I think that part of the problem is that although McQueary saw the incident, at the time he was a student, not a coach-he was a teaching associate. I am not excusing his behavior, but since he was not a member of the staff, he is not held under the same guidelines as those that were in a place of authority. Personally, I would have liked to see some sort of action from McQueary, and I don't understand why he did not intervene when he saw what was going on. I say get rid of the lot, as obviously the problem goes from top to bottom.

Hmmm, NO! Jo Pa KNEW about Sandusky being a pedophile in 1998 after the detectives investigated an oral sex with a little kid episode also in the showers. THEN the big one with the child being anally raped happened in 2002. PATERNO WAS TOLD ABOUT IT.

My friends you have a LEGAL obligation to report ANY suspicion of child sexual abuse. ITS A LAW NOT A SUGGESTION!!!!

So, who do you think was calling all shots from the time he was informed? And do you wonder why McQueary went to JoePa instead of the police? Who was in charge?

Actually, McQueary called his father immediately after he witnessed the boy being assaulted. His father informed Paterno the next day. McQueary should have called the police, and if not him, then his father, and if not his father, then Paterno. But I don't know what kind of politics were involved where this didn't happen. It's not an excuse but, I honestly don't know how I would react after witnessing something so horrible in that situation.

To JP-Joe P. runs the show at Penn State-lets be honest. Yes he did what was legally obligated BUT was it morally enough ?

Joe should have gone to the police when he saw no one else did-period. He knew Sandusky was a pervert-raping young boys.!!!! How does this man sleep at night ? He tells the world he runs a clean moral football program with a child molester running amock.

Just one more point-Iwas disgusted to see students doing damage to public property because they were upset that Joe P. was fired. I wonder how each of these morons would react if they had a child raped by this animal. The victims take priorty here. Personally they could have fired Paterno with a telegram.

How far can you take "I witnessed a crime but it is not my responsiblity to report it to police?" And it is not simple abuse. It is rape. RAPE! You are legally responsible, as a citizen of this country, to report a rape. If you do not you can be an accessory to the crime. Anyone want to argue with me on this?

JS in SD.......spot on.....

According to reports, Jo Pa did report the incident to University officals (as any dedicated employee would to their superior). The officals whom DID NOT report the incidents to authorities are being CHARGED with failing to report the conduct to authorities and perjury. Jo Pa has had an OUTSTANDING code of conduct and morals throughout his career at Penn State, but also trust. He TRUSTED that the University officials would conduct an investigation of their own and if enough facts proved these rumors true, would report to legal authorities. The ONLY thing that Jo Pa is guilty of is a false sense of trust and believing that others had his same morals.

You said it best...and I say fire them all.

To Lynny 2817404

McQueary was a graduate assistant...he was 28 years old at the time.....

Paterno is accountable because he knew of the allegations and still allowed Sandusky on campus LAST WEEK! I know that Paterno could have had Sandusky banned but he didn't. HE DID NOT.

While you can fault Paterno for not calling the authorities when those above him swept this under the rug, I do not see that Paterno has done anything criminal.

Many states require that you report any crime you witness to law enforcement, not your superiors. Failure to do so is criminal in and of itself. If Pennsylvania does not already have this law, it should. Either way it hardly excuses Paterno's actions (which should be criminal). At the very least his response was PATHETIC. If an investigation determines he knew more than is currently being reported, let him suffer the same fate as those innocent children did, while he spends the rest of his life in prison.

ana banana you need to brush up on the laws in Pennsylvania. Joe wasn't legally obligated. Morally absolutely, but pennsylvania is one of only a half a dozen states that *(DO NOT) make it a crime to not report a crime. I do however think it should be a law and it probably will be soon I hope

JS in SD,

You hit the nail on the head. It is now reported that the atty. representing the victims has released a statement from the victims and they are livid with the board of trustees for firing JoePa. They said they should have been consulted. Another thing, When JoePa went to the AD he was also speaking to the Sr. VP of Finance who at the time was in chagre of the campus police. Isn't that the same as going to the police? McQuery could have dialed 911, with his size and build, he could have dropped Sandusky right then and there, but noooooo...he's allowed to be in the Press Box for the game on Saturday and JoePa has to watch it on TV. This may literally kill JoePa. I agree with you that anything JoePa would have said would be considered hearsay. Oh, and by the way, here's a twist, our govenor is on the board of trustees for Penn State. How's that for a confluct of interest? That sounds like an bad plan just "Hatch"ing it's way across campus. JoePa is one of the best men I have every known in my life. Yes, I had the honor of knowing him through my father, who was an avid Penn State fan - may he rest in peace. Dad used to take me to the games as a young girl. I got to talk with Coach many times. People need to see the timeline for all of these events dating back to the late 1990s and then see and comprehend the informatin that has been brought forth over the last 4 or 5 days. Having a lynch mob mentality isn't going to reslove any issues or make things right. It has been said that a real leader takes more than his/her share of the blame and takes a lot less than his/her share of the cedit. That sounds like JoePa. He has had to fall on his sword, as it were, for a crime he did not commit. My stars, I thought we are innocent uintil proven guilty by a jury of our peers in a court of law. Speaking of which, I see there are "source" reports coming out now that say JoePa had hired an atty. of his own. If this is true, then Good For You JoePa. Oh, and how many on the Board of Trustees are going to hang for thier role in hiring Sandusky in the first place and giving him open access to the facilities after he retired from coaching there? You know, they have to apporve those sorts of things before it actually happens. Hmm! Shame. shame, shame Board of Trustees.

Those poor kids. If these coaches truly knew, I don't know how they can live with themselves.

Paterno immediately notified his superior, the superiors covered it up. He was following chain of command and if he overstepped chain of command (which he should have done in hindsight) there probably would have been action against him and the whole scandal would have been out in the open which the school would not have wanted. After reading the full report there is a vague mention of child protective services being contacted (by school admin) and it looks like that never happened and that is was always the plan of the President and AD to make sure that never happened. Not knowing this and thinking that it was done I could imagine they thought it was done and the sick, twisted, monster rapist was cleared. I can't imagine them full well knowing and allowing this predator to roam the campus and be a part of the program and family.

A coworker of mine is going through this chain of command issue (NOTHING ON THIS SCALE, NOT EVEN CLOSE OR COMPARABLE) as they are being reprimanded, threatened with disciplinary action and being told that there is a vote of "no confidence" because they simply went to the top of the chain, which was also the source, in order to clarify an issue over a statement made which greatly impacts all of us. The problem is people don't like to feel overlooked, they are insecure and this is sad.

None of those coaches who were there should be allowed to coach, many of them were there for that time period!

Wow, wow, please you need to read on Mandated Reporter on child abuse. To start with, ALL of these men are guilty as far as knowing, suspecting, hearsay, guts filling and doing absolutely nothing about these children!!! now, I am not a judge and I will not preted to be one but anyone has the RESPONSIBILITY to report any actual of suspected child abuse. These are professionals working with young adults. PLEASE do not tell me that they did not know about what was going on. Yes!! they need to look for lawyers to save their skin. Well isnt this what they are expected to do? and let the law follow its course. I will also look into the charity that permitted, just because he was whom he was, to take children out. I am sure they too suspected but said nothing. Here we go again Michael Jackson.

oh hell yeah, McQuery is a coward, why is he not fired. damn dude, if i saw that, i would put the cops on the phone and start yelling at sadusky to release the youngster to get him immediate medical attention, and let the cops do away with sadusky! what the hell is McQuery's problem...and the truth about that is, he should of been fired before joePA, and then the students at the college would not feel ripped off, and malfunctional justice!

BasicBob-

You have the 1998 incident wrong.

The 1998 incident was not oral sex, it was Sandusky touching or hugging two boys in the showers. A parent filed a complaint.

The campus police investigated, and Sandusky admitted to it. For unknown reasons, the county District Attorney, Ray Gricar, declined to arrest Sandusky.

It seems unlikely that Paterno knew about the 1998 incident because it was never publicized, and Sandusky was not banned from campus showers.

I am really surprised that McQueary didnt contact police, he allegedly spoke with his father regarding this eyewitness account , given, yes his shocked demeanor at what he witnessed, yes ,I can see that as well, he was the only witness besides the child who was there in the shower, I'm sure he wondered WOULD SOMEONE BELIEVE HIM what he witnessed?, the child,his identity remains unknown at present yet ,anyone can contact police,you dont need a chain of command protocol in a Univerisity to do the right thing ,why didnt he call at least anonomously?? isnt that a degree of obstruction of justice ? yet he went to someone Joepa, a trusted coach, who listened which is considered heresay,then in turn JOEPA handed this to the next persons in line as he was supposed to and expected this to be handled.yet who knows what was done? the missing DA never addressed this in court, he disappeared, WOW I hope the legal system will be able to sort this all out and that Penn State will return to the great University it is!!, and JoePA, I hope there will be peace in your life as I know you are absolutely devastated by all of this, You will always be the greatest winingest coach of all time and a GREAT MAN!! you have done so much for so many players and people and they acknowlegde you for so many thanks for your guidance and love to them and youre in their hearts and ours!!

