What may be next is a lawsuit against Penn State University by the family of Joe Paterno, and all the other officials dismissed based largely on a fairly quick and non-sustantiated report by Louis Freeh. This sad and tragic drama is a long, long way from settled, I believe!

Team needs to be disbanded anyway. Now let all the pedo defenders come out of the woodwork and sewer to attack my opinion.

I don't believe a word from any current or former Penn State officials who deny responsibility on this issue. The NCAA only slapped Penn State on the hand...it should have been an extended death penalty. Shame....shame....shame.

They should do that! Do the same thing to them as the NCAA did to a small 9000 student university(SMU),25 years ago,give the the equvilent of the death penalty.Had it been Long Beach State,SMU or UNLV or had the coach been Tarkanian instead of Papa Joe,that is exactly what would have happened.The NCAA is a slave master when it comes to the smaller NCAA schools and more of a mentor to the large entrenched schools like Penitentiary State.Everyone shuold be treated to same!I'd bet Patrerno would have been indicted if he had not died!

I hope so.

I took the time to read the Freeh report and one thing was very clear, many of the conclusions reached in his summary paragraphs in each section are either barely or not at all supported by any evidence. This is particularly true of the conclusions reached regarding Paterno. The only evidence regarding Paterno in the report indicated that Paterno wanted more, not less, done about the Sanusky issue. It was also clear that Paterno was powerless to ban Sandusky from Penn State facilities, which he wanted to do, because Spanier had granted Sandusky emeritus status which gives him lifetime use of the university facilities. Paterno could no go against this because it would have been illegal and violation of the contractual relationship between Sandusky as an emeritus faculty member and the university. I think that what is being done to Paterno is completely unfair and he is only being targeted because of his high profile and the fact that he is not around to defend himself. Freeh should be embarrassed by the report he submitted that is loaded with unsupported allegations and as a former law enforcement officer he should be held to a much higher standard for backing up these accusations. He is doing great damage to people's reputations without evidence to back up his accusations. He should be personally sued for libel by the Paterno family for the unsupported conclusions and accusations in his report. The report is nothing more than a politically motivated hatchet job that is completely unworthy of a former FBI director. I hope that the Paterno family sues Freeh and the university for slandering and libeling Paterno and unfairly attacking him.

I also think that the NCAA went way outside of their scope with the penalties against Penn State. None of the crimes that Sandusky was convicted of had anything to do with the football program and all occurred after he had already retired from the coaching staff. They are unfairly penalizing the football program for events that had nothing to do with the program or any of the players. I think that this is far from over and that there are many lawsuits yet to come regarding this whole affair.

if penn state rolls over on this they are not an institute of higher learning. ncaa is not right on this. punish many for the sins of a few? take it to court if they can. what do they have to lose.

Hard to claim a championship when you haven't won a game in 10 years.

sam, why do I get replies about how wrong I am when I call Sandusky a queer? He had forced sex with boys, little boys. Joke-pa and anyone else that knew of the rapes should never be free again. I don't think Penn State should get the death penalty, just the idiots that did not do what is morally right, should be gotten rid of. Too many innocent people's livelihoods are being taken away, who had nothing to do with this crap. The little town's whole future is threatened for the actions of a relatively few. I have no connection to Penn State, or the town, or the state.

"I do not recall." The last hope for the guilty.

@sam-298381

Try calling the police, moron. That's what you do when someone witnesses a rape...assuming you're not a total bottom feeding, scum bucket.

Try getting some facts before you call OTHER people morons. The police, both campus and local, investigated allegations against Sandusky in 1998 and the DA decided not to press any charges and child welfare decided to take no action. So why are their wins being vacated back to 1998 when the appropriate action was taken at that time? Bottom feeding scum buckets are the ones who string up the noose because they want blood and don't really give a rat's ass if it comes from someone who is guilty or not. They're pretty good at flinging the kind of petty insults that you'd expect from a 6 year old also.

"Why do you get replies about how wrong you are when you call Sandusky queer?"

I'm guessing it's because you're using a homsexual slur. Lots of homosexuals are not pedophiles. Lots of Heterosexuals are.

I don't hate Sanduskey because he was a closeted gay. I hate him because he raped children.

Do you think he would have been less disgusting if he had been raping little girls instead of littel boys?

Dasvet: "why do I get replies about how wrong I am when I call Sandusky a queer?"

First of all, it's irrelevant, His crime is being a pedophile, no matter what gender the vicitims were. Yes, it seems likely, if not definitely, that he also happens to be either bi or homosexual, but throwing words like"queer" around doesn't really accomplish anything.

::Sigh:: It amazes me that people will blindly believe the drivel reported in the media. Paterno told Curely and Shultz what he was told by McQuery. Schultz was the head of the University Police. If Paterno would have called 911, the University Police would have been dispacted and then they would have gone to talk to McQuery anyway!!!! McQuery should have called to police from the locker room and once that was done he should have taken out Sandusky.

The Freeh report is a manuever by Penn State to stave off an even tougher Penn State Attorney General Investgation or FBI investigation. And it looks like it's working. It's a damage contol manuever where they think the damage is what would occur from a LAW enforcement investigation. Freeh is a hired consultant. He did it for cash. It's a private, inside audit. IT is not a law enforcement investigation. The NCAA sanctions are a result of their own quickie investigation. It too is an inside the industry audit. Both are being offered to the public as "instead of law enforcement" investigation into the crimes. See we don''t need to do any more ! The Attorney General of Pennsylvania has already arrested and prosecuted Sandusky. IT appears they looked no further. Probably influenced by PSU reputation or boosters or politicians. Big mistake. Freeh, representing the University comes out and says Leaders at the school were culpable ! That should force the Attorney General to get back in there. Now the FBI should get in there, do an investigation and indict anybody and everybody they need to. The boosters and state politicians have been handling it up to now and it's just a more complex form of a cover up. It's not law enforcement. Final stage of all this will be the private law suits. There may be a mass tort filed on behalf of the students whose education credentials are now sullied and discredited. There will certainly be individual law suits. PSU will pay for this cover up for a long time.

