years later".)   The Victim One case, and the 2002 shower incident Paterno was told of, involved DIFFERENT VICTIMS at DIFFERENT TIMES. You state:  "Joe did the same thing as the principal."  Wrong again.  The principal reported to police investigators and child services.  Joe told a pencil pushing bureaucrat.  That's why one incident was investigated and the other wasn't.

• Blogging isn't writing it's graffiti with punctuation.

• I was responding to another poster who claimed Sandusky "was not a university employee."  It's you who are not reading before you post.

• How come an obscure, lowly high school principal was able to pick up the phone and call for a police investigation into the allegations of Victim One?  We're not talking about stopping the entire Holocaust here.  Just making one phone call to the right entities, to help one child.  How hard is that?  Why didn't Paterno et al do what this school principal did?  Could it be they didn't want the matter investigated? Nah...

• Fuck your bullshit blog is asshole.

• Your career is going nowhere in a hurry.

• Douchetard

• We "haters" are the ones who are advocating reporting a pedophile DIRECTLY TO LOCAL POLICE rather than just kicking the matter upstairs. So how does that make us "just like pedophiles."  You state that Paterno "didn't want to interfere with what he thought was an investigation."  LMAO. It had to be obvious to Paterno that there was no investigation going on whatsoever, for a period of nine years... because he failed to notify any investigators of the need for such.

• You are the one who needs to check out the law.  Pennsylvania does have a law requiring that, at a MINIMUM, one is required to report suspected abuse to a superior.  However, there is no rule or law anywhere that prohibits any citizen from going further and notifying the police department directly.  So Paterno did the bare minimum.  Not what one would expect from a guy who held himself up as some kind of moral paragon.  "Success with honor"--what a joke that was.

• Having worked in law enforcement, I can tell you that no one would have "admonished" Paterno for calling 911--for the simple reason that the boy victim's whereabouts were unknown, and he  was possibly still with Sandusky and thus still in danger. So an emergency call was fully warranted  It would have been a high priority of law enforcement to locate that boy. If Paterno and the others had done their duty that boy would probably have been found.  The fact that he is still unknown is another disgrace to Paterno and Penn State.

• Calling 911 to report a suspected child sex crime would not constitute "taking the law into your own hands."  It is just a basic moral and civic duty.  No one should take the law into their own hands--that's why we have something called the police department, and child services.

• I don't care whose kids they were, they deserved to be protected, not raped in Penn State showers or offices.  Just so you know, ANYONE can call 911 and report to detectives any suspected crime.  Second Mile admins could have called.  Joe Paterno could have picked up the phone and called 911 as well--his arm wasn't broken.  So would any of the apologists care to explain why he didn't?

• What the hell  are you talking about.  When did I ever advocate "dismissal of charges against pedophiles."  What a bizarre accusation.   After reading your post and that of  other Paterno apologists, I can only conclude that your beloved program should be shut down for a number of years, or until you "fans" are restored to sanity.  (Admitedly that would take some time)  Your fanatical obsession with the game of football has addled your brains perhaps beyond repair.

• I think that a gargoyle statue of Joe Paterno should be mounted above the locker room door where the young boy was abused!

• Our reasons are our attempts to bring about full and unbiased investigations to help protect the kids that are STILL AT THE SECOND MILE.  What have you done to help them?   You're saying Joe should have yelled and screamed and not stopped making noise until something was done.  THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING!!!!!!! 

• I never apologized for JoePa.  He doesn't need anyone to apologize for him because he followed the law and his employer's rules to the letter.  Nothing wrong with that and no apology needed for having done so.  Joe was a man, we all know that, but he was an honorable man.  He was one of the best men and he never let money corrupt him.  He instead shared his money.  He did go beyond what was required of him.  The kids were not PSU kids, dummy.  They were Second Mile kids and it was reported to Second Mile, they were required to report to authorities but failed to do so.  There were no racial comments until yours and I won't respond to that since it's totally irrelevant to anything said on this post, other than to say it speaks volumes about you, sadly.  None of this is about what any of us "'thinks" but rather about the facts which have been revealed so far.  It apparently angers you that the facts don't fit your fictitious story.