Tim, you don't think JoePa knew about the 1998 incident in the showers? Please! He was the eyes and ears of the school, not to mention the locker room, the football field, and, of course, the showers. He knew. How could he not know what happens on the grounds of HIS Uni, especially when the police are involved? Happy Valley is not L.A. Everyone knows everyone there, and if you're part of the school admin, then you know when the police are sniffing around.

AMEN JS..and have u all noticed that the crimally accused is hardly mentioned isn't that always the way with pediphiles they always find a patsy to take the blame. Notice that the criminal justice system, child protective services, high school and their coaches, second mile, detectives, police, college, janitors.... so many people who could have stopped this man.

This pediophilia has very complicated, secretive, manipulative, and risk taking behaviors along with personality traits that have to do with power and control. Don't you wonder how and why this man did his acts with these children in his home, in high school wrestling rooms, college locker rooms, showers and still got away with it? How come nobody is dissing his wife and his children who were in the home when he was doing hidirty work, how come in 1998 the case was
"closed" and no criminal charges when in fact he was caught and even admitted to his guilt. Listen people everybody failed these kids so why in the hell is Joe P. taking all the blame he reported the incident...give me a break...Read the time line and the grand jury report and then make a judgement. You will come up with quite a list of persons who should have/could have taken action because they saw actions not heard about them. Finally, make yourselves aware how how often this behavior is going on and what are you going to do to stop it.

JS in SD...almost spot on. Criminally we have to remember this is a STATE institute ran by STATE laws. The process of reporting issues or crimes is outlined in their contracts which are considered as STATE law. The contracts are written and training is held and the staff is certified to know the paths required to report these things in a state ran facility.

With that said here is my issue. If you were told in graphic detail of this big guy sticking his schlong in the brown spot of a 10-yr old in the shower of facilities you were the manager over...if you had an iota of moral compass and integrity you would ask your boss everyday what are we going to do about this till your boss sent you an email saying to shut up and let him do his job.

Here is my litmus

If it was his son getting pounded do you think it would have been handled differently? You bet your sheep skin it would.

Joe Paterno legally did everything required. Joe is a top 5 all-time NCAA coach. Joe Paterno is pretty much worthless as a human being...yes...just based on this one thing he is scum of the earth.

It is fitting the ICON of Penn State football will be the reason Penn State Football is wiped form the face of NCAA via the death penalty.

JOE did what he thought was right, What the others did is what should be investigated. If you or I reported hearsay to the police we would be open to a lawsuit if it wasn't true. The person that actually witnessed it IS the one who is responsible for not taking it to the police plus the A.L. director who either covered it up and or lied about the terrible incident. Some of the people involved needed to go, or be arrested as accessories. JOE saw nothing, reported what was told to him, and should be reinstated with a BIG apology. ALSO the news talking heads stating that this is what will be remembered about Joe are unfeeling ass---- who should keep their mouths shut

I would hope whatever the outcome of all of this, the children involved here ,will be able to have some kind of closure/ healing, that this will not allow their lives to be ruined and that they will hold their heads up and move forward and be able to teach other kids that they can be protected from this and prevent others from harm as well.

I agree with JS in SD that the most culpable was initially McQueary was the one who should have acted.

However, once that wasn't done what excuse is there that Patano didn't act? This is his program and child rape is going on down the hall from his office - come on! He has full responsibility for the fact that a pedofile was allowed to operate with impunity for 7 years until someone else brought it to the police.

Shame on the whole football program. ANY institution has an internal grapevine; it is highly unlikely that this heinous behavior was not common knowledge throughout the institution.

Patano should get a really good lawyer.

I heard earlier that Patano's wife donated 4 million to the athletics program - perhaps that is why they have a statue of him at the uni - maybe she could donate some money to the kids that were sodomized in athletics program buildings due to the whole institution failing notify the authorities.

shameshameshame

How could you say this about Mike McQueary when, as a matter fact, he was a graduate student at the time and he was morally obligated to report it to an employee of the university, Joe Paterno. If he wasn't a student of the universitiy at the time, he could have called the authorities himself, no question about it. However, he did what he was supposed to do as opposed to what Joe Paterno did, or lack of it. If Joe Paterno called the authorities after knowing that his superiors weren't doing anything regarding the matter, do you honestly think the authorities will not question Mike McQueary? Any information given to Joe Paterno by Mike McQueary was not "hearsay" as it is direct and firsthand information. It is considered hearsay if a third person gives the information to the court saying "I believe McQueary told Paterno of the molestation." If the district attorney think that Mike McQueary was criminally involved in the matter, believe it, they would have indicted him already.

However, you're right about Joe Paterno that he didn't do anything criminal. He is looking for a defense attorney to represent him in a civil lawsuit that will drain him of his millions of dollar saved over the years as head coach of Penn State. The university fired him to negate their liability comes the time when the victims sue the university in civil court.

IMHO none of these guys get a pass. It is just reprehensible to put football and the reputation of a college before the safety of children! They should all be locked up for conspiracy to cover up a crime!

This ranks right up there with the catholic church and their horrendous cover up.

Thanks to all who seem to have common sense to see who should get fired and who shouldn't. I find it will go up hire on the Penn State board and I do not hold Paterno responsible for what Sandusky said or the fact that those who were above him covered it up. Unless you have a statement or video, tape recording of paterno saying cover it up I won't believe it. He did what he was supposed to according to law. Why aren't folks after the grad student, the janitor, the other teacher at the school who banned Sandusky after catching him on a mat with a kid. Folks get all upset over Paterno, but trust me if you didn't follow the rules, you would be sued all kinds of ways for not following the rules. You may hate that folks but that's the rules. Like others I blame the AD and vice president who did not do their jobs. I mean one is practically in charge of campus police and does nothing. also who on the real police force didn't follow up? I think money was spread around from Penn state and that is why an audit by a separate non state/non Penn State firm needs to be done on the athletic department and the president's office.

Paterno had more power in central Pa. than God. Should have called State College police than Penn State board. Be a hero not a zero. McQueary, lower than whale s**t. Could have stepped in and beat the hell out of Sandusky and stopped the attack. Arrogant fools.

What you all seem to be forgetting is that Joe Pa DID NOT, DID NOT and i repeat DID NOT witness anything. That is the big thing here. Had he witnessed it, then he would deserve everything that was coming to him. He did not witness any thing. How can you say he was morally wrong if he did not witness anything? He wasn't suited to carry out an investigation of his own. He did what he had to do, what he thought was morally right. He reported it to the appropriate officials of his University so they could carry out the adequate investigation.

Penn State is just using Joe Pa as a scapegoat.

They were all in it together, and they can all go down together for all I care. There are no excuses for any of them. All this to protect the school and their football team...WTF!

@donchiviz He does deserve losing his job, he was told, he reported it so he did not need to witness it, if his superiors did not report it, he had an obligation to report a sexual assault on a child...I agree that he did what he thought was morally right, and that is the very reason he should have been fired...he is not a scapegoat, he did something wrong along with a lot of other people who should have protected these children

The question that I cannot shake is how could Paterno (and his superiors) sleep at night knowing that either they had a vicious child molester on staff (Sandusky) or a vicious liar (McQueary)? You would have to find out and act appropriately. One of two heads absolutely had to roll!

They knew in their bones that McQueary was telling the truth based on the 1998 incidents and the conclusion is that they were not prepared to prevent further atrocities.

Joe Paterno. Held to a higher standard than us. A standard that he set for himself, but in the end did not follow. Arrogant fool. So many lives damaged. So many lives wasted, but for a simple phone call. Sad.

Unbelievable how many sheep there are here defending Joe Paterno. It's clear that these people are blinded by football...who cares if he was a great coach? He knew about his assistant anally raping a boy, and he just reported it and let it go...and then acted like nothing happened. You're in charge of the organization and you don't follow up on why a pedophile is still working with you after you reported that he anally raped a child? How could he work with the guy after that? What a bunch of idiot students at Penn State crying "Leave Joe alone"...just complete ignorance of the whole matter. ME NO CARE HE COVER UP CHILD RAPE...ME WANT FOOTBALL! Pathetic.

Donchiviz, are you really that stupid? He's a scapegoat??? He reported it and then forgot about it, while the accused rapist still worked with him! How do you not follow up? Cincinnati Rick has it right; how could they sleep at night? He did what he had to legally, so he shouldn't be arrested, but morally he's scum, and deserved to be fired.

Paterno is accountable because he knew of the allegations and still allowed Sandusky on campus LAST WEEK!

The fact that they were still allowing Sandusky on campus flies in the face of the notion that they were trying to cover something up. Who could be dumb enough to believe they'd allow this guy within a hundred miles of campus if they actually knew what he was doing. Even if they suspected it was as bad as it was and they wanted to protect themsleves they WOULD have banned him from campus.

Obviously this is an extremely emotional situation but how often does emotion result in rational thought? I still believe that Joe didn't know. You don't get a reputation of extreme integrity without earning it.

Hmmmm..... Well, I agree with JS in SD. For McQueary not to have stomped Sandusky into the ground and taken the child under his protection immediately is to me just outrageous. However, I am pretty disgusted by the treatment of Paterno too. The man followed Pennsylvania state law by taking the matter to his superiors. According to the grand jury report those superiors went so far as to tell Paterno they took action and one of the people he spoke to was in charge of the campus police. Those superiors should have certainly taken more action but I think they didn't because they were in fact covering up. But Paterno doesn't seem to me to have covered up anything. When he was told he immediately told his superiors and those superiors interviewed McQueary so they knew exactly what McQueary told them.