I have but one question I would like to ask Joe (I do know I will not get a chance) and now Spanier (and all of those who are defending them):

What would either of them have done if they found out that Sandusky had been in the shower with their son??????? They would have throttled him on the spot!!!! While I am not advocating murder (or the death sentence), I would like to know how they could just dismiss this with statements like:

'I did what I was required to do, reported it to my superior,' or 'I never heard of such a thing between a boy and a man,' or now, 'I don't recall discussing this...........'

Give me a break, if any human being, not seeing this through the 'protect PSU football at all costs' prism, ANY SANE, RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING, would have notified the police and not rested until Sandusky was OUT OF THERE, and IN PRISON getting his share of you know what!

This is inexcusable, inhumane....... need I go on???? on all levels, legal, moral, ethical. These were innocent little boys. Their parents thought they were in the safest of all places, Penn State University, the golden shrine in Happy Valley, and they were betrayed in the most disgusting, inhumane way possible. And Paterno, Mrs. Sandusky, Spanier and countless other adults looked the other way.

@Seesthrugloss,

They've only won 2 national championships --- 1984 and 1986. Both stand since they pre-dated the Paterno knowledge of Sandusky's activities. But you have to remember, there is no proof that Sandusky suddenly turned into a pedophile in 1997. If more evidence comes out, the NCAA may extend the penalties.

I would also popint out that while Spanier not says that he is an expert in family and children's issues, that is not exactly the truth. While he did co-found a journal called "Family Issues" his primary expertise, as listed until very recently on the Penn State site, was in "wife-swapping" and "swinging."

And it doesn't mention that he fired the Vice-Presdient for Studenbt Affairs when she complained about Paterno's coverups of student incidents and their extremely poor academic performance.

Nothing PSU or Paterno accomplished in the Football arena can overcome a basic failure of human judgement. The protection of innocence! While they traded emails Sandusky continued to prey and no one went to that boy to find out who he was? Was he O.K? They just traded emails discussing how to treat Jerry humanly when Law Enforcement and Social Services should have been notified to protect the child.

So bloviate all you want PSU Alum, I feel for you but everything handed down is justified.

I am sorry to all of you Penn State fans, but I would not believe anything an administrator would say. Many administrators are politicians and they are told to always, deny, deny, deny. "The truth is what I say it is!". Even when there is EVIDENCE of these people knowing this man had a problem with loving little boys, they will DENY it because all of a sudden they cannot recall. My feeling is that 5 or 10 years from now some photos or video will surface that implicate many top officials at Penn state. For these people not to take action on this man back in 1998 means that they themselves may have had a "Club", in private of course. This just shows that Administrators are more interested in money, power, and fame rather than morals and ethics.

The fact of the matter is that our society is full of sports fanatical idiots that value sports over education, hence less money to education and more money to sports. PATHETIC standards. Shame on anyone that values sports over morals, education, innovation, research and knowledge. I truly always laugh at those people that are fanatical when it comes to sports in college, because in the end, college sports do nothing to raise the level of intelligence or applicable knowledge to the real world and the advancement of society.

Hopefully the NCAA slap on the wrist to Penn. State will make every other NCAA school well aware of the responsibilities it has to not only the students, but also to every child and other guest visiting their schools under the auspices of their big money programs.

You get the big money for these sports programs, you have the responsibility to operate EVERYTHING at the university 200% better than anyone could possibly expect. If you don't want that responsibility, operate your school as an academic institution, not as a professional sports complex. If you want an example, look at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's top academic institutions and NO intercollegiate sports teams.

@sam-298381

Go PENNIS STATE!

How is it that you fail to see that your childish remarks makes you look foolish and utterly invalidates anything you say? Like people really give a @!$%# what immature little children have to say about anything. Why don't you come back to NewsVine in a few years when you're old enough to have a discussion with adults.

Not buying it, Graham. Who hears about an ex-coach "horsing around nude in a shower" with a student (teenage or otherwise) and thinks this is not something to be investigated? You do a lot of horsing around in showers with teenagers? Or maybe you are used to horsing around in showers with coaches? Whatever the case, you didn't have the cojones to make the responsible call...and you were THE responsible party.

You should be raked over the coals for your lack of courage on this. That's what you get paid the big bucks for, Mr. College President. Oh, I was too distracted with all my important meetings!

Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around and you should get your share of it...take yours like a man.

You disgust me.

In the news headlines today is the story of Catholic Church official getting sentenced to 3 to 6 years in prison for knowing about and failing to stop the sexual abuse of children by priests under his authority. I think this dirt bag Spanier sees the writing on the wall and is moving into full Cover Your Ass mode. Maybe he and the criminal Monsignior can share a cell.

@Chris-749391

And it doesn't mention that he fired the Vice-Presdient for Studenbt Affairs when she complained about Paterno's coverups of student incidents and their extremely poor academic performance.

Extremely poor academic performance? Huh? How does being the number one university in the country in terms of the academic performance of it's football team equate to "extremely poor academic performance"? http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/07/paternos-revenge-penn-state-football-is-no-1-in-academic-bowl/

Does anyone even give a rat's ass about the truth or should we just forget about pesky little facts lest they distract the lynch mob?

What a crock of Bull@!$%# !

All students should walk out in protest and find other colleges and Universities.

All staff should do the same !

They should not receive one more penny in any form from our government.

Beaver Stadium should be torn down, and not ever be replaced.

All other NCAA teams should beat the hell out of the Penn States players on the field, hit them harder than you have hit anyone ever.

Do it for the victims of Pedophile State.

Ata boy Woodshed, take it out on all the people that had nothing to do with this mess! That will solve everything and make you feel so much better.

Since you were obviously there and sitting in on all of the meetings when Paterno, Curly, and Spanier agreed that Sandusky should be protected it is a shame you didn't come forward earlier and expose the whole mess and save those kids!

@JDinSD,

Your Paterno apologist rant contained several unfounded statements:

1) There was not a single accusation in The Freeh Report that was not backed up by at least one piece of hard evidence that was in one of the attachments. The only allegation not directly addressed was already addressed by the Board of Trustees was negligent in its oversight. That admission was what triggered the whole Freeh investigation. But keep two things in mind: a) there is at least one piece of hard evidence attached for every accusation. but b) the evidence attached was not all the evidence that Freeh had collected. Considerable "damning" evidence was turned directly over to federal investigators under the Clery Act. Nobody knows what is in it, but it is "many cartons" of material.