• Joe did do what the principal did.  Joe followed the law and policies and procedures of his employer.  The result was actually not different at all.  The only reason Sandusky was arrested was because a narcotics officer came across information after Corbett was elected Governor and was no longer AG, with the power to stop the investigation from moving forward.  You said it yourself.  The principal reported it in the mid-2000s, about 2 or 3 years after Joe reported it.  The case didn't start to move forward until January of 2011, after the Gov became the Gov.  Again, Joe did exactly what the principal did, except Joe didn't have as much information as the principal did.  Joe also followed up with McQueary, the actual witness, to make sure he was satisfied with how things were moving along.  So... again....  JOE DID THE SAME THING (and a little more) THAN THE PRINCIPAL.

• Not a joke at all.  By the way, JoePa was revered across the country, not just in Pennsylvania.  He didn't own the town, it's a municipality.  Nobody owns them, dear.  He was a man of principle and he did report what he knew to two people over him at PSU.  He wasn't top dog or he would never have been fired.  You could never be top dog because you are too dumb to read and research.  You've proven yourself to be about worthless as tits on a bull.  You, dear, would not make a pimple on JoePa's rearend.  That is precisely why you hate him and refuse to read the facts.  He set the bar to high for you to ever hope to compare even as a pimple.

• I'm not a PSU alumnus.  I went to a private college in another state.  I learned to research and read and think on my own.  Anyone who would not want a full investigation of those who got money and those who did nothing and those who've been lying since this story hit the mainstream media, must be supporting pedophiles.  Why do you do that bloosboys?

• Who's apologizing?  We think he did what he should have done.  "If ordinary men and women had done their jobs, there would be no reason to expect Joe Paterno or anyone else to have taken EXTRAORDINARY steps beyond his job."  The system is in place for a reason.  The law has been written for a reason.  The policies and procedures are in place at the recommendation of experts in the field.  Joe did what he was supposed to do and actually a bit more without interfering in what he thought was an investigation.  You are obviously no expert at anything blacksocialist.  I'm educated and I've researched the facts in this case THOROUGHLY.  A lot of people dropped the ball, but joe wasn't one of them.  Funny, that you Joe haters really don't want the truth to come out, that's why you don't want them to look into those who failed in their obligations.  Your really are no better than a pedophile yourself.

• This blog is by far the biggest sorrow of your life. With hindsight you will wish you hadn't typed it.

• Barra, you've been called out. You're a douchetard.

• Well done. WE ARE clueless cult like people blinded by all we ever had...a college football program. Really, that's what you people live for? Sadly this whole scandal has assured us of just how powerful a coach can get in these states that live for this, those would be the ones with the most clowns/low lifes consuming them. I'm sorry if that's offensive to some, actually I could care less, its only the college townies who would be offended anyway. Its the truth, just look at the SEC and argue it with me. Penn State People, your cult was exposed. Those of us that can see this due to no ties whatsoever with your half assed football team and its now dead, but then old fart coach, can also see most of you had no clue this was going on. Its ok no one is saying the fans are responsible but anyone with a clue can see your coach was. No not for the sodomy and other horrific acts himself but for failure to do more. Which in a case of child rape is anything necessary. I dont care if you gotta call a hitman in Philly and make the sick bastard go away forever and keep the program "spotless" yeah like the other countless cover ups involving the football program including the death threats to players and black students on campus and actual death of a young black man near campus after those threats occurred. It shouldn't be hard to realize the truth and figure out that we as humans have a responsibility for children that goes way beyond what your false prophet did. "Went to higher authorities" is by far the lamest most ignorant and quite frankly offensive excuse you fools give in defending this coward. He was the most powerful man in PA until all this shit became public. NOW GET A  BLEEPING CLUE WILL YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• You are proving that you have the IQ of a doorknob each time you post, blacksocialist.