Previously in 1998 there was an investigation by campus police which went to the county DA. Now, if you know about that and you know the campus police investigated and referred the matter to the DA before, why would Paterno assume they wouldn't investigate the matter and take action? Again Paterno wasn't there when this happened, Sandusky didn't work for Paterno in 2002 and when Paterno was informed he reported it to the proper people including the person in charge of the campus police.

Disgusting all the way around. The ignorance of some of you is even worse. A comment says he should have called state college police, well genius he went to who was essentially the chief of the college police and told him and then McQueary told those people too.

If you have read the grand jury testimony and have any knowledge of the timeline, it is apparent Joe Pa did the least he had to do. Had it been one of his grandchildren he would have jumped out in front of a police car to make a report on what he was told. he is not the one to blame most but he is to blame. The protect the program and university stance makes them all complicit. Sandusky had to be told in the late 90's not to shower with young boys! Joe Pa knew about that! He was told of what happened in the shower by the coward grad assistant who for some reason still has job. He also had to tell Sandusky not to bring children on campus after 2002! Before giving him a pass, think how would u have wanted him to respond if it were your child!

He commited no crime? This is a felony offense ! Forget Penn. law. It is a crime not to report a crime that you are aware of! I believe it is called misprision?

I can't believe people are saying, oh he didn't do anything wrong. He didn't do anything criminal. Guess what? He doesn't have a damn consciences either. All these people were worried about was some stinking ball team a school and their own ass. When he told the others and they did nothing, any kind of a man would have then gone to whom ever necessary and said look, i told these sob's and they've done nothing and it's not right so now i am. Since he didn't do anything else he's not much either. He just as good as condoned it. The other man who did see it shouldn't get a pass either. He should have acted immediately. He should have dragged that perv off the little boy stomped his ass then dragged him outside and called the cops. All he had to do was say i caught this bast*rd raping a child and stopped him. He wouldn't have gotten any charges and would have even been a hero. Now he's just a coward for looking the other way. Both of them are.

How can anyone watch this act and not intervene? Football above all? McQueary needs to face his failures as a human being. No excuse.

I see donchiviz is a big fan of Joe Paterno. He is blinded by his love of football and a great football coach.

I don't think it's fair to heap all the blame on Joe Pa, but he is the most influential person on that campus, in that city, hell probably in the state. He did too little. Many others did less, and 2 of those people have been fired. Please stop making Joe Pa a victim, he is not a victim! Those poor boys (now men) who Sandusky assaulted and raped are victims! Joe Pa keeps saying lets say a prayer for them! Those boys probably prayed often for somebody, anybody to interevne and stop this man, Joe Pa your prayers and actions are about 10 years too late. McQueary may you rot from the inside b/c i don't know how he can live with himself, and anyone else who knew anything can rot in hell too. Those people touting Joe Pa's innocence just tell you how far society has fallen..."i did all i had to do, why should i do more" so sick!

sounds like Mark-1219747 is envious...I think HE wants a big one in his brown eye...

The new Prez needs to shut down Penn athletics before the NCAA does it for them.

The new Prez needs to shut down Penn athletics before the NCAA does it for them.

OMG, you can't even get the right school and we're supposed to believe your opinion means jack sh!t? By all means, lets not let any FACTS get in the way of a good rant.

Joe say it isn't so Italians don't do things like this we protect kids. FORGET WHAT YOU ACHIEVED ALL IS LOST. Give a reason say it was not you.

JS said exactly what I would've said. If the Grand Jury thought Paterno had commited a crime, he'd be indicted. he wasn't. I wish I had the nerve that some of you do to tell someone you don't know what their responsibility is. You'd better get your own business in order before you tell other people about their lives.

I think McQuaery should be fired as well. How can you witness something like that and not call Children and Youth Services and the police. The powers to be that Joe Paterno went to should have had the sense to take the same decision or guide the coach to do the same. Shame on McQuaery. I wonder how you could have slept at night and not been outraged. I do not care what position you had at the time McQuarey you should be gone!

Hind sight is perfect. By now you all read of the death threats against McQueary and his family "FOR REPORTING" and getting Joe Paterno fired. He is dead meat. As reported her Joe Paterno was the GODFATHER and Sandusky was the GODFATHER's Friend. Lets say that McQueary gets into a fight with Sandusky and the boy runs off and McQueary calls the cops. It is his word against The Godfather's best friend. And McQueary is out of a job and expelled from school.

What would you do? You are fighting the system and a public hero. Look how many women came forward against Clinton and it amounted to nothing and later we found out that Clinton is an adulterous lying bastard.

Paterno could have cemented his reputation just by telling the school we have to go to the police, I have an eye witness and we know about his history. The school sends down an official with Paterno and McQueary to the police and Paterno is a hero. That is the way it should have played out.

Remember Ted Kennedy and the woman he killed? It was all hushed up and the parents paid a huge amount and Kennedy lost his license for a year.

Here we have a similar instance. A man witnesses a crime and probably knows he is going to buck the system and get into a hell of a lot of trouble and gets advice from his father. Paterno turns away and stays away and just lets it ride. The REAL PROBLEM IS THE HIGH MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE AND IT IS PATERNO!

lastonehome

You have described what may have gone through the minds of those involved. But - This was rape of a ten year old boy. That trumps all your argument for me.

Due to whistle blower laws, McQueary can't be fired. He told Joe what he saw, then testified to the grand jury. If he is then fired after that, he can bring a wrongful termination suit against PSU.

My friends you have a LEGAL obligation to report ANY suspicion of child sexual abuse. ITS A LAW NOT A SUGGESTION!!!!

I "suspect" you then buddy. Heck, I "suspect" everybody on vine. It was the responsibility of the witness to report, not someone who got the information second hand. He should have gone straight to the police, and then reported what he saw up line. It doesn't seem that this is what happened. Seriously by what you said, I could start randomly turning people in for all kinds of random factors. Hey that guy looked at a girl that maybe wasn't 18, or that lady greeted a little kid with a hug. Really?!?

McQueary obligation after he saw/observed what had happen is to alert the police immediately not reportiing up the chain of command. Mcqueary is plain stupid idiot and a chicken s^&*, he didn't protect the child. who knows assuming he enjoys what he saw. He's more guiltier than the rest. He waited this long to blow the whistle? he's up to something. If i was a PSU football player i wouldn't like him to be my coach due to the fact he failed to protect the child from a child molester. McQueary have no balls and have a yellow streak running across

McQueary reported it to his boss and his boss shoved it under the table. McQueary was willing to go to the police. You are funny, whistleblower law. They put you at a desk and ask you to count paperclips and you get zero raises and bored out of your mind.

Lets take your suggestions a step further, McQueary goes in and fights with Sandusky, the kid of course runs away. McQueary calls up the police who come and Sandusky calls McQueary a liar and troublemaker and look at my credentials. Where is the kid?

Now what do the police do and what does the school do?

Come on you are the police. Where is the evidence. Do you believe a teaching assistant or a man who has spent 25 years supporting and building a camp for underprivileged children?

I am waiting.

I am beginning to wonder if there is more to this than is public. Based n the details they would have just let him retire under a cloud. But the rapid firing and then the immediate need for an attorney makes me think there is more to come out.

I doubt that Paterno was involved in any molesting, but perhaps he was less diligent in his reporting and covering up than we have been told.

We shall see.

Funny I thought that if you have direct knowledge of a crime and do not report it that it makes you an accessory after the fact.

more crazyness to this story-DA at the time Gricar disappears in 2005. Body still yet to be found, his laptop that was in the car he was driving was found in the susquehanna a few months later by fishermen without the harddrive in it, few months later the hard drive washes up on shore, but too badly damaged to see whats inside. Supposedly the local cops searched his home computer and found he had searched topics such as "how to wreck a hard drive", "how to fry a hard drive", and "water damage to a notebook computer".

i'm sure it's all just a coincidence

Athletic director Tim Curley is still employed by Penn State when he is under indictment in the case and former VP of Business and Finance Gary Schultz was allowed to resign even though he is under indictment as well. Both people are having their defenses paid for by Penn State.

You people are really uninformed. This is what the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office has to say as they identifies Paterno as a cooperative witness : http://abcnews.go.com/US/joe-paternos-firing-penn-state-attorney-general-concern/story?id=14925158#.TryxZVaQje9

Maybe you should read that link again because the person, Tim Curley, under indictment is still working for Penn State while the cooperating witness was fired! Paterno told this man what happened on a Sunday. He didn't wait, he didn't try to hide a thing. This is nothing more than a corporation protecting itself.

According to a lawyer working with the victims. "The way the Board reached its decision raises more concerns than the decision itself. There is no indication the Board considered the impact of the decision on the abuse victims," Andreozzi continued. "The school let the victims down once, and I think they owed it to the victims to at least gauge how the immediate termination decision would impact them as opposed to Mr. Paterno's resignation at the end of the year."

And here are the facts from the Grand Jury, try reading it before making claims that don't match up with the facts :

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf

And no that isn't accessory after the fact because by Pennsylvania law he did what the law said to do, he reported the incident to his boss.