2) The good news and the bad news about Paterno's involvement: The good news is that Paterno is dead and can't be questioned. But the bad news is that Paterno made a macho thing of never doing email. So he had assistants do it for him. An email from Paterno would be heresay and not admissable since he is dead. But the assistants are alive and known and can tell exactly what was on Paterno's mind and it isn't heresay. Several sources have said that there are "scores" of such emails following Sandusky's activities from 1998 all along until the present time.

3) Paterno was NOT powerless to prevent Sandusky from using Penn State facilities. Paterno had to sign off on two crucial areas: Sandusky's office space which was about 30 feet from Paterno's and which was much coveted by other coaches and Sandusky's continues use of Penn State ATHLETIC facilities for overnighe youth football camps right up until Sandusky's arrest. All Paterno had to do is not sign off on them and both things would have stopped instantly.

4) It wasn't Spanier that gave Sandusky emeritus status. It was the universities Promotions and Tenure Committee, heavily leaned on by the athletic director (who was in on the coverup and definitely knew about Sandusky.) It was the first time ever that emeritus status had ever been given a person of such low status. There was also a huge and suspicious cash payment. But this was done by HR, also heavily leaned on by the AD. But emeritus status is an "honor" and isn't anything contractual. It varies greatly from place to place, but the bottom line is that a small number of university services available to current faculty are made available, sometimes at no charge, to the person even though he is no longer carried on the books as a "Professor." It did not guarantee Sandusky anything, especially in view that so many people knew about his activities.

5) This was ALL about the football program. I am right in the middle of the #1 college toun in the country and I can tell you first hand that little in the Penn State football culture was unique to Penn State. Coaches cover crap up daily. From shootings and drunken fist fights and felony theft. Why, Nick Saban is currently trying to cover up an aggravated assault by his daughter that never made it to the Clery Log. And covering up coverups is what occupies a huge amount of a college coach's time. When an alum slips a neatly folded $100 bill to an athlete in a "sweet handshake", I am sure that Saban knows the name of the alum, the player and the amount of the bill. A significant part of Paterno's time was spent covering up date rapes and drunken brawls and illegal alumni "contributions." That's what big timne college coaches do. But that's why the football program is to blame. It creates a culture on campus that would never exist otherwise.

The Freeh Report was commissioned by the Board of Trustees to help identify areas of concern and to point them to areas where they should be going. But in the report it clearly states that the investigators found far more "damning" evidence than they could pursue. One example was the VP of Student Affairs that Spanier fired because she complained so much about Paterno's misconduct in regard to his football players and coaches. It seemed that every stone they overturned led them to another set of allegations that they had neither the budget or manpower to explore. So they turned the whole mess, including all the evidence and interviews they had collected, to federal investigators operating under the Clery Act. The Freeh Report was not intended to be an indictment or a complete investigative report. It was simply a fact-finding investigatioon on behalf of the Board of Trustees to determine how much fire was behind all the smoke and what they should be doing to fix things. The NCAA investigation was completely independent of the Freeh Report except that it made use of the Freeh Report's attachments and some of its interviews.

Sticking up for these people stinks. Never ONCE did you mention, anywhere in your rant, any sympathy for the victims. That is the most damning thing that Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Schultz did --- just like you --- they failed to see the destruction being wrecked on the victims. They had a complete failure of empathy. They had a complete failure of the in loco parentis obligation of every school. They failed even to see the greater good of the educational institution. All they saw was football millions. And by following their thinking so closely, you too, fail the victims on a massive scale.

You should be truly ashamed.

@backcountry,

"Student athletes" in major schools do not go to regular classes for the most part (there are actuially a few who do, but they are rare.) Their classes are taught to them one-on-one by "student assistants" (SAs) who are in the Athletic Department. These SA's have also been appointed proctors by the AD and give all the tests and grade them. Then the grades "pop up" in some professor's online gradesheet as though the students had sat in the regular classes and listened to the lectures and taken the tests just like regular students. The profession will not complain. Period. A career-wrecker. As it wrecked the lady's job at Penn State.

So you end up with people like Cam Newton at Auburn. Old Cam came to Auburn just ahead of felony theft charges for stealing laptops and other items in Florida dorms. After the BCS Championship he went to the NFL. But before he was picked, he was a "rising senior" with a 3.4 GPA. But when he went to the NFL show-and-tell he had to have his Wunderlick Test administered orally because he is functionally illiterate. And he scored the lowest ever for a QB and almost an all-time record for all positions. A functionally illiterate accused felon with a 3.4 GPA. ROFL

When the Athletic Department runs the college (as it does everywhere the football or bvasketball coach makes more money than the President of the college/university) they get to say what the grades are. Paterno just told better lies about their grades.

Man, the de Facto Police are out in full force on this issue. I forgot we are a country of laws. If you listen to a few of the people commenting on this you would think lynching was legal.

A few FACTS for the haters....

1. As stated by Alumnit "Paterno told Curely and Shultz what he was told by McQuery. Schultz was the head of the University Police. If Paterno would have called 911, the University Police would have been dispacted and then they would have gone to talk to McQuery anyway!!!!" So why is Paterno guilty of not contacting police again?

2. As stated by Backcountry, "The police, both campus and local, investigated allegations against Sandusky in 1998 and the DA decided not to press any charges and child welfare decided to take no action. So why are their wins being vacated back to 1998 when the appropriate action was taken at that time?" Again, dealing in FACTS, why is the school being punished all the way back to 1998?

3. To use the "example" that the National Collegiate ATHLETIC Association is using to punish Penn State I ask you to ponder the following.

• One out of four women will be sexually assaulted on a college campus.
• One out of eight women will be raped while in college.

So, using the NCAA standard, any University that turns a blind eye to the rape of a student, (athlete or not) should now be punished by vacating wins in all sports (can't just penalize football now can you) and be fined.