• Probable answer should really read "my opinion".  You have a bad habit of wording your opinions as "fact"...wait, are you a journalist?  Work for ESPN?

• Yes, by all means, believe that you are that important and hold that much power, Bloosboys.  If it makes you feel better, then go ahead.

• Ha ha - you think this author has journalistic professionalism?  

• Then why wasn't Joe charged with anything, if he "should" have reported it to a "qualified police investigator"?  Seems like Linda Kelly's office was fine with his reporting and even called him a cooperating witness.

• Um, he did report it.  To Schultz.  VP of Finance = head of campus police.  Campus police = real cops as they hold exclusive jurisdiction over all campus events.  And, lovely language.

• Who gave Sandusky his professor emeritus title?  Joe?  No - it was the administration.  Joe was not Sandusky's employee, ergo he had no authority over him.  Perhaps you should take your own worthwhile advice and read before you post.

• You just contradicted yourself - you say there really is no way to determine what most people would do and then in the next sentence say that you find it unlikely that most people would react to child molestation by doing nothing.  Pick a side and stay there.  And, you can say Joe did "nothing" as many times as you want, but you are wrong.  He reported it as dictated by PA code, that is why he was not charged with any wrongdoing and was seen as a cooperating witness by the prosecution.

• What should he have done?  What do you suggest?  I doubt a responsible law enforcement officer or investigator would encourage people to go beyond PA law.  Let's all take the law into our own hands and conduct our own vigilante justice and see how much police appreciate it.

• How is following PA law in reporting suspected child abuse "dropping the ball"?  Have you ever talked to someone who is required to report child abuse?  If so, you would know that once you make the report, you have no idea what happens with the information you provided.  They don't call or email you to inform you of the process of the investigation or the outcome.  If you ask, you are not told, and they tell you that they are not authorized to provide updates.  You provide the information and those in charge take it from there...they don't send out a newsletter informing of the progress.   

• What was his involvement?  He happened to be the coach of a program where an ex-employee was seen possibly doing something inappropriate with a child?  He was told by the only eye-witness of some possible inappropriate behavior (the day after the incident) and he told the head of campus police (who have jurisdiction over campus affairs) the very next day.  Your wording implies Joe helped Sandusky troll for his victims (though, since "indited" is not really a word, I may be misreading what you are trying to say).

• I have just rewritten this article, taking out Barra's opinions, and leaving in true facts : "......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

• RIP Joe pa. one of the best educators of our lifetimes

• I reasearched it for an hour and clearly have much more knowledge on the subject than you. I wonder do you reasearch the things you write about or do you plagerize poorly slanted popular media stories?

• I find it absolutely ridiculous that we are not criticizing a flawed system - we are instead criticizing a man that did what he was supposed to in a flawed system.  Shocking that instead of putting effort into trying to change the laws dealing with reporting child molestation and rape, we are cutting down those who did what they were supposed to do.  Just as an FYI...teachers on a daily basis make the same reports Joe Paterno did to their superiors - and guess what?  They can't ask any follow up questions - it's against policy and law.  Check it out, i'm not lying...i'm a teacher.  Let's focus on putting effort into stopping child molestation and rape...we're all wasting energy on chastising a dead man.

• Exactly....and everyone knows that you can't fix stupid.. Love it!

• IMO, this is just another useless blog from an amateur blogger that comes out from under his rock to spew hate. What a pathetic life you must lead, I almost feel sorry for you (not)! Your attempt to portray Paterno as some kind of monster has failed miserably. What you have succeeded in doing is proving you are an uneducated, uninformed  moron  who uses this platform to make your sorry little life seem important.

• The BOT negotiated the terms of his retirement. Joe had no say in the matter & frankly wanted nothing to do with Sandusky when he retired. This was clearly known throughout the PSU community.

• That's it...keep it up with all the foul language tough guy. You're lack of intelligence & principle clearly shows.

• and one more comment for you morons that apologizefor paterno, paterno was a public figure, all bets are off in terms of "respecting the dead", whatever that means.... fuck reagan too....