@same lame name here. a crime has to be proved. Police come and find two men. One is respected Penn St Official who started a camp for underprivileged boys the other is a grad student and there is no boy to to say he is raped. What do you do as a policeman. What happens to McQueary when Sandusky reports him and the school suspends him for not going up the school ladder with the complaint?

Dude your talkin' to someone who lived in Wenatchee at the time of the Wenatchee Sex Ring scandal. Google it. It's almost an irony to compare the cases as in Wenatchee a bunch of poor people were falsely accused child rape including those who spoke up in defense of those initially charge(imagine if you will that when Ashton Kutchner tweeted in defense of Joe Pa he was charge with child rape also for defending him) and railroaded and at Penn State nothing at all happened to a person of privilege who truly was abusing children.

They all failed miserable from day one on, for not reporting this to the police,and now they all have to take the consequences and that includes Paterno,he did not show any strengt in this mess and when nobody took any action he just went along with it,we will hear a lot more about this fiasco,and it does not looks good you can count on that,what an drama.

I must say that when they failed to report to the authorities the ,REAL authorities and not who they perceived as the authorities [themselves],.. It became a criminal conspiracy to cover up a crime. This does in fact beg for investigation and probable prosecution. Why you may say mowdy5000? I shall enlighten you. BECAUSE, again I repeat, because they were all so close how can we be sure what they say is true? How do we not know the coach wasn't RAPING little boys or taking turns? Hmmm.

We do not know without doubt that they all did not create a conspiracy to hide these crimes for profit or any other means or ends. Furthermore It is in the realm of possibility that they willingly and with knowledge were accomplice to an ongoing criminal enterprise or behavior by allowing this to continue throughout. ;]

Cheers

Post Script, ask Mr. Buck what I think of the Iran Contra case and anyone peoples involved in it.. ;]

Cheers

It's impossible for me to understand why the redhead didn't intervene when he saw the child rapist raping a child. Even if he just yelled at him and told him to let the child go, and then call the police immediately. So what if Penn State fired him afterwards, I'm sure the respect he got from doing the right thing would have other schools wanting a talented and high morals young man like him a their school.

Maybe Paterno can get the same lawyer Hermain Cain got ...then they can threathen to drag these kids thru the mud like Cains Lawyer has said he will do...that should keep those kids quiet

They're all witches! Burn them! BURN THEM!

We are talking about one simple call to the appropriate authorities and then let them investigate. So sad - lives damages, children abused, an abuse they may never get over, reputations damaged, careeers damaged, a school tarnished, and what else......? Burke said it: The only thing required for evil to triumph is good men to do nothing." In this case, "good" men did only what they had to do and nothing more when something more was needed to be done. Joe Paterno stood for something more, at least I thought so. He will have to live with this for the rest of his life as will the others who could have done more!

They are ALL responsible for this mess. Every single one of them and there are no excuses.

To the people who are arguing that no one is talking about Sandusky because they want to scapegoat Paterno, don't be ridiculous. No one is talking about Sandusky because it's a given that he is the monster in this situation. There's no need for a debate there. He's a sick man that needs to be locked up for the rest of his life.

People are talking about Paterno, McQueary, Spanier and the rest of them because it's just so shocking that a bunch of grown men would let this go on.

Did Paterno do what he had to do legally? Yes. But where is the moral responsibility here? Anyone who makes this argument should take a good, hard look in the mirror while asking themselves what they would do in the same situation. Would you report it? I sure as hell would.

As far as McQueary goes, there is no excuse. Lastonehome - your arguments are futile. First of all, even if McQueary hadn't been successful and even if it turned into a "he said, he said," debacle, he still should have tried. At the very least that little boy would have known someone cared enough to stop it.

Second of all, if McQueary had just grabbed the boy and let Sandusky go, it wouldn't even be an issue. The cops would have done a rape kit and it would all be over.

It's just baffling to me that anyone could defend him.

Here is the plan sports fans: Many years back football great Kyle Rote of SMU and the NY Giants and Mickey Mantle told me about an organization that they supported and who worked to save the children in America. That group is Focus Adolescent Services, Focusas.com

They do indeed work diligently to save and to help the little innocent children who have been sexually abused. They also work to make us all more aware of these creatures who pray on children. Focusas has tried to break the stereotype that most of us have of a perpetrator. That has now clearly been done by this horrific act at one of our nations finest schools. They are right it can be a doctor, lawyer, or a four-star general, we just never know until it is too late.

We can all help to make a difference and send a little support to Focusas. The cost of a cold beer at the game or at home while we all enjoy our teams at play would probably be a great help and make a world of difference.

Rote and Mantle were planning to do a charity golf tournament with the money going to Focusas. Sadly, two weeks later Mantle was in the hospital.

The bottom line is this: In the state of Pennsylvania, it is still a felony top fail to report suspected child abuse, including sexual predation, to the police. Period.

1) Paterno did not report any of several incidents of which he had knowledge to the police. He reported at least one to his superiors. Pennsylvania is one of only a half-dozen states which do not require that anyone with such knowledge directly to the police, but only to a superior. BUT (and it is a big "but") that does not free the person with knowledge from the obligation to make sure it is ultimately reported to the police. It only establishes a "protocol" that includes the person's superior as an alternative to the police. This has been gone over and over with regard to past sexual abuse allegations against priests where the priests' superiors failed to do anything about it.

2) The McQueary person did report it to Paterno that same night by phone, but also reported it to the campus police where he was alledgedly told, "You don't f&&k with football." So he is clear. The graduate assistant that also witnessed the alledged rape depended on McQueary and when McQueary reported it to the campus police, he wa also in the clear. Neither, however, passes the moral test of making sure that the situation was prosecuted fully to protect against future victims.

3) Paterno has stated that he followed NCAA rules "to the letter" in handling the reports of child sexual abuse. Exactly what kind of answer is that? Since when was the NCAA anything except semi-pro sports? He might as well have complied with WWF rules.

4) Paterno has stated repeatedly that, with hindsite, he wished he had done "more." More what? More to stop someone he knew had a pattern of child sexual abuse, or more to cover up the crimes?

5) Paterno was very active in helping Sandusky set up and fund his Second Mile charity for under-priviledged boys even though he knew that Sandusky had been reported for several incidents of inappropriate behavior with young boys, such as showering with them.

6) The firing of the Athletic Director, the Vice President for Athletic Affairs, the most senior Head Coach in the country, and the longest serving university president shows how serious this is.

7) The story started out as six accusers over 15 years with an estimate that it could be as many as 20 kids. Now it is at nine accusers with estimated of as many as 50 kids. Because the Second Mile charity was used as a cover for his more recent activities, the number could run over 100 easily. After all, who would believe an under-priviledged 10-year-old against a nationally-known football coach?

8) Research done in conjunction with the child abuse allegations against the Catholic Church indicate that, at most, only about 35% of the victims will come forward. Shame, social factors, etc will keep most of them quiet.

8) The lawsuits will cost the university (and the Pennsylvania taxpayer) many millions of dollars. You can pretty much look at the Catholic Church's settlements to guess the amounts. Students will pay higher tuition because of this, and such activities as infrastructure maintenance will suffer as a result of the lack of funds caused by the settlements.

9) And now we get to the strangely quiet NCAA! This organization is seriously culpable in helping set up a situation where there is so much money involved that the institution of football has become more "important" and more valuable than the safety of our children. They have turned amateur sports into a money-mad frenzy that is draining millions upon millions of dollars from the budgets of everything from local junior high schools to Ivy League universities.

Don't get me too wrong, I live in Tuscaloosa and enjoy a good football game. But I also see huge tuition increases to support the $15-16 million a year that the University of Alabama spends to support its athletic program (only football is self-supporting, though basketball is almost 60% there.) I see a local school system where all the past nine teachers of the year have been laid off, but the school board can still find $400 a pair for sticky gloves for its high school wide receivers. I see a Crimson Tide where the hotshot running back has two brand new cars (valued at $60,000) registered in his name (he got speeding tickets in both of them) and this kid has never held a job in his life. There are even rumors of hushed-up pedophilia at UA as well. I see a junior at Auburn (Cam Newton) with a 3.25 GPA who had to have his NFL show-and-tell Wonderlic Test administered orally because he is functionally illiterate. (He also made one of the lowest scores in NFL history.) The football players have their own instructors who also administer tests and grade them and they all make A's. Only a handful of football or basketball players attend regular classes.

We create these environments with millions of unmonitored dollars and incredible amounts of power and then we cannot understand it when it goes awry.

My personal opinion is that the Penn football program should be shut down completely for 5 years. Simply too many people were involved. All those fired should lose all state pensions and acucmulated benefits. The campus police should be disbanded and reformed since so many campus police were involved in the cover up. Then the NCAA should be reformed so that there is less incentive to create situations that harm academic institutions. The other option would be to leave the football program alone since so much money is involved and shut down the university.

Agree completely JD in SD.

People need to remember Penn State requires staff to report incidents on campus to administrators, and then THEY contact campus police, who then contact local PD if there is a crime. This procedure is designed to protect the students and make sure false accusations and youthful conflicts don't destroy a young life, and don't overtax local police. In this case, the system was abused by those above Paterno.