Some good reading on what truly happens on many college campuses concerning rape.

http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/03/19/031911-opinions-column-campus-rape-valenti-1-2/

So before you wacko's attack me, I have two points. One, what Sandusky did was wrong. He will never see the light of day again. The Judicial system, the way crimes are dealt with in our country based on the CONSTITUTION, has seen fit try, convict and sentence him. May GOD have mercy on his soul.

Two, what the NCAA just did to Penn State is just ludicrous. Based on point three above, what does the NCAA have to do with the internal workings of this university or any other university in the regards of crimes being committed? This was not about players taking cash payments (Miami and half of the SEC) or about players getting benefits from boosters, or selling memorabilia that they recieved for free from the university (Ohio State which got a slap on the wrist for that and many other ATHLETIC related transgressions.)

I am not affiliated with nor do I care about Penn State Football. I am a Military veteran, father, coach of children and also a believer in Fairness. What the NCAA did to Penn State is not, nor will ever be fair. For those of you who say what about the victims of Sandusky, that is what a COURT OF LAW is for. The NCAA is not a court of law and should not have the power that it has claimed for itself with this action.

From the NCAA History, first sentence: The NCAA was founded in 1906 to protect young people from the dangerous and exploitive athletics practices of the time. What does this have to do with that basic charter?

FrankG912 ... I totally agree ... the NCAA is just plain protecting themselves by taking a ridiculously harsh position towards a program that was in no way shape or form involved in this horrendous act!!!

How in the hell are you going to help young people by hurting others .........

Backcountry164

Try getting some facts before you call OTHER people morons. The police, both campus and local, investigated allegations against Sandusky in 1998 and the DA decided not to press any charges.....

As of right now, it is pretty well established that they all had common interests, and were all "in bed together".

It seems to me that the investigation should broaden, and that we could expect more arrests, like within the campus police dept, the local police dept, and god only knows who else.

This scandal is huge, and there should be a congressional investigation, and go to the grand jury.

Frank - Sorry not enough to justify knowing a grown man was in the shower "horsing around" with a child. All the excuses in the world won't heal a young boy living in fear while Administrators procrastinated. I have no problem with the NCAA doing whatever it takes to create urgency and I can promise you as we speak Trustees all over the country are scrambling to make sure they have proper control and that's the real justice, awareness.

@Frank,

Because the Clery Act required Paterno to personally notify local law enforcement IN ADDTION to making sure that an entry was made in the PUBLIC Cleary Log with the campus police that lists all reported accusations of certain types of crimes, including rape and child molestation that happen on university property or at university-connected events. HE WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORT IT DIFFERENTLY THAN HE DID, SUBJECTING PENN STATE TO FINES AND PENALTIES UP TIO LOSING ALL FEDERAL STUDENT AID. The Clery Act investigations are still going on and Freeh turned over a huge amount of "damning" evidence to the federal investigators as well as to State of Pennsylvania DHR investigators who are still pursuing the child abuse charges.

At this point, being an apologist for Paterno is tantamount to advocating FOR child abuse.

And I would point out that the NCAA announced yesterday that it has "revised" its wording so that Penn State cannot use any of the $73 million in fines and penalties or any money derived from any athletic program to compensate victims. All the money must be spent on child abuse abatement services that DO NOT INCLUDE current or future Sandusky victims, which are estimated to number over 100.

Penn State still has to pay on the bonds used to construct football facilities, even though there will be scant future football income. They will have to pay somewhere near the half billion dollars of the most similar Chatholic dioscese if as many victims as are estimated surface. They will lose around $100 million in football-related income. And their other sports programs will suffer by association. So you're looking at as much as a billion dollars that Penn State will have to come up with. Some will come from stripping endowments that do not have "moral turpitude" clauses. The rest will come from massive tuition increases, cuts in research and service funding (which will drive out the best professors) and from the Pennsylvania taxpayer.

It is complete irony that this sort of financial hit was exactly what Paterno, Spanier, Curley, Schultz and others were seeking to prevent AT ANY COST.

Since we still have idiots who say that Paterno did enough, here is something for them to chew on: Paterno, Spanier, Curley, and Schults (as well as unnamed others) all violated the Clery Act.

"The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses. Compliance is monitored by the United States Department of Education, which can impose civil penalties, up to $27,500 per violation, against institutions for each infraction and can suspend institutions from participating in federal student financial aid programs. The law is named for Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered in her campus residence hall in 1986. The backlash against unreported crimes on numerous campuses across the country led to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The Clery Act, signed in 1990, was originally known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act."

There is a Clery Act investigation already ongoing. There is also a Commonwealth (State) of Pennsylvania Department of Human Resources investigation going on of aiding and abetting child abuse. Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Schultz are already named in this investigation in addition to perjury charger already filed or contemplated. There are also various state and local investigations of other associated crimes. The Freeh Report stated that they had provided a large amount of "damning" evidence to investigators.

@Chris-749391, and others

It only requires an average intelligence and a mind that is free of preconceptions
and media created biases to examine the information in the Freeh Report. The
1998 incident was thoroughly investigated and concluded: Sandusky showered with
a boy in an open shower facility after they engaged in athletic activity
together and "no sexual assault occurred". No charges were filed. There
was nothing to conceal or cover up. The 2001 incident hinges on McQueary's
story. Unfortunately, he changed it several times. If you want to believe that
there was a cover up at this point, then you have to believe at least
McQueary's altered 2011 story that he heard/saw something that could have been
sexual and extrapolate it to "a boy was raped". You can then
generalize your assumptions to "Paterno, Schultz, Curley, etc. were lax in
their treatment of McQueary's story because they were covering up and
protecting a pedophile". Unfortunately, there are several problems with
these extrapolations and assumptions. McQueary told his story to Dr. Dranov on
the night the incident occurred. Dr. Dranov is a highly trained and very
reputable observer who knows the rules for reporting child molestation. He has
testified under oath that McQueary said he only heard something suspicious. He
says he asked McQueary 3 times if he had seen "any sexual activity"
and each time McQueary answered "no". He recommended to McQueary that
he tell his superiors but not to tell the Police because he didn't think the
story met the threshold for reporting. This is the story that Paterno and then
Schultz and Curley heard. They had to decide what to do with it knowing that
Sandusky was an individual who had founded a charity for disadvantaged children
(the 2nd Mile), had been investigated and approved for foster care and adoption
and perhaps they remembered that an investigation of his showering with a boy
in 1998 concluded "no sexual assault occurred". No accusers had come
forward. The boy McQueary saw in the shower did not appear to him to be
"startled or frightened" and did not come forward to complain. There
was no obvious victim. This is all they knew. You can of course take this
information as proof that they somehow knew Sandusky was a pedophile and they
protected him, but I don't think that any reasonable person would agree. They had
no evidence he was molesting boys or was a pedophile. So how is it that they
knowingly allowed "a coach to sexually assault boys"? There is no
evidence that they were part of a clandestine cabal that conspired in the
backroom to allow a pedophile to roam free on their campus. Without a shred of
evidence Freeh maintains they should have known Sandusky was a pedophile in
1998 but doesn't say how they were supposed to know this. Clairvoyance perhaps?
And what does any of this have to do with the football team? Sandusky was
retired and none of the football players were involved. And the NCAA punished them for what?

