‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
A Painful Reflection
The outrage is far reaching. The accusations are beyond shocking on a number of fronts.
Joe Paterno, a legendary coach who for decades has stood as a symbol of leadership for all things right in collegiate athletics, will see his career come to an end because he stood by and didn't do enough.
After Paterno reported a heinous act against a child up the chain of command, Penn State officials engaged in a cover up so despicable that it may haunt the university for years to come.
The winningest coach in college football history says he will resign at the end of the season. With a huge home game looming on the Saturday schedule against No. 17 Nebraska, making that call should no longer be in Paterno's hands. The University Board of Trustees needs to call an audible and tell Paterno, even at age 84, there is a lesson to be learned here.
In 2002, Paterno made the mistake of putting the football program and friendship first. He should have immediately been concerned about a then 10-year old boy labeled by a Pennsylvania grand jury as "Boy known as Victim 6." Subsequently, it has come to light that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky would be linked with "Boy known as Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...".
If Paterno is allowed to coach this Saturday, what should be the fate of Mike McQueary, the Nittany Lions' wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator? He was the once unnamed graduate assistant who witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a pre-teen boy at the school's Lasch Football Building in 2002. McQueary, 28 years old at the time, 6-5, over 230 pounds, didn't rush to the young boy's defense. When he found a phone, he didn't dial 9-1-1. He dialed his dad. The next day, he told Paterno. Eight years later, McQueary testified in front of a grand jury. Eight years!
Why so long? For that answer, the moral and ethical barometer falls squarely on the shoulders of former Athletic Director Tim Curley, former Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, and current (as of this writing) President Graham Spanier. Their 'handling' of the matter was banning Sandusky from bringing children to campus. In other words, not on our campus. He was still allowed, however, to maintain an office on campus. The incident was never reported to police.
And why was Sandusky bringing kids to campus? In 1977 he founded The Second Mile organization. It started as a group foster home dedicated to assisting troubled boys. It grew into a charity that helped kids with absent or dysfunctional families.
Long before McQueary saw the unthinkable, there was trouble with children. In 1998 it was reported Sandusky was taking showers with boys from the foster home. The cases were brought to the attention of university police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. When questioned, Sandusky admitted he had done wrong. The cases were never brought to justice.
In 1999 Sandusky retired from Penn State but held emeritus status. The alleged incidents didn't stop though.
In what should be the celebratory closing to an amazing career, Paterno has been hounded by the news media and surrounded by a student body, many of whom shout his name with unabashed support.
In speaking the other day, Paterno was correct in saying that at this time, all thoughts and prayers should be directed to the victims. They are the one's that matter and finding ways to prevent something like this from ever happening again should be examined everywhere in which young people are the focus.
When I worked in Washington, DC, I had to cover my first pedophile case. The year was 1994. I will never forget it. A six-year old Maryland boy was taken from his home while he slept at night. He was eventually dropped off and found wandering around a cemetery, naked and alone. Somehow, that six-year old kid found the courage to take the witness stand, describe the horrible things done to him and point out his attacker. By the time he was done testifying, there wasn't a dry eye in the jury, which was made up of grandfathers and grandmothers.
I often wonder how that boy is doing as a young man today.
I hope as fans cheer on Penn State Saturday, they take the time to wonder how Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8 and so forth are doing.
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| A Painful Reflection |
The outrage is far reaching. The accusations are beyond shocking on a number of fronts.
Joe Paterno, a legendary coach who for decades has stood as a symbol of leadership for all things right in collegiate athletics, will see his career come to an end because he stood by and didn't do enough.
After Paterno reported a heinous act against a child up the chain of command, Penn State officials engaged in a cover up so despicable that it may haunt the university for years to come.
The winningest coach in college football history says he will resign at the end of the season. With a huge home game looming on the Saturday schedule against No. 17 Nebraska, making that call should no longer be in Paterno's hands. The University Board of Trustees needs to call an audible and tell Paterno, even at age 84, there is a lesson to be learned here.
In 2002, Paterno made the mistake of putting the football program and friendship first. He should have immediately been concerned about a then 10-year old boy labeled by a Pennsylvania grand jury as "Boy known as Victim 6." Subsequently, it has come to light that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky would be linked with "Boy known as Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...".
If Paterno is allowed to coach this Saturday, what should be the fate of Mike McQueary, the Nittany Lions' wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator? He was the once unnamed graduate assistant who witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a pre-teen boy at the school's Lasch Football Building in 2002. McQueary, 28 years old at the time, 6-5, over 230 pounds, didn't rush to the young boy's defense. When he found a phone, he didn't dial 9-1-1. He dialed his dad. The next day, he told Paterno. Eight years later, McQueary testified in front of a grand jury. Eight years!
Why so long? For that answer, the moral and ethical barometer falls squarely on the shoulders of former Athletic Director Tim Curley, former Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, and current (as of this writing) President Graham Spanier. Their 'handling' of the matter was banning Sandusky from bringing children to campus. In other words, not on our campus. He was still allowed, however, to maintain an office on campus. The incident was never reported to police.
And why was Sandusky bringing kids to campus? In 1977 he founded The Second Mile organization. It started as a group foster home dedicated to assisting troubled boys. It grew into a charity that helped kids with absent or dysfunctional families.
Long before McQueary saw the unthinkable, there was trouble with children. In 1998 it was reported Sandusky was taking showers with boys from the foster home. The cases were brought to the attention of university police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. When questioned, Sandusky admitted he had done wrong. The cases were never brought to justice.
In 1999 Sandusky retired from Penn State but held emeritus status. The alleged incidents didn't stop though.
In what should be the celebratory closing to an amazing career, Paterno has been hounded by the news media and surrounded by a student body, many of whom shout his name with unabashed support.
In speaking the other day, Paterno was correct in saying that at this time, all thoughts and prayers should be directed to the victims. They are the one's that matter and finding ways to prevent something like this from ever happening again should be examined everywhere in which young people are the focus.
When I worked in Washington, DC, I had to cover my first pedophile case. The year was 1994. I will never forget it. A six-year old Maryland boy was taken from his home while he slept at night. He was eventually dropped off and found wandering around a cemetery, naked and alone. Somehow, that six-year old kid found the courage to take the witness stand, describe the horrible things done to him and point out his attacker. By the time he was done testifying, there wasn't a dry eye in the jury, which was made up of grandfathers and grandmothers.
I often wonder how that boy is doing as a young man today.
I hope as fans cheer on Penn State Saturday, they take the time to wonder how Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8 and so forth are doing.
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