JoPa did not cover this up. The first time this happened in 1999, he forced Sandusky to retire even though an investigation brought no charges. He didn't want Sandusky anywhere near his program!The TRUSTEES insisted on keeping Sandusky's charity on campus to protect themselves from liability since they were ending his contract without cause (no-charges). In 2002, Paterno immediately reported his former friend to the trustees as soon as he was told by a witness something happened. If he wanted to cover this up and protect Sandusky, he simply ignores the report. This incident would have died right there. Instead he turned in his friend.

Paterno had a reasonable expectation that the authorities above him were going to investigate and turn this over to police if an investigation warranted, which is the written policy of the campus. The fact that administrators chose instead to cover this up to avoid liability is not Paterno's fault, nor should he be held responsible for actions he had no control over.

I figure between the victims, their families and their lawyers everyone who should get punished will get punished................and that includes the coach...

Lawyers are not intimidated like the kids and family members..........lawyers will get justice and the media should help them to that end.

One of the questions that nags me after digesting the disgust of the actions and in-actions taken by all involved is where is the missing prosecutor? What happened to him at the time that he was working on this? Where are his files and paperwork regarding this?

With all that has gone on surrounding the conspiracy to keep this invisible, and on going, is it possible that this man looking into the matter was "dealt" with?

This is the other scary facet of this horror story..............they need to locate this man.....and find out to what true lengths these conspirators have gone to to keep this quiet in order to protect a school's reputation, a coaches dream of being the winningest coach in college football history, protect the money brought in by the game of football, to protect careers (and yes, that means McQueary..I mean look at the position he holds now) and to protect a pedafile.....

would causing someone to just disappear be out of the question?

This person needs to be found...........the whole story needs to be told..publically.

I hope the family members and kids sue the tar out of each person individually, the school, the police and the state......................

this is so indicative of our evolved society.............this should be totally appalling to every single person alive and the support should only be toward the victims.(and I bet there are more---this guy had a lot of YEARS of freedom to abuse unfettered).

After the way the students at Penn State rioted, I would have no problem with the school shutting down..............at least they should out the football program for the year...I say drop them from the big ten....and Nebraska should refuse to play them just out of decency................

but none of that will happen..

Penn State will continue business as usual, Nebraska will go there and use those showers where boys were tortured and play on that field where Sandusky walked proudly under a veil of protection and everyone will rake in the money.

Yep, people protest wall street, the government, the wars, the economic situation but to protest the horror that has taken place at Penn State for the last 15 years...nothing. Students should NOT attend this game in protest of the torture and destruction of the lives of these little boys.....the students should not support anything that Joe Paterno or Sandusky or McQueary touched---these men and all others who were and are involved have tainted the school..

I mean, can you imagine the thoughts that would go through a potential employers head when they see the applicant graduated from Penn State?

First question would be "were you one of the students who rioted on behalf of the coach who allowed little boys to continually be sexually abused?"..............

careful kids, this question will be on the test.

Some PA investigative reporters are now starting to say that Sandusky was pimping out boys to donors. You think JoPa, the administration, etc. didn't have a clue about that too??

So let's add sex trafficing through the University as another level of repulsive behavior allowed on the Penn State campus.

Did you like the part where Sandusky created the organization for at-risk kids? Bet that makes them the most likely to be out of broken homes, one parent, not able to defend themselves...... Turns out that he used to take the kids out of school too (report above), so that he could have some more alone time with them. I wonder if that's when he took them to the donors or if he just used them for his own amusement on the Penn State campus??

JoeNY

I read that also. God what horrible disgusting bastards. All who knew and did nothing need to go to jail. All of them and that includes the police if they covered up for Penn State or anyone involved who knew about the kids being abused.

A lot of people in my office that are college football fans and have been making excuses for JoePa and McQuery. Saying they were probably blackmailed or threatened into staying silent. My response to them is "if you walked in on our VP raping the secretary - or hell - even a child, what would YOU do? Would you intervene in the moment? Do you think any amount of bribery or threats would keep YOU quiet? What if you were up for a promotion? Could you really live with yourself even then?"

That usually triggers a blank stare and a lot of backpeddling from the JoePa fans...

As for the involvement of the police, I believe working this info up the ladder by policy is a bogus excuse. If this were a student/teacher or student/coach situation then MAYBE that argument would hold water. But we are talking about a child that was not enrolled or even of age to be at that University. A football camp does not fall within the realm of school policy when the victim is not a University student. It was well out of the jurisdiction of the campus police and and any idiot should have known that. The police should have been called by someone, anyone who knew and immediately after the incidents occured. Anything outside of this action is being an accessory to rape.



Apparently this goes on a lot between coaches and students. One of the managers I supervised also coached a girl's basketball team. I received a terrible letter from a parent once attacking this manager because he had discovered he was involved with his daughter who was underage. I immediately forwarded the letter to the head of our company for action and he did nothing. I asked him if he was going to take any corrective action or at least make the manager aware of the letter, and he told me if I liked my job to mind my own business.

When I look back on this now, had this come to something, I could have been complicit in the cover up simply because I dropped the matter when told to do so. Perhaps Joe Pa was told the same thing, but it still doesn't make it right.

lastonehome.

Unfortunately, you a make serious point.

um...disgusted that anyone would even question whether or not to fire Joe P or anyone who knew about what was going on...that's because it wasn't YOUR kids that was sexually abused right!?

Joe Paterno whether he reported the incident or not the fact of the matter is MORE should have been done when no action has been taken. 15 years of NO ACTION in regards to the matter is utterly inexcusable under anyone's professional, social, and moral ethics!!!

There is something terribly wrong with this world when caring about Joe coaching becomes more important than the well-being of HUMAN BEINGS!

He shouldn't be on the hook to begin with. He was told limited info, and he passed it on for investigation. Don't confuse Paterno with McQueary just cuz you like a scapegoat. Thank you lawyers.

Wow, Jon, are you misinformed. JoePa is a lot more responsible than you think. He knew about the event in 2002, knew about a separate event 1998 involving Sandusky, and, even as recent as 2007, allowed Sandusky on the football field with a little boy. Do a little reading before you defend JoePa. More information will come out, and it won't be pretty. JoePa has hired a lawyer, and everyone thinks it's because he will be sued. That may be, but it could mean something else entirely.

Face in Jon. He did not do the right thing. He did not do the right thing.

JD

What a crock of BS. Read the grand jury report. You speak out of ignorance. It appears that there was a cover up to protect the football program and the top dog in the football program was the man you are defending.

Sandusky was not an employee of Penn State in 2002. He resigned in 1999. What does anything that happened in 2002 have to do with the football team? There's nothing to cover up.

@roodles because it happened on Penn State property, sandusky had an office as emeritus, and it was witnessed by a graduate student who was involved with the football team and it was reported to the coach of the football team..get real.

Sandusky may not be a coach, but he still works for Penn State, or at least represents them. He was in my town this past spring recruiting for Penn State!!! It was on the local news tonight. They interviewed one of the players he tried to recruit. The boy wants nothing to do with Penn State now. Smart kid.

I have a problem: If I undestand the situation correctly (and this is based only on what I have read in the media), Joe Paterno had no direct knowledge of the goings on. Everything he is alleged to have known he was apprised by others. This comes under the general heading of heresay evidence. It is not admissible in court - except under very carefully defined circumstances, and I doubt whether the circumstances of Paterno's discovery satisfies those definitions. Given what I just wrote, he couldn't have legitimately filed any kind of report; it woud have been heresay, and immediately dismissed. So, ... , it appears that he was made a scapegoat just to satisfy some political puke's anger. My personal feeling at this juncture is that he probably has cause to seek - and receive - considerable compensation from the University for its behavior toward him in this matter; they should have left well enough alone.

Fred, just to enlighten you . . .hearsay is generally not admissible in court (with SOME exceptions) but you can rely on hearsay to file a police report. Much of the mandatory reporting that goes on IS USUALLY based on hearsay. Most individuals obligated to report under these mandatory reporting rules, such as teachers, don't actually witness the unlawful conduct themselves, they are often told about the conduct by the victim or a witness --- again, HEARSAY. Once reported to the proper authorities, law enforcement will usually come in to investigate the case. Given that it was never properly reported to authorities in this case, no investigation into the 2002 incident occurred.

For Paterno not to "really" know is PURE B.S. He was covering up for his "buddy" Sandusky. Child molestation is a crime and henious! To put his beloved football program above that is utterly sickening. They all NEED to pay for their part in this sinful crime. They should ALL get jail time, and that goes for Paterno too. I don't give a friggin' hoot what kind of football coach he is. It's the man inside that should know better and do the right thing. He didn't. He is NOT a good man.

@Fred Craven,

You make excellent points. I do agree that because he did not actually witness the crime, his testimony would not stand up in court. The justice system would demand to hear it from an eye witness.

Let me provide you with this scenario: A crime is committed then reported to Paterno. Paterno speaks with his counsel regarding the matter and is advised to report crime to his superior and "official" responsible for receiving the report per his contractual obligations and University policy. Cover-up for this crime begins by the officials Paterno reported the crime to in order to avoid responsibility for allowing alleged suspect to be on-campus even though prior acts may have been committed and ignored. Crimes finally come out and everyone who was involved in crime or cover-up is arrested. However, one other, Mr. Paterno is exonerated but chastised about his moral behavior and outrage insues. Board Members, one being the Govenor of the state, meets and decides to fire coach even though Paterno followed prescribed procedure for reporting and per his contractual obligations, not legal obligations. No grounds for dismissal and actually fired for following proper procedure. Law enforcement officals even conclude not legallly responsible, but morally bankrupt.