The Clery Act has to do with crimes involving students and no students were involved. The only reasonably valid Clery Act issue has to do with administrative organization. This was the responsibility of the VP-Finance and Business, not the football coach. Freeh stated that the University began compliance prior to his investigation and was in full compliance before his investigation ended. And what percentage of US universities are in full compliance with the Clery Act?

The Freeh Report is an ex parte document written in a prosecutorial fashion, with
no concern for exculpatory evidence, that has no testimony from the parties it
indicts, that has conclusions that do not follow directly from the
facts/evidence, uses a hindsight perspective to criticize people for things
they had no knowledge of, did not prove mens rea, etc. And this report is then
used to punish them. This sounds like a totalitarian state and not a society
with due process and the opportunity to prove innocence. Or perhaps we should favor
the tyranny of the mob?

Disclaimer: I am not connected to Penn State, the Paterno family, Penn State administrators, football, etc. or to the University of Alabama. I believe that media generated hysteria and politics should not be allowed to defame people and institutions and that those who are accused should be given an opportunity to respond to their accusers on a level playing field.

N.B. Chris you need to examine the actual evidence in the Freeh Repot and not just the conclusions before you make dogmatic statements.

Paterno told officials what he knew and that is it. It is not his job to investigate.

Bob, If I was even the slightest bit aware of a crime against a child I wouldn't sleep until justice was served.

Bob, I truly hope you have no children - you obviously don't get it at all!!

This well beyond punishing co-workers. The NCAA massive fine will be paid by the University. So , in the end, the students will pay the fine.

Really unfair. Yes I have children and yes what has happened is upsetting and should be dealt with. But tell me what more could Paterno have done? Did he see the incidents occur? I don't know. Did he think he had done all he should have? I don't know and he is not here to defend himself. Was the football team and its players aware of what was going on? I don't know. And yes you can bet your last dollar if my kids would have been involved with this monster I would have went after him with all I had but I wouldn't have went after the football team or the school. Yes I do get it. Let the punishment fit the crime and the criminal who committed it but don't punish people because we "THINK" they didn't do enough.

If I hadn't seen some of the present students defending Sandusky and company I might care about that. As it is, I don't.

To future students of Penn state .. tuition will be a bit extra. Sheltering and enabling the rape of kids .. has a price. Should you not want to help pay it .. No one is really forcing you to go to Penn.

What more could Paterno have done??? How about CALL THE COPS???!!! Do you honestly think if it had been one of his grandkids, Paterno would have worried about interrupting someone's weekend?

Hey Bob,try spending your entire life messed up for the same reasons these kid will be! I have and am still there and will live the rest of my so far long life living next to the deep,dark abyss!Try it for a day and tell me how you like it! Death penalty would have been kind to Penitentiary State,a lot kinder than have a dozen kids live with burden their entire lives!

Scar, what price are students paying?

They are still in school, learning. Which is why they are there in the first place. Who cares how many wins a school has years before they were a student? Does it make them learn better if their school had three million wins? Does it make their diploma less valuable because their school only had two wins in the last 10 years? There are no student still on campus from the 1998-99 season. And what does it matter to an incoming Freshman in 2014 that the school isn't eligible for a bowl game? There is nothing that affects any student other then a current football player, and they can transfer to a different school if they want to play for a school that is going to a bowl game.

Co-workers!!! Are you insane? Paterno ran Penn State!

But tell me what more could Paterno have done?

Seriously? Please understand that the statue is GONE, Brown University (Joe's alma mater) has disowned him, and the Football program was just set back 10 years because Joe, Graham, Tim, and Gary DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

This isn't just about Joe Paterno. It's about all 4 of them combined.

And you're right, Joe P did ask if the case was being followed up on. Tim Curley decided he was going to call DPW on Sandusky. Then, after a meeting with Paterno, the two of them decided against informing DPW about Sandusky. Curley emails this sentiment to Schultz and Spanier, both of whom signed off on this hastily amended solution, calling it a "more humane approach" (sickening Graham, just sickening).

This is why the fan and the feces became one. This is why the statue was taken down. This is why Brown U took Joe's name off of everything at that University.

It seems only the Paterno family and Graham Spanier are confused by the facts. Remember, Graham Spanier essentially got fired by the board for the two INSANELY inappropriate press releases that he is responsible for back in November. Spanier was so near sighted on this issue, it reached the point of idiocy.

I am a PSU alumni, Class of 1987. I am Penn State. I am Penn State proud. 25 years ago when I was a student, I told people, "there's so much more to PSU than football. Too bad no one can see it".

Bob, they are not punishing innocent people...they are punishing the school and the football program that have a proven, extensive history of covering up child molestation to protect the interests of the football program! What is so difficult to understand about that? It was corruption at every level of the university and if there is collateral damage, so be it. What do you think the punishment should be for an entire institution of higher learning and an entire FBS football program covering up AT MINIMUM 46 counts of child molestation, many of which occurred at the school, with football tickets used to keep kids quiet? They are getting off light with this punishment.