• is that a joke, this paterno was revered throughout pennsylvania, especially college park. he effin' owned the town.  why would he, if he was a "man of principle", not have reported what had happened?... ding ding ding, he is not a man of principle.  if i was top dog in a population of hundreds of thousands of people, and one of my underlings told me he saw what MM saw,.... are you effin' kidding me? go fcuk yourself......

• you paterno apologists are laughable.  nothing that quint has said is wrong.  you know, it's possible your hero is fallible.  if you are going to suggest he is a "man of principle", he should be doing beyond what "PA law" requires, he should have been looking out for the FUCKING KIDS, albeit black (that's for you racist shites.... and i'm black, by the way).  you morons have no idea what it means to be principled.... you morons seriously think paterno didnt know what went down 8-9 years earlier. really? fcuk you and paterno

• Shoulda. You say Paterno should have said this or done this. Maybe you should have learned something in journalism class.m Maybe you shald have learned the difference between facts and opinions. Maybe you should have been born with a brain. Then you would understand this fact...are yor reading? Closer...JOE PATERNO HAS NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING IN ANY COURT OF LAW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• quint11, you're comments are almost laughable.  Joe didn't drop the ball at all.  He follow PA law and he followed his employer's policies and procedures to the letter.  He also went further than required by ensuring that Schultz knew and making sure that McQueary met with Schultz to give all of the details McQueary was uncomfortable sharing with Joe.  He did not drop the ball at all.  If my child were a victim, I would hope everyone would do what is required according to the law and policies written according to the opinions of experts in the field.  Why?  So the pedophile would be put behind bars for as long as possible.  So, I guess you are no better than a pedophile.  You seem to be advocating for the dismissal of charges against pedophiles based on the failure to follow law and policy.  That is, after all, what happens with criminals who are arrested after proper steps have NOT been followed.  Your parents must be very ashamed.

• I've been registered for a while THIS TIME, but am not a regular reader because you primarily don't have truthful articles.  You gain more faithful readers by printing the truth than by spewing lies and hatred based on misinformation....which borders on liable.  Rarely does one receive a Pulitzer for printing lies and hatred.  But we're spreading the word about your unreliable website, rest assured.

• Gotta agree with the masses on this one, this article is disturbing and has very little truth attached...your facts seem to come from Fox News!

• He called his boss on a Sunday, dummy.  Again, check facts.  Read facts.  If Joe or McQueary had dialed 9-1-1, Joe would have been admonished because it was after the fact and that number is for emergencies occurring at the time of the call; and McQueary would have gotten those people who report to Gary Schultz, to whom Joe reported what had been reported to him.

• You're insane if you think most people would do nothing. Or a complete coward. 

• Interesting how none of these commenters are regular VV readers but they show up in droves to defend the legacy of their disgraced football coach. Get better hero's PSU. Ones who don't put a football program above all else. 

• I'm going to help spread this article and continue to tarnish your sacred Joe Pa's legacy. It's one of shame now and there's nothing any of you can do to stop it. 

• I can't tell if this is sarcasm or if the people who attended PSU are actually this insane. 

• quint11, it is not at all speculation.  History has shown us repeatedly what "most people" would do in times of horrific actions by monsters and elitists.  Repeatedly, we've seen the Most People do nothing when others need help.  You know it and so do all of us.  History:  domestic violence, sexual predators in the Catholic Church, the Holocaust.  That's just three for starters.  Again, you should research before opening your mouth and making such stupid, uninformed comments.

• As a reporter I would have expected you to do due diligence before reporting, obviously you could not live up to that standard. I guess the motto is those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones doesn't resonate with someone as ignorant as you.

• You should probably learn how to spell "indicted" before saying someone should be indicted. 

• This idiot is so misinformed about the facts a mere 'comment' would not suffice to describe his idiocy. Perhaps next time he should do some investigation into child abuse reporting protocol in PA and interview real professionals who are involved with these cases on a daily basis.

• An old saying by Joe - "don't get into a pissing contest with a skunk" and this place is full of them. The lies and distortions are unbelievable, especially considering the fact are readily available.