Sounds like a big lawsuit for Mr. Paterno, bigger than you could possibly imagine. A knee jerk reaction by the Board of "Trustees" led by the state's own governor could cost The Penn State University even more. Don't make moral judgments as these cannot be put into a person's contract for employment. Sorry, but this is the reality. Hence, why you have a contract.

Hind sight is perfect. By now you all read of the death threats against McQueary and his family "FOR REPORTING" and getting Joe Paterno fired. He is dead meat. As reported her Joe Paterno was the GODFATHER and Sandusky was the GODFATHER's Friend. Lets say that McQueary gets into a fight with Sandusky and the boy runs off and McQueary calls the cops. It is his word against The Godfather's best friend. And McQueary is out of a job and expelled from school.

What would you do? You are fighting the system and a public hero. Look how many women came forward against Clinton and it amounted to nothing and later we found out that Clinton is an adulterous lying bastard.

Paterno could have cemented his reputation just by telling the school we have to go to the police, I have an eye witness and we know about his history. The school sends down an official with Paterno and McQueary to the police and Paterno is a hero. That is the way it should have played out.

Remember Ted Kennedy and the woman he killed? It was all hushed up and the parents paid a huge amount and Kennedy lost his license for a year.

Here we have a similar instance. A man witnesses a crime and probably knows he is going to buck the system and get into a hell of a lot of trouble and gets advice from his father. Paterno turns away and stays away and just lets it ride. The REAL PROBLEM IS THE HIGH MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE AND IT IS PATERNO!

Generally, neither a crime victim nor a witness who sees a crime take place has a legal obligation to report the crime to the police. Though a crime is an offense to the public as a whole, reporting is usually a matter for people’s individual consciences and circumstances. However, you should be aware of the following:

• Laws in many states do require some individuals to report particular types of crimes. For example, teachers, social workers, and medical professionals may have to report suspected child abuse.
• You may be guilty of a crime as an “accessory after the fact” if you take active steps to conceal either the crime or the perpetrator. For more information about this, see Chapter 12, Section III.
• A few states, including Ohio, Massachusetts, and Washington, have enacted laws that make it a crime to see a felony occur yet fail to report it. Few prosecutions have taken place under such laws.

For background information about mandatory reporting laws, see Eugene Volokh, “Duties to Rescue and the AntiCooperative Effects of Law,” 88 Georgetown Law Journal 105 (1999).

At Penn State Joe Paterno was the Highest Authority .. thats a fact no one disputes ... every one from the president of Penn State on down includeing City Officials and Police did what Paterno wanted or they were sent packing... Joe is not innocent of anything

I really have never heard of Joe P. but he seems to have had a great career until now. But why is an 84 yr. old man still a head coach?? Did he know too much? I will take my SEC teams & Bear Bryant for my legends.

Telling his superiors about something he didn't see....but was just told about....is hardly sitting back and doing nothing. McQueary's butt should be making skid marks outside the university, as well. Then again, maybe you have to be older than 28 for the moral obligation crap to come into play.

If it was Joe Pas child getting pounded do you think Joe Pa would have let all of it slide like he did?

He would have said to hell with his job and did what he could to bring it out to the light.

Joe Pas was the guy in the drivers seat, who would have questioned a guy who is a coaching legend? He chose that since it did not impact his direct family to take a "whatever" approach.

I think everyone in charge including Joe, did not pursue it because they all wanted to keep thier jobs, they didn't want the publicity, didn't want to lose the big money that a football program like this brings to the school. Everyone of them put themselves first, no one was there for the victims.

If he wanted to cover it up, all he had to do was not tell his superiors.

This is a hatchet job. The University trustees are throwing Paterno to the press to deflect attention away from their role in covering this up.

Paterno was like 80 when this happened. I doubt highly he was doing anything but what he thought was the responsible and right thing by turning in his friend. The university dropped the ball, not Paterno.

All else aside, I would think that Penn State would be the safest place on earth to send your child right now. Thank God it was exposed. Chilling and wrong that it wasn't exposed years ago, but thank heaven it has been now.

Steven, lemme drop some knowledge on you.

A. I don't know what facts you know that the rest of us don't. As far as anyone knows, Joe had no idea what Sundusky was up to.

B. You don't even have your YOUR facts right. Sandusky wasn't on Joe's staff at the time of the incidents.

Steven100: Do you not know the difference between Penn and Penn State? Why jump on the Penn students? They have done nothing. Yes, the Penn State students have. You have accused the wrong folks and removed what questions one might have had about your IQ.

"They have done nothing." Have you not following the news? The riot in PA is unforgivable! It only shows how shallow those people are for putting football first over the welfare of the victims.

Steven,

Based on your writings, I hope your children leave home soon and get away from your harmful one-sided mind. It's important we allow our children to grow up knowing thinking things out from both sides is okay. I hope your children get that chance, too. Too bad they'll have to wait until they leave home to get a fair shake.

Stop teaching your children when one person does a bad thing your pompous, slanted voice is the final decision on the entire surroundings being tainted and evil because of it.

Joe Paterno is no 'accessory to child rape'. You're just grandstanding on a popular subject. Your bold text shows just how inferior you are and your attention is the main focus.

He did no such thing. Why do people like you have to make up lies. Sandusky was not Paternos assistant in 2002. He resigned in 1999. In 1998 Sandusky was accused of hugging a boy in the shower. The DA didn't press charges. The DA should have investigated and talked with any and all boys who had contact with Sandusky. The DA could have ended this in 1998.

All Paterno knew before 2002 was Sandusky was accused of something and never charged. He didn't know Sandusky was a rapist. He didn't cover anything up in the name of sports. Paterno isn't the school official who let Sandusky use the facilities at the university after he resigned

Paterno went right to the school authorities when McQueary told him he saw a rape, including Schultz who was in charge of the campus police who even have their own detectives. Paterno is a football coach. He has nothing else to do with an investigation, just like if you reported a crime to police.

I've seen a couple people on here say Paterno witnessed a crime. He witnessed nothing, get the facts straight.

Paterno is being made a scapegoat by the media. The DA said he did nothing wrong. The media is going after him because it makes this whole thing more sensational.

The DA in 1998 is the one who is most to blame. There was a janitor who witnessed a rape and never told authorities. McQueary is to blame for reporting a rape to a football coach instead of the police. Schultz and Casey are the university officials who were ultimately responsible for investigating and taking action against Sandusky.

Paterno did nothing wrong and will eventually be exonerated of this sensationalism by the media and people who can't look at the facts and think for themselves.

Yeah but haven't you heard? He's a really good coach, so he shouldn't be held accountable!

Roodles, he worked with the guy and was friends with him after knowing he had hugged a boy in the shower, and after knowing the same guy had at the very least been accused of raping another boy. You still believe he's the second coming? Let me guess, you like the football team.

smtrthna4thgrdr, you are an idiot, which makes your username quite ironic. Penn is short for Pennsylvania...the poster was clearly referring to the Penn State students, and anyone reading the post would know that since they were the only idiots rioting for that piece of trash.

Roodles, exactly the point. Mike McQueary reported what he witnessed in the facility to Joe Paterno as a university official. After Joe Paterno reported the incident to his superior, his reponsibilities do not end there. By laws, federal and state, he has nondelegable duties to make sure that the matter was taken care of. As a football coach, it does not excuse him of performing such duties. He was an employee of the university in the first place giving him the authority to uphold the laws. If he knew nothing was done by the university officials, he should have called the authorities.

The DA who did not charge him suddenly went missing. No body found only some of his clothing in a river! He has been officially declared dead! I suspect a much bigger cover-up than we can fathom right now! This is just the tip of the iceburg at the surface !

Mike McQueary reported what he witnessed in the facility to Joe Paterno

No he didn't. He reported that something inappropriate had happened, NOT that he had witnessed a child being raped. Too many ill-informed people here have appointed themselves judge and jury without bothering to even look at the few facts that have been presented.

Backcountry, I believe the testimony in the grand jury report will show you are mistaken. In the unlikely event you are right, didnt Joe have the obligation to press McQueary for more details on what he saw. Either way as the person in charge Joe did not fulfill his obligation as a leader.

If Joe was truly an honorable person he would have stepped down rather than make the school fire him.

This all depends. It is quite possible that we do not know who said what to whom. Was Paterno told there was a "rape," or was he told that "something inappropriate" happened? Did Paterno think that the matter had been settled quietly, to the satisfaction of the (alleged, though I'm pretty sure it happened) victim's family because they couldn't come up with enough evidence to charge? Did Paterno figure that if nothing happened that there was something fishy about the original story? We don't really know what Paterno thought or was told--all we know is that he hasn't been indicted and he now wishes he had done more.

Has it dawned on anyone that Paterno thought that the young man's family would rather NOT have this splashed all over the newspapers and would rather not testify? Back in the day--remember how old Paterno is--such things were handled privately, out of the public eye, and while there were repurcussions, there was no trial because the victims wanted to remain anonymous. We don't live in that world any more, but Paterno might. It really was (and is, in some places) the practice not to make a big deal in the legal establishment so that the young boy's life would not be permanently ruined.