Bob, there is so much wrong with your post I don't know where to start. This wasn't "indiscretions" by one man. This was sexual child abuse, a grown man raping children. And the fact that this has always been "hush hush" is exactly why it continues today. Too many people like these officials at Penn State would prefer to turn a blind eye than actually believe that someone they knew, trusted and considered a friend would do this at all. Joe Paterno had exclusive power at Penn State. He could have kept anyone from the campus. He decided that he wanted to break a record for wins at the expense of children being molested. So you believe all you want to that these men are innocent of knowing what was going on. And I sincerely hope that fantasy world you live in is better than the real world everyone has to deal with.

Bob I hope you're getting the message: if you see or hear or are told something, ESPECIALLY if you're a football program executive at Penn State, you are supposed to be the leader to take charge and DO SOMETHING not try to cover up.

Joe did not witness it. McQueary witnessed it. If he wasn't man enough to step in and stop it himself, HE should have called the cops. People say he followed the proper chain of command. Using that logic, so did Joe. Contrary to popular belief, Joe was not the top dog at Penn State. He reported up the chain. Now that he's not here to defend himself, easy to shift the blame.

@G_Rock

Bob, they are not punishing innocent people...they are punishing the school and the football program that have a proven, extensive history of covering up child molestation to protect the interests of the football program!

"Proof" these days is pretty much defined as whatever it was that you wanted to believe.

The only "proof" against Paterno is the Freeh report which anyone who actually bothers to read without bias would consider a joke. The sole purpose of the Freeh report is to protect the university (they are the ones who PAID for it you know) from wrongful termination suits that may be brought by everyone they fired. It has about as much credibility as any report paid for by Paterno's family but since the Freeh report says exactly what everyone WANTS to hear you all take it as gospel without question.

BOBM

HERE'S A CLUE:

If your assistant coach tells you he saw a child being raped in the shower, CALL THE POLICE, not your Athletic Director. Your Athletic Director can't help.

Yes I am getting the message. The message is that we think if we punish the by-standers and people not even remotely associated with this incident we have done our job. Everyone here appears to want to blame the whole college--why not the whole town--why not the whole state. If people knew information that should have been reported and they didn't punish them. If Paterno indeed knew hard evidence that he didn't turn in let him burn in hell. I am not sticking up for any that did this but I think it is wrong to punish all just because of association with the school. What about the parents? Don't they deserve any blame? Don't they teach their children to watch out for these things or do they just wait and let it happen and hope they can sue somebody. I guarantee you if that would have been my children I would have been able to tell just from their demeanor if something had happened but I am sure I would have been told something like this happened because we have talks about strangers and indescent and inappropriate touching. And I really can tell it to you straight if my kid came home with a hundred dollar ticket to a football game at sold out Penn State I would be asking questions. So if you want to spread the blame around lets ask the parents why they didn't come forward sooner after all these were juveniles--correct. Had they of spoke up and not thought it was cool for their kids to be associated with such a big sports figure maybe the truth may have come out sooner also.

To those who complain that the students are being made to suffer for the actions of others, they should. In general, the Penn State students have shown they just don't get it. They are showing support for the wrong people in this matter. It is Universities like Penn State that are creating adults with a total lack of personal integrity. This is why we have the problems we do on Wall street and in Corporate America in general.

It should not be "University above all else" or "The Company above all else" or "Football above all else". But this is exactly what is coming out of the Penn State student body and alumni. If current and future Penn State students understand why they are paying a premium for their education, then maybe the next time an administrator does something way wrong, they won't rally behind them. Instead they may actually take an active part in cleansing themselves of the disease as quickly as possible.

There is a culture of inappropriateness at PSU that has not entirely come to the surface. I read coaches talking about they shower all the time with boys. I was involved in sports all my youth. I was captain of my high school basketball team. No coach ever showered with us and it would not have been acceptable. Our coaches showered at home or if they showered at the school it was when no students were around at all and we never knew about it. This was not some small backwoods school district. This was San Diego, CA.

Happy Valley needs a good slap in the face to get them back down to earth. They need to start importing board members and administrators from outside their seemingly inbred community so maybe they can get a broader perspective on what is and isn't acceptable in society.

bobm, if you are suggesting that parents knew their children had been hurt and didn't do anything, that is an evil accusation.

BOBM: I posted this above, but since you think what Joe claims to have done is sufficient, I will ask you:

I have but one question I would like to ask Joe (I do know I will not get a chance) and now Spanier (and all of those who are defending them, including you, Bob):

What would YOU have done if they found out that Sandusky had been in the shower with YOUR son??????? YOU would have throttled him on the spot!!!! While I am not advocating murder (or the death sentence), I would like to know if YOU would just dismiss this with statements like:

'I did what I was required to do, reported it to my superior,' or 'I never heard of such a thing between a boy and a man,' or now, 'I don't recall discussing this...........'

Give me a break, if any human being, not seeing this through the 'protect PSU football at all costs' prism, ANY SANE, RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING, would have notified the police and not rested until Sandusky was OUT OF THERE, and IN PRISON getting his share of you know what!

This is inexcusable, inhumane....... need I go on???? on all levels, legal, moral, ethical. These were innocent little boys. Their parents thought they were in the safest of all places, Penn State University, the golden shrine in Happy Valley, and they were betrayed in the most disgusting, inhumane way possible. And Paterno, Mrs. Sandusky, Spanier and countless other adults looked the other way.

You people are the ones who don't get it. I am defending no one. And no jock I am not making that accusation I am merely saying parents shouldn't allow their children to get involved with such things and if perhaps it happens they should have educated their children as to what to do. I have not seen anyone claim that these children were forcefully raped which is too awful to even think of but don't parents take the time to teach their children. We teach them not to run in front of cars and to not accept ride from strangers (I hope) why is this not something that should be talked about. It is not like this man is the only monster who has done such things. Everyday you hear of children being abducted or someone tried to abduct them. C'mon people it is always nice to go after the big guys and make them pay the ultimate price. Why not take a little time to prevent the evil rather than trying to punish the evil. If just one of those kids had screamed when this idiot was attempting to have his way with them it would have been the end of it. And no Mary I am not saying that Joe did everything he could of because I really don't know the facts of the whole issue regarding him and he is not here to defend himself. Maybe he felt he had taken care of it--how old was he???