• There is plenty of blame to go around.  Clearly there is a toxic culture of secrecy at Penn State (and probably many other football-dominated institutions as well).  But putting deserved blame on others does not absolve Paterno of his share of the blame.  Joe dropped the ball too, same as the others.

• Fuck you Allen

• Sandusky was, in fact an employee of the university at that time.  He had the title of professor emeritus.  He had his own office.  He had keys to many Penn State facilities, including Paterno's own athletic facilities. Read my post again.  I never said Paterno trusted Sandusky.  The "trusted subordinate" I referred to was McQueary.  Stop assuming and start actually reading posts before you respond to them.

• Read my post again.  I refer to Victim One's principal as reporting the incident to "qualified police investigators."  That's who Paterno should have reported to. Schultz was not a "qualified police investigator. " He never investigated a crime in his life.

• All-Read the factual, correct information. Once you do that, instead of taking this garbage for truth you will see how dumb you sound. Please, actually take the time to read everything- you can't fix stupid. Allan Barra- you are simply stupid. Too bad for you.

• You ask:  "If Paterno was trying to cover this up and protect Sandusky, why would he tell anyone anything?" Probable Answer:  To protect his own rear end by performing the barest minimum of his legal duty... You state:  "Paterno and McQueary were literally the only ones who even attempted to get this looked at. "   Looked at by who, exactly? A couple of pencil pushing bureaucrats like Curley and Schultz, who had no experience in police investigative techniques or evidence gathering? And who dropped the matter, with no objection from Paterno?  I'm sure the victims and their families are enternally grateful for this wonderful "help."

• Joe reported it to the head of the University Park Police department that has jurisdiction over Penn State University.  How is that not reporting it to the police

• Yet, the Gricar drop his charges back in 1998-99.  Where is Second Mile in all of this?  Why are you then blaming Joe for anything when in fact he reported to the Police...Joe did not know about 1998-99.  Where was the BoT back in May and not asking the right questions?  Where was the Second Mile?  Joe did report it...the ball was dropped by higher ups....Quint, get the facts straight

• Quint11, if you would read the preliminary hearing to p. 25 on. you would understand that MM diluted the conversation with Coach.  He would not have used such words as rape and such.  He actually said he saw something of a sexual nature.  The fact remains that Joe did report it to the Campus police and the person in charge of that Police department.  Sandusky was not, repeat an employee, of the university at that time. And Paterno's relationship with him was professional, not personal.  How do you know Paterno trusted Sandusky?  You don't.  Stop assuming and start reading the facts  

• Your post is pure speculation, and dubious speculation at that.  There is really no way to determine what "most people" would do.  However, I find it unlikely that "most people" would react to a fresh eyewitness account of child molestation (by a trusted subordinate) by doing "nothing."  The aforementioned school principal is a case in point.

• @quint11, you're right.  Most people would not react the way Paterno DID.  Most people would do nothing.  Paterno reported it exactly according to ALL the rules.  Most people, as history has so aptly demonstrated, would have done nothing, just as most people in this very case chose to do nothing.  Sad thing is, the evidence has shown that Joe was not one of those people.  He did report it and he did follow up on his report.

•  A great rebuttal from another PSU alum: "The problem is that you just think we're all irrational Penn Staters blinded by some form of misguided hero worship. The actual truth is that we're the only ones who care enough to actually read and ...understand the entire story and form our own opinions instead of just blindly eating and regurgitating the story that the media tries to spoon-feed, like you're... doing. Once you actually dig into what's going on, you start to ask yourself questions like "If Paterno was trying to cover this up and protect Sandus...ky, why would he tell anyone anything?". Phil Knight had it right. There was a truckload of people that had a crack at stopping Sandusky years ago, from Janitors, to the State College DA, to Curley & Schultz, all the way up to Graham Spanier. None of those people did anything. Paterno and McQueary were literally the only ones who even attempted to get this looked at. You can have your opinions all you want, but if your opinions are based on half-truths and interpretations instead of the actual story, and you decide to broadcast those opinions on the internet, you should expect to be called out on it."