Remember that the young boy who charged Michael Jackson ultimately suffered himself. I would not be surprised if the families of the victims (as some are reporting) did NOT want Paterno dragged into the investigation because they would rather not have people like you talking on boards like this about something that is, to them, a very private trauma that they'd rather have dealt with very quietly. I am sure that they want the perpetrators charged and convicted and the accessories also charged and convicted--but I am pretty sure that they'd rather have it done quietly and out of the public eye.

Seriously--do the wishes of the victims and their families not count at all? Are they publicly calling for blood or what? You do realize that with all this attention, with the public seeking blood, that the tabloid media will be out in force to satisfy your bloodlust--they will not stop until they get a full face shot of the (now) young men involved, their names, and their entire histories, and the (now) young men involved will probably have their entire futures ruined. Thanks for not thinking of them at all.

roodles .. Paterno is just as guilty as any one at Penn State .. Joe Paterno ruled Penn State not the University president or the board or any one else Just Joe .. every politician that runs in that district gets elected on joe Paternos endorsement and if they want to keep there job the do what Joe says ....

Rowan.

I suspect Penn State officials did not report the 2002 incident for of fear of a lawsuit, but, because of their lack of ethics and responsibility they probably have a hand full of lawsuits to deal with now.

Hind sight is perfect. By now you all read of the death threats against McQueary and his family "FOR REPORTING" and getting Joe Paterno fired. He is dead meat. As reported her Joe Paterno was the GODFATHER and Sandusky was the GODFATHER's Friend. Lets say that McQueary gets into a fight with Sandusky and the boy runs off and McQueary calls the cops. It is his word against The Godfather's best friend. And McQueary is out of a job and expelled from school.

What would you do? You are fighting the system and a public hero. Look how many women came forward against Clinton and it amounted to nothing and later we found out that Clinton is an adulterous lying bastard.

Paterno could have cemented his reputation just by telling the school we have to go to the police, I have an eye witness and we know about his history. The school sends down an official with Paterno and McQueary to the police and Paterno is a hero. That is the way it should have played out.

Remember Ted Kennedy and the woman he killed? It was all hushed up and the parents paid a huge amount and Kennedy lost his license for a year.

Here we have a similar instance. A man witnesses a crime and probably knows he is going to buck the system and get into a hell of a lot of trouble and gets advice from his father. Paterno turns away and stays away and just lets it ride. The REAL PROBLEM IS THE HIGH MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE AND IT IS PATERNO!

I agree Claire

Perhaps, but that's not illegal.

He did what he was required to do. Most people ranting have looked away or refused to help those in need when the opportunity has presented itself. Maybe not in such an extreme situation, but 99.9% have not come across such a situation. And when presented with that choice, help or fold and mind your own business, they chose fold.

So let he who is innocent cast the first stone. Guess what, it's probably no one here.

That is correct Claire. You are supposed to do the right thing even when noone is looking. Coach Paterno knew for years that Sandusky was molesting children, it is no surprise that a younger Sandusky was allowed to retired. That is because Paterno put the welfare of his sports program and his legacy ahead of the welfare of minor disenfranchised children with no voice. The first time Sandusky was caught with a child in the showers should have been the last, but he was protected in every way.

Illegal and you being allowed in my neighborhood are two different things.

He is lucky because he was given the chance to be great and of great character..he failed.

Claire Crook, thank the greatest above for people like you!

Cniht, let's see if Joe Paterno is not legally responsible for the matter when he is sued by the victims along with the Penn State athletic director, vice president of finance, former president, and Pennsylvania State University in civil court. I don't know where you get the idea that Joe Paterno did was he was required to do when the molestation persisted under his watch.

Cniht, what are you basing your response on? You're saying that somehow you know that all the people on here have folded when presented with the choice to help someone? 99.9%? Huh? Care to provide examples?

Better question, were you able to sit down after pulling that reply out of your ass? That HAD to hurt...

bravo

That would do nothing...it's common sense that you don't rape children, or anyone for that matter. Also common sense to report it to the police, not just the athletic department head...or to follow up when you do report it to the athletic department head and you still see the pedophile working with you.

Giving an ethics class to Paterno would be like making a burglar read a sign that says "NO TRESPASSING". Ain't gonna be taken to heart.

There you go Jane in TN. In every school, college, university, or place of business, there is a protocol to follow. When you suspect anomalies, follow the steps of reporting to your susperior, then if nothing is done, call the Authority. The same as with Mike McQueary when at the time when he witnessed the sexual molestation, he was a graduate student, not an employee. He reported the incident to Joe Paterno and that was required of him. Too bad, Joe Paterno's career and the university's football is more important.

@ Steve: That is exactly what I have been thinking. McQueary actually walked into the locker room and saw that little boy being raped...and DIDN'T DO ANYTHING??? He just turned around and walked out and didn't tell anyone until the next day? Did I read this correctly? This whole thing is just awful.

Turbo, he did report it to Joe Paterno.

JoePa is apart of the administration. He WAS the next chain of command. All he had to do was pick up the phone and called the police. Instead he put football over the welfare of a child. The fact that there was allegations back in 1998, do you think Paterno didn't know about it then?

you're leaving out a couple of facts - even if Paterno couldn't get the administration to act as they should, a successful coach with his record and influence could have at least insisted that Sandusky be forced to close his office on-campus, and have his access to the athletic facilities terminated. Sandusky probably scoped out a couple of his victims with that access.

More indicative, Paterno could have AT LEAST DECLINED the "honorary" board appointment he had on Sandusky's charity for "at-risk" youth (what a sick joke, Sandusky WAS the risk) where he exploited and abused troubled children. Sorry, but the whole story on Paterno's involvement isn't out yet, and it isn't going to be pretty.

Amen, aztecdiva. Of course he knew, but he looked the other way. How do you think McQueary got his current position? Because he kept his mouth shut just like JoePa did. I wouldn't be surprised if JoePa told him to keep quiet. This is a massive cover-up, and JoePa, though not the criminal, is still, to a degree, responsible.

I see your point. But if these were your children would you be saying, "Oh, they followed procedure so it's okay my boys were raped and nothing was done, and then more were hurt because no one stopped it? But although my kids are traumatized I thank you guys for following procedure and then being quiet?"

No, I doubt it. If nothing was done they had the option (and responsibility, I would say) to go to authorities. I couldn't look in the mirror or sleep at night if I knew those people were still running free and children had been injured and I hadn't said anything when I could stop it...I just couldn't do it, and although I agree the ones you listed should be gone after...so should everyone who knew. It's called a cover-up.

Do you know how many kids are abused every day just because people don't speak up? This wasn't a little wink, either. Yes, he should have done more and there is no excuse for covering things up if he did know more no matter what his name is or what position he is in sports. His higher position and relationship to the players makes it even more of a shame he didn't do more, and shame on them all.

Oh, and you misunderstand the law and ethics of reporting abuse. If a student or anyone else, for that matter, comes to a coach, teacher, principal, etc., and says I saw this guy rape (or touch or whatever or hit) this child that IS plenty of reason to go report it. You don't have to be standing there watching to report something.

Lay off JoePa?! He is just as culpable & it is rather appalling that ANYONE can state that he should be exempt when he hid this despicable behavior & did nothing about it. I don't think your reaction would be the same if it were your child. Put yourself in the position of those who were affected rather than a self serving approach.

From the 1980s forward Paterno was the most influential person in the athletic department at Penn State, if not the entire university. To suggest he fulfilled his responsibility to those kids by reporting it to the next guy on some org chart is absurd, and a little disgusting.

To Buny21-I am a father of children as well as a grandfather-Sorry but JoePa failed also. He should have

gone to the police after finding out about this rape. He did not have hearsay information but spoke to an actual eye witness. No JoePa failed terribly hear as well as the Penn State admin. Joe was probalby the most powerful figure on campus--he could have stopped this in 2002. Now Joe hires a lawyer ? Is he going to claim the 5th amendment ? Yes he needs to talk and beg forgiveness from all the victims of this monster Sandusky.

Seems Penn State students care more about their coach than young boys raped by a monster !!!!!

I'm sorry, but no. JoePa has asked us to buy into the fact that he operates at a high moral level...always has. Penn State could be big time football, big time students, and big time morality -- all rolled into one. He may not have broken the law, but he failed as a person, and as far as I'm concerned, everything he stood for is now a sham.

And the "following the chain of command" argument? Really? JoePa ran that place. He may have a boss, but he basically told his boss to shove it in 2004 when they asked him to retire. JoePa WAS Penn State...he had no bosses...you're correct that he's not Sandusky, but he is complicit.

Someone please tell me how, at a closed practice in 2007 (I think), JoePa and McQueary could stand there, see Sandusky on the field with a little boy, and not think twice about that? Again, closed practices mean that anyone there needs permission, and that permission was granted by JoePa with the iron fist he ran that program with. Sure Jerry...c'mon in and bring you little boy. Use the showers too when we're done...I don't see anything wrong with that.

Ma'am -- there is no defending JoePa here. He failed about as badly as you can fail as a human being.