Bob, at what age do you suggest people tell their children that if a grown man, someone they should be able to trust because of his position in the world, etc. does, in fact................

Then the CHILD should have the responsibility of reporting this man. This is now the responsibility of the CHILD, and not the other coaches, head coach, campus police, president of the university.......... WHAT???

I ask again, if this were YOUR SON, you would have done what?????????

Again you miss the point. I am defending no one but you want to keep making it like I am defending Joe Paterno. I am not but I don't have enough information to say he should burn in hell either. And again my son would not have been in that position unless it was forced upon him and then I would be the one in jail because I would have found the guy and made him pay. My children from a very young age were taught what was proper behavior and what wasn't. A jerk like this one could not take advantage if the opportunity did not arise and yes there should have been safeguard at the school and where ever else this could have occurred to make sure it couldn't happen.

@JohnSmith9997

To those who complain that the students are being made to suffer for the actions of others, they should. In general, the Penn State students have shown they just don't get it. They are showing support for the wrong people in this matter.

So if someone shows support for the "wrong people" (don't hear much support for Sandusky now do you), people who, oh by the way, have commited NO CRIME, then they should be punished for that support? Where are you from? Cuba? China maybe? Sorry, but here in the USA things don't work that way nor should they.

I also took the time to read the Freeh report. It certainly does nothing to exonerate Paterno. It does show culpability in many areas, not just with Paterno. I would expect more to come. Just because others are guilty of not doing enough, it doesnt mean Paterno should be excused. I have seen worse examples of scapegoats, plenty of times.

bobm-346250, you are evil and ridiculous to in anyway blame the victims and their parents. The corrupt Penn State "system" needs to be dissolved and rebuilt to eradicate the problems that allowed these crimes to occur for so may years. If others are inconvenienced (and that's all it is for everyone in Happy Valley; they are not being raped or prosecuted) then so be it.

Bob - Are you actually being serious? Or perhaps you are a member of the Paterno or Sandusky families? Because otherwise your comments are simply outrageous. You are willing to cast blame on small defenseless children but you fall all over yourself defending adults who allowed a predator to continue on for 10 years. You even seem to defend Sandusky by implying the children were willing participants in their abuse. Wow.

You write: "my son would not have been in that position unless it was forced upon him", "parents shouldn't allow their children to get involved in such things," "I have not seen a claim that these children were forceably raped." In other words, according to you, all the kids that Sandusky abused were asking for what happened to them. What a vile insinuation. And you wonder why abused children are scared to speak out. And for the record, the child (around 6 years old) seen in the shower with Sandusky by McQueary was, by his account, being forceably raped. The child saw McQueary, a grown man, walk into the shower and see what was happening to him. And then saw him turn around and walk away. Predators often tell their victims no one will believe them and threaten all sorts of awful things. Children are easily manipulated and scared. McQueary just walking away likely reinforced the child's belief that no one would believe him or care anyway. McQueary stated he told officials (including Paterno) about what he saw.

Furthermore, Sandusky hand-picked his victims from the Second Mile program. Which you apparently do not know is a program for at-risk kids. They are kids that have had a rough start to their lives. He knew that kids with an unstable home life and/or uninvolved parents were easy prey. You keep talking about how the children themselves should have stopped it. Well, grown men employed as janitors were too scared to speak out because of the culture around that school. You make comments that poor Paterno (who was the face of that school) was powerless to do anything, even though he was well aware of the two prior incidents, because he was simply a "co-worker." But you expect child victims, many of whom have been abused their whole life, to just suddenly take a stand, go against a powerful school who has made it their business to cover for a pedophile for 10 years and get the abuse stopped all by themselves. Simply unbelieveable.

@bob,

IT WAS PATERNO'S JOB TO AT LEAST NOTIFY THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS THE CAMPUS POLICE. It is a requirement of every student, every employee, every faculty member, every trustee, every administrator. It is called the Clery Act. Among other things the Clery Act requires that a public log be kept and that all four of the incidents of which Paterno and company knew be recorded in that log. Not a single person made a single entry regarding Sandusky except on barring him from all Penn State facilities which was promptly ignored.

IT WAS PATERNO'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ACCUSATION WAS RECORDED IN THE CLERY LOG AND THAT IT WAS REPORTED TO THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. EVERY TIME.

There are always three stories. Mine, yours and the truth. If anyone here claims that the Freeh report shows the truth, you are a fool. The only TRUTH that I know is that Sandusky is going to be in prison for the rest of his life. I can ASSUME that the victims of his crimes will sue the pants off of Penn State. I can neither claim to know the truth about what Joe knew or did not know, nor can I ASSUME anything. For all of you stating this or that, why don't you step back and take the emotion out of it. This article is about the President of the University defending his own actions and also criticizing what the NCAA did. It's not about Sandusky. It's not about Paterno. Maybe if we had more critical thinkers in this country we could actually move forward instead of always fighting losing battles against each other.

I applaud BobM for taking the stand against all of the emotions on the other side. It's so easy to have a mob mentality and say burn down the university. This was the prevailing belief in the South when there were lynch mobs. Have we regressed that far as a civilization?

A court of Law has spoken and Sandusky is in prison. Joe Pa has passed and can't defend himself. The NCAA did what they did because there is no one who will stand up to them for this decision. right, Wrong, or indifferent, this decision should not had "special" status for the NCAA. Look a little more into the details around how this decision came about and you will see how much stench is coming from this. Does it cover up the stench of Sandusky? NO, but two wrongs don't make a right!

I always wonder why there's alligations after 10, 15 20 years....it's almost like it's fashionable to ruin someone's rep......not saying it's not so.....just saying why this long?

Wow! I just read this thread. It should be preserved as a classic case of a witchhunt mentality. Bobm took a position that was contrary to the beliefs of others and they attacked him, told him he couldn't be a father, called him evil, stupid, ridiculous, and a whole lot more. The group was ready to blame the entire Penn Stat University, from top to bottom as well as all the students. The students are blamed seemingly because some students protested some decisions. And all the while you pounded your chests saying "I wouldn't sleep until justice was served."