• Your post is factually wrong. You are confused about the victims.  Sandusky was NOT tape recorded in the home of Victim One.  The incident of the recording occurred in the home of a different victim, back in 1998. Victim One was molested much later, in the mid-2000s.  He told his mother about Sandusky.  The woman was interviewed by the victim's high school administrators, who then notified police.  Sandusky was investigated and ultimately arrested as a result. Sandusky most likely would have been arrested much earlier if Paterno had had the guts to do what Victim One's school principal did.

• Well said, LionPSUfan!  Spoken with true integrity!

• I agree that it is useless arguing with this unknown - and always to be unknown writer.  He is not worth the keystrokes I would waste trying to educate him.  Perhaps his writings should appear in the "Village Idiot" instead of the "Village Voice"!

• NO! Leave it up so  Allen Barra does get in trouble! After all the garbage he spewed, without checking a single fact, he deserves whatever he gets.

• This article is potentially libelous because "boys were being raped in your locker room" presumes Sandusky's guilt--and all the evidence points to the opposite re: the ONE boy in the locker room. This reflects on the journalistic professionalism of Mr. Barra, and his supervisors might do well to edit or remove this article lest it get the Village Voice into trouble. The truth is indeed coming out, and the Trustees, Corbett, Noonan, ESPN, and loudmouths like Mr. Barra are going to choke on it when it does.

• I never heard of this writer and the article written above is most likely a very clear example for the reason I've never heard of him.  Unlike Joe, this writer jumps to conclusions.  Allen "whoever you are", you won't likely win a Pulitzer by writing lies and distortions of the truth, nor will you likely make your parents very proud.  Since many of your words are untruthful and others are simply your uneducated opinion, I won't bother addressing them.  I will address your attitude though. Writers are supposed to check facts before they pick up pen and paper, although it has become abundantly clear since November 5, 2011, that most of you don’t do it that way anymore.  You just copy, paste, move and insert here and there and then are foolish enough to attach your own names to the inaccurate work of other idiots.  It’s very clear that “journalistic integrity” was taught on a day when this writer must have been absent from class.  The facts have revealed, to anyone who can read that is, that Joe is the only person who did what he was supposed to do, is the only person who took additional steps over and above what he was supposed to do legally and procedurally, as well as morally, ethically and in the best interests of the children.  The only reason to tell a person to NOT follow the steps determined by professionals to be the proper steps to put a pedophile behind bars, would be a clear desire to set that pedophile free.   Joe did the right thing.  There are a whole bunch of people who did not do the right thing, or anything at all, but Joe wasn’t one of them.   If any of you gave a hoot about the victims, you would be working to force a full and speedy investigation of The Second Mile and everyone affiliated with that agency, including its donors and those who received any funds (campaign, salary, donations or any other form) FROM that agency.  If you really cared one iota about any of the victims, you would be thinking about the other thousands of children who were AND IN MANY CASES STILL ARE a part of The Second Mile.  The press and the media could be doing some very positive things, but instead it has primarily focused on trashing good people.   NONE OF YOU CARE ONE BIT ABOUT ANY OF THE VICTIMS!  That’s right, I said it.  NONE OF YOU!   If you want to jump in and do something positive, something to help these and future victims, help to force a full and impartial investigation of ALL INVOLVED (now or formerly) with no exclusions:  the Board of Trustees, the Governor, the PA State Police Commissioner, the Attorney General, the Dept of Public Welfare, Children & Youth Services, the University Police, current PSU Administrators (formerly on Board of Trustees), current and former Second Mile Administrators, District Attorneys, lawmakers, investigators, judges and others in any way linked to this scandal.  Help to fix a system which clearly DOES NOT WORK.  Instead of spouting hatred and lies, the press and all media sources, even you JoePa/PSU/BigTen haters, could be doing something positive!    Sandusky was able to fool a lot of people.  That being said, how many others affiliated with The Second Mile have been able to do the same?  Have you even considered that this may just be a “haven for pedophiles” to buy a boy for their own sick and twisted reasons?  If you all are so pompous or high and mighty, why haven’t you considered those children who may still be experiencing the nightmare?  The PSU friends and alumni have been advocating for full and impartial investigations of all officials (government and private) and all administrators (past and present) of all agencies listed above.  You’ve all been accusing us of not caring about the victims, even while we (alumni, friends, faculty and students) were raising hundreds of thousands of dollars (RAINNdotORG) and holding candlelight vigils for the victims (beginning in November).  You’ve been running your mouths and we’ve been working for justice and help for victims of rape and incest.     Don’t put yourselves up on your moral self-serving pedestals proclaiming your higher moral values … not to any of us!  Pedophiles link themselves to agencies that purport to help children.  This is not anything NEW!  Have you ever heard of any other scandals involving pedophiles?  What about the Boy Scouts?  What about the Catholic Church?  What about Little League Baseball?  Ever hear of any children being victimized before in the history of the United States?  What have any of you wonderful, perfect, pompous, holier-than-thou citizens who so righteously claim to be thinking about the victims done to actually support them, to help them, to save them?   Until you get up and help fight to determine whoexactly was a part of what now appears almost certainly to be a disgusting and wide-reaching network of crimes and coverup, don’t pretend to any PSU supporter to be a victim sympathizer.  You simply don’t fit the bill.  The fact that you continue to use JoePa’s name is evidence that you care about you and only you.  Consider this:  If The Second Mile supervision of other volunteers and staff members (like Sandusky) is as lax as their supervision was since they were first advised of a victim in 1998, what makes you so sure those other children are safe?  Quit ignoring them while spending all of your time trying to attack Joe Paterno or Penn State or its alumni, faculty, staff, students and supporters.  Get off your high horse and start calling for the investigations that are so desperately needed to ensure that the other children are safe!  Until you do something yourselves to help those kids still out there who are likely being victimized as you spew your hatred toward Joe Paterno and the rest of us, you’re no better than a pedophile yourself.  