Paterno was King at Penn State...he had a moral responsibility to see that a thorough investigation was carried out. He should have called the police himself when he learned that his graduate assistant (no kid, but a 28-year-old man) had witnessed Sandusky raping a little boy on campus. That Paterno failed to act to help a helpless child will forever leave a stain on him and on Penn State. This was always going to come to light. That is the reality and there is no point now in trying to continue to whitewash it. It's time to pay the piper, JoePa.

Finally!! Someone who can read and comprehend english. You have absolutely nailed the facts as they are now available. Why do all of these moral upstanding morons want to absolve Sandusky of some of the blame by blaming others. It seems every time there is a crime the criminal becomes the victim. They might as well take up a collection for his defense fund. Why is the media camped out at the Paterno house. You would think they don't know where Sandusky lives. They should be ashamed.

You cannot go to the police with second hand, hearsay evidence. Joe Paterno did not witness the attack.

Administration didn't witness the attack either. Therefore, based on your reasoning, administration didn't have to call the police or report it either. Sorry, Joe Pa knew and was part of the cover-up.

snglbuny21 You cannot go to the police with second hand, hearsay evidence. Joe Paterno did not witness the attack.

It's Joe Paterno, of course he can call his life long friend the Chief of Police. Do you live under a rock?

@snglbuny21 - are you serious?? JoePa couldn't go to the police with second hand hearsay evidence?? Hell, that's all most people go to the police on! And with Joe's rep something would have been investigated! And what the heck do you think the administrators were going to go to the police with? They didn't witness the act first hand either. How is one at fault and the other not? Joe could have easily taken McQueary with him or given his name as the eyewitness if necessary. But even that wouldn't have been needed. Geez, ever heard of an anonymous tip?? Just because the man ran a successful football team does not make him a saint. He went out of his way to make sure his football players were doing well in school, but God forbid he keep a defenseless little boy from getting raped! You make me sick! And so do the lot a Penn State!

Snglbuny21, I will lay off JoePa but I think the attorneys in Pennsylvania are already lined up to represent the victims in the civil lawsuit agaist Joe Paterno, and others.

@snglbuny21,

You are an idiot...just...so blind...Lay off JoePA? Working From Home says it pretty much spot on. He knew the guy was molesting boys, yet he looked the other way, for years, clearly friends with the known pedophile. He's just as responsible as anyone at that college, with the possible exception of Sandusky himself.

I totally agree. I can't imagine that child with no one to come make sure he was taken care of compassionately and correctly. Seriously, someone tells me a child was molested and you don't think I wouldn't be calling the police and checking to make sure he was as okay as possible? Sorry...guess I understand how these things work and I wouldn't be waiting for the school to act. Rapes, muggings, and all kinds of crimes are covered up every day by schools, and let's don't even get started on churches and other places crimes are covered up.

Why isn't there more worry (not meaning anyone here in particular) about how the victims are instead of the footballs programs, the money, or whether a popular coach is going to have to answer for his part in the situation? Geez. Someone should have been rushing to that child's aid and protecting him instead of all the people in charge...including that guy's daddy...covering it up. Shame.

ram;

I agree with you in most of all you say, but believe that "ALL" who are involved in this terrible mess should be relieved of their duties and fired, this includes any social or visiting benifits as well. Those who are already retired should lose their "State Supported Benefits", also any benifits paid to them by the University & this includes monies paid by "Penn State." This may seem like harsh punishment, but witholding information of this nature is so much worse. It does not get any worse than doing the things that Sandusky did to the helpless kids he raped & sodomized.

What a pointless comment...really, he hired an attorney to protect him in civil suits? Thanks for that insight...just curious, why else would you hire an attorney?

Rest of the post was pointless as well, having nothing to do with the topic.

No kidding, kafka. Who riots when someone loses their job for looking the other way as children are raped? Pen State students, apparently. No thoughts for the kids or their families, just their precious JoePa and his football program.

That's right, give Dems a free pass, there has been plenty of times they have got caught with their trousers down. You need to stop watching CNN AND MSNBC.

I hope Penn State students will step up to the plate and try to restore some honor to their school by condemning JoePa and everyone else who covered up the crimes of a lowlife serial pedophile. Furthermore, they should stop rioting and start acting like the responsible adults they should be striving to become. It's too bad the school they go to has let them down, but it's no excuse to behave like animals.

Those young students should be idealistic enough to side with the victims and not the perpetrators. The students should establish a fund for all the victims that will pay 100% of all their college tuition and expenses...and not at Penn State.

That's part of the problem, ctviking, McQueary was likely too interested in his own position with the Uni, and JoePa too. How else do you think he got his current job? Keep your mouth shut, boy, and we'll make sure to treat you right.

I'm not really defending McQueary - only trying to understand why he didn't immediately run in to save the kid. He did report it to coach Paterno the next day. However he is also the one who should have called the police since he was the only actual witness.

Right, I agree with you. He's even more culpable than JoePa, in my opinion, because he SAW it happen and did nothing. It's likely he was told not to say anything, and his current position as receivers coach is a result of that. It could have been JoePa who told him to keep quiet, or it could have been others at the Uni. Regardless, he had even more of an obligation to call the police, or at least follow up with someone about the event. I don't know how he can sleep at night knowing that his silence led to further assaults. The same can be said for JoePa.

To Ctviking-Look the assistant who spoke to Joe was 28 years old. He went to JoePa because HE is the most powerful person on campus. Joe should have gone with him to the police to stop this animal in 2002. Joe was wrong in only doing the minimal amount in this situation.

Firing Joe was correct and he knows it. Joe should beg forgiveness from all the victims of this monster. He could have stopped him years ago.

Also it bothers me terribly that students riot because they do not like how JoePa was fired !!! Well tough --I hope and pray that none of these students ever have children that experience what happened to those boys by Sandusky.

Joe knows he could have and should have done more.

I understand being shocked and afraid of doing the wrong thing, but a child was being RAPED in front of him! If he didn't feel he could directly intervene he could have called the police immediately so the child would be rescued. I understand...he was most likely afraid of losing his place there, what the big guns would do to him, etc., but a child was being raped right then and needed help...and apparently never got it:(

nvstar- Very well put. Joe Paterno is a wonderful human being and it is sad that he is being victimized for something that he didn't do. He was not aware of what happened in 1998 or Penn State would have NEVER given Sandusky the fanfare that they did when he left in 1999. The campus police were informed about the 2002 incident and it was their job to investigate it not Joe's. We all feel for the families involved including Joe, because Sandusky raped his decades of honor and his dignity.

CommonSense, it seems like it's time to put the myth of Joe Paterno aside and look at the facts. If he's such a 'wonderful human being' why did he look the other way when he knew kids were being victimized by his underling Sandusky? How can you say Paterno didn't know what happened in 1998? He ran the Penn State football organization with an iron fist. Why was Sandusky suddenly passed over for promotion and then retired? Why did Paterno say that in hindsight he should have done more to protect those kids?

One thing you did get right: Paterno is being held to account for something he didn't do. He didn't call the police on Sandusky.

Stop idolizing Paterno and start seeing him for what he is-- a flawed human being just like everyone else. Too bad his flaw was to hurt so many innocent kids to preserve his glory in Happy Valley.

Lets see now..............I see a boy being molested by an authority figure......and I go to another person to report it?..............OMG....I would have been in there tring to STOP it...........so there is a mighty long chain here............NO ONE called the police as required BY LAW!. I would have tackled Sandusky and beat the crap out of him !............BTW..what did this witness do............watch ? As to JoPa. He needed to go,but it would have been a good thing FOR HIS TEAM to let him coach out their last season, which may have resulted in some pride and glory for them individually and as a team. Now they will always be known for this incident and not their talent or hard work.

BTW, excluding this incident, which is a true travesty, Jo Pa has always stood for integrity, both on and off the field. Sure would have been nice to see him go to at least acknowledge his career.

SO SAD..........the board also needs to tender their resignation.

Feel better you got you little gay dig in???? Sorry to disappoint you, but get educated. This has nothing to do with him being gay, and actually he is way more likely to be straight. You can move on to reality now.

What do you mean looks? There is no like about it...he is a gay pedophile!

He only raped young males. Of course he is a gay pedophile. It does not matter whether he is a gay or straight pedophile, he is a disgusting human being.

@ram.......defender...................perfect name for a pedophile/homosexual defender. Remember that NAMBLA was a member of the gay alliance for many years and in case you don't know what NAMBLA is, it is National Association of Man Boy Free Love Association. They were stupid enough to rent out a room in the city library for a meeting place and the police and press were called. Every one was required to give their name and have their picture taken. I had the unfortunate task to have to read some of their literature and it is the most revolting, stomach turning, evil, horrendous thoughts produced by man.

As the homosexual/lesbian culture accepted them for so many years and as the aids epidemic can be traced to their activities, I have no qualms about accepting the fact that a gay can be and probably are pedophiles. I believe all the victims even if they don't come forth be tested for aids and veneral diseases.

You remember Gunsmoke? Kitty? She unfortunately married a bisexual and died at an early age from an aids related disease.

He is creepy!!! That's because he is a monster and all monsters are creepy at best. Gay, straight, bi, male or female - doesn't matter. A monster is a monster. They come in various packages - all sizes, shapes and colors but it doesn't make one less creepier than another.