Wow! I prefer to wait and let the judicial system work through all of it. But for the sake of argument, lets say the Penn State officials are all convicted for not doing the right thing and covering up. In all that time, who else knew something or had credible suspicians and didn't report it? I suspect there will be a long list - the local police, The Second Mile, parents and friends, Sandusky's family, local schools that Sandusky was involved with, perhaps even sports writers whose job it is to hang out and search for stories. I guess we will see.

Thank you Frank at least someone understands what I am trying to get across but it is way too easy to jump on the bandwagon of trying to destroy something we regard as rich and powerful. Suppose that the little old janitor of the school had been found out to be the guilty party???? Would all of you be on the bandwagon like this to crucify someone and everyone associated with them? Same crime--Same place. Sorry Tom I didn't see your post also.

Hey I have an idea. From now on any time a person is accused of a crime let's punish everybody associated with that person. When a supervisor at a company is accused of drunk driving after the company christmas party, let's punish all of the employees because of the illegal activities of a member of management. People in the mailroom deserve to be punished because somebody in the design department didn't follow up on the drunk driving charges against the supervisor of the production line.

Have you noticed that the same people who were saying that Sandusky was being charged without any proof are now saying that Paterno is being smeared with no proof.

Here's your proof: For 15 years, Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Schultz (and presumably others now under investigation) KNEW about Sandusky's activities. All four stand accused of PERJURY for lying about their knowledge. But NEVER ONCE did any of the four say one word in defense of the victims until their own arrest was imminent. Period. Never once did Joe Pa do one damn thiung on behalf of the victims. He knew and he allowed more and move victims to be destroyed. May all four rot in hell for that. Spanier is worse than Paterno becanse Spanier was supposed a world-class sociologist in "family issues" and never once, in 15 years, gave a thought to helping the victims or to preventing future victims. NOT ONCE!

Yes. Considering their position in society it goes a bit further then just a moral obligation. Let their asses fry.

I hope the victims sue the pants off (that's right) of PSU and are awarded a cash settlement that makes the NCAA penalty look like a speeding ticket. I also wouldn't care if Joe Ped's family and every other leech that wants a piece of pie also sues the university. Maybe the resulting implosion will send a proper message to other institutions to keep their noses clean.

I agree with Jay (above). When you accept the position of president of a university, you accept not only the huge paycheck and mansion and other perks, you accept the responsibility of KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON at said university! They don't pay you big bucks for simply looking handsome. DUH! You can never assume that anything is being taken care of......... OK, maybe the petunias. But when you hear even a whiff of something this serious, you get out of your big leather arm chair in your well-appointed library and see what is happening. And you don't rest until you get to the (pardon the pun) BOTTOM OF IT!

No subject you tea people Republicans won't try to bring to Obama's door .... is there.

Here is one for you. If Republican Texas can send people to prison for 28 years for stealing a .... Snickers Bar ... and also execute 70 year old grandmothers ...

Just like a republican to justify the behavior of a pedophile.

Go back to tapping your foot in the mens room with the rest of your republican buddies.

Do you pissants always have to bring the politics into everything on these blogs. Insensitive pieces of ****.

It's pretty obvious that he knew, he's just trying to save himself from the noose that is surely closing around him.

It sounds like something the police should handle rather then the conflict of interest Spanier, is guilty of in giving Sandusky the benefit of a doubt because he is a good guy. The police wouldn't do that. That's why they should be the ones doing an investigation.

You got it right! What man do you know wants to or would get into a shower with a boy? I would not do that with my own son! It's beyond the pale of normal behavior!

Just like you can't solve a murder in-house, nor can you investigate child molestation yourself. This needed to be reported to the police by dialing 911 when McQueary saw it. Paterno, definitely should have dialed 911. It's indefensible that Curely or Schultz didn't do it. And is truly unfathomable that Spanier didn't. None of them had the authority to give Sandusky a pass on a possible felony. I can't believe they could morally let him slide on this. And management 101 clearly says you inform the police of any indication of child abuse.

Actually, they are substantiated. Don't believe the liars on here. This is ridiculous. They knew, they covered it up, they shuffled the DA off and they didn't protect those kids.

Yeah it's a big conspiracy... drawn up by...

There is simply no motivation for the grand juries, a former FBI Directer hired by Penn State, and the NCAA to come to a conclusion you say isn't supported. Why are they doing it, the better question, is why are you coming to a different conclusion than everyone else. Is there any sort of relationship with Penn State that might cloud your mind, it doesn't makes sense how a fraction of people still can't believe what is obvious to nearly everyone.

Paterno's family thinks its BS, Spanier, the guy who was in on it and stands to go to jail thinks it's BS, an handful of Penn State students who loved Paterno, thinks it's BS, Sandusky doesn't even acknowledge the crime, so surely he thinks it's BS, adnf you think it's BS. See a pattern, amazingly the people who are being disgraced don't buy the hype, and the the rest of us who have no axe to grind, know it's not.

I don't know if this will help you or not.

You do know you can read the report and see for yourself. If you are looking for the truth it will help. I'm not so sure you want to find it though.

I have read the report. It's findings simply do not substantiate Freeh's conclusion. His conclusions appear to have been derived by adding what is known today to what was known at the time. Need proof? Freeh says the school did not do enough to protect the victims. That there were victims is only known today. At the time, the DA said there were no victims.

Exactly! Freeh just jumped on the bandwagon. His report was unprofessional and inaccurate, and just added to the lynch mob mentality. Unfortunately, anyone who disagrees with it is accused of being indifferent to the victims, or supporting pedophilia. Makes it hard to disagree. Meanwhile, it would be a great idea to investigate the rapes on campus that are underreported, under-responded to, the victims are blamed, and so on and so forth. Now there's a scandal that is far more pervasive. Sandusky, on the other hand, was just one man and not an employee of the University when the incident in 2001 happened. McCreary reported it, Paterno reported it, and apparently it got garbled and was not dealt with effectively. Sad, tragic, but not the fault of the people who are being penalized now.