• Why do you live in this country if you don't believe in the freedom of "innocent until PROVEN guilty?" And that doesn't mean proven by your assumptions of what actually happened.  Let's wait to see what real facts come out when it goes to court and not quickly judge just because you read accusations in the media.  Again, who are you to cast a stone?  I suppose you are as perfect as the author of this article. Too bad everyone isn't as perfect as the two of you.

• I think there should be a "Joe Paterno" National Holiday as there use to be for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln..

• First of all the principal was a woman!  Karen Probst!. Secondly, Sandusky was NOT arrested.  Even after recording him in Victims 1 home, the POLICE dropped the ball and did NOT arrest because there was not enough evidence. And I want to know what the mother of Victim 1 was doing sitting on her hands from 1998 to 2002!!!  If not for these people the 2002 incident would have never happened!

• I don't believe for one moment that "most people" would react like Paterno reacted.  Take the school principal at Victim One's school.  He was given similar information about alleged abuse, and he immediately reported the allegations to qualified police investigators (not just a couple of higher-ups).  Sandusky was quickly arrested. Contrast the actions of this principal with the lame response of Paterno. 

• Joe should have been indited for his involvement in this sick crime.

• If Paterno doesn't desire or need an apologists, why are you taking the trouble to be one?  Especially since you are doing an embarrasingly poor job of it. Why do you make the ridiculous claim that my "recitation contained no facts", when it was wholly factual:   It is a FACT that Paterno waited over 24 hours to notify ANYONE of the alleged abuse.  (Did he not understand that time is of the essence in a sex crime investigation?  That physical evidence must be gathered and witnesses interviewed a.s.a.p.?  If he didn't understand that he did not belong in a leadership position.) It is a FACT that Paterno did not notify qualified investigators of the alleged abuse. He and his cronies all made the same decision--to keep the matter in-house. It is a FACT that Paterno lobbied to get other school administrators fired, who were not his employees, yet he passively let Sandusky continue his evil ways for NINE YEARS